Parker VH 28GA Question

[Gerry Addison]

I have a Parker 28 gauge VH on a 0 frame. Does anyone know when they started using 2 3/4 inch chambers on the 28GA guns at Parker factory?

[Jeff Elder]

I’m not anywhere close to the experts on here, but I don’t think Parker when it was in Connecticut ever made a 2 3/4 unless someone special ordered it. The New York Parkers have them.

[Dean Romig]

I think Dave "Researcher" Noreen will be able to pinpoint it for us.





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[Dave Noreen]

From the get go our North American ammunition companies offered the 28-gauge in two lengths. The "standard" shell was 2 1/2-inch with a load of 1 3/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder, or 14 grains of dense smokeless powders such as Infallible or Ballistite, pushing 5/8-ounce of shot. Or, a slightly hotter load of 2 drams of bulk smokeless powder, or 16 grains of dense smokeless powders such as Infallible or Ballistite, pushing the same 5/8-ounce of shot.

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Those were the loads offered until 1931.

In his 1910 book Chas. Askins wrote of hand loading 2 1/8-dram 3/4-ounce loads in 2 7/8-inch cases for his heavy 30-inch barrel Parker Bros. 28-gauge.

In 1931, Western Cartridge Co. finally got around to applying progressive burning smokeless powder to the 28-gauge, bringing out their high velocity Super-X 28-gauge load with a 3/4-ounce payload, put up in the 2 7/8-inch shell.

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The Remington era Parker specification sheets, reproduced in The Parker Story, show the 28-gauge to have a 2 13/16-inch chamber intended for the 2 7/8-inch shell.
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In the later 1930s the companies were putting out 28-gauge Skeet loads in both 2 1/2-inch 5/8-ounce --

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and the Western Super-X, Remington Nitro Express, Winchester Super-Speed and Peters High Velocity 28-gauge 2 7/8-inch 3/4-ounce loads with #9 shot were marked Skeet.

Just before WW-II the companies began putting out 28-gauge Skeet loads in a 2 3/4-inch shell --

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Shortly after WW-II the manufacturers settled on the 2 3/4-inch 28-gauge shell.

[Dean Romig]

Ask and ye shall receive. Thanks Dave.




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[Dave Noreen]

I looked through the pictures I've saved of late Remington Parkers with the grade, gauge and shell length stamped on the side of the lug. I found I have every gauge but 28-gauge.

[edgarspencer]

In the current Morphy auction, there is a (purported to be the sole 30" CHE in 28ga.) Meriden made gun, with PGCA letter indicating a 1929 mfg. date, with 2 3/4" chambers.

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_C__PARKER_CHE_28_GAUGE_2_BARREL_SET_SIDE_BY_SIDE_-LOT586562.aspx

[Dean Romig]

Which all goes to show that Parker Brothers would build a gun to just about any desire within reason and good taste.





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[Gerry Addison]

Gentlemen, thank you so much for sharing your expertise. Greatly appreciated.

[Dean Romig]

Edgar, with those 30" barrels in 28 gauge I would more likely expect to see 2 7/8" chambers...






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[edgarspencer]

I merely posted the link to the two bbl set in Morphy's auction. He posted a PGCA letter that states 2 3/4" chambers. I'm sure Chuck copied the information as he saw it in the records. I don't assert they are or are not 2 3/4".
My 30" gun was commissioned and upgraded by Delgrego and Runge for Sheldon Gitman around 1979. It was originally built in Meriden, as a VHE with 30" bbls, straight stock, and single trigger. I don't know what the chamber length is, but only load 2 1/2" in 28ga, so I don't really care.

[Dave Noreen]

The 1929 vintage "Chamber 2 3/4-inch" most likely would in theory be for 2 7/8-inch shells.

That is quite the Frankengun!! Five Remington repair codes on one set of barrels. Stock work looks more Remington than Parker Bros. to my eyes. Was one of the original 30-inch barrels whacked to 26-inch? Or, is that a new set of barrels added at a later time? No mention of beavertails, checkered butt or SST in the letter.

[edgarspencer]

That is quite the Frankengun!!

It's been dolled up a fair bit but is still a valuable gun, not the least of the reason being it is the only 30" 28ga. CH grade ever made.
The listing, while somewhat inaccurate, opens up more questions than answers them. It isn't listed as having BTFEs, but one of the barrels has a reinforced fore end loop, and the other does not. Also, one of the fore ends has a correct iron for BTFE, and the other does not.
I suspect one of the 30" barrels is now the 26", looking at the chokes. Original full chokes were stupid tight, so bobbing 4" could still leave them with IC, as the listing states. The gold work, not Parker, isn't the worst I've seen but ought to be removed.
Mr Gitman was known to commission several A1S upgrades, and My suspicion is he chose to upgrade mine to CHE may be because there was only one gun ever made with those characteristics. Apart from Runge's signature, it is a faithful likeness in all respects.