Parker V Grade Review

[David Safris]

Hi all - well I am back for another round of ... so what can you tell me about this gun. I inherited a collection of guns that sat untouched for approx 30 years and am slowing working through them documenting, fixing, servicing, and yes even shooting. Took a beautiful '64 Browning Superposed lightning to shoot skeet last night - what a treat.

So to the gun at hand. The forum search shows there was some type of a shamble with the Simmons company in the 2010 range for replacement barrels. This gun has to have a barrel from prior to the 1990's time frame. I haven't found anything that matches.

Simmons on the top rib - but the Overload Parker Bros Proved stamped in the barrel - has me confused. 30 inch barrel.

[John Davis]

Simmons added the vent rib to the original barrels.

[Bill Murphy]

Yes. This gun has nothing to do with the ill fated barrel replacement project that you mentioned.

[John Allen]

They probably put in the Miller single trigger at the same time.

[David Safris]

Thank you guys.

I assume adding the Simmons Vent Rib permanently damaged the barrel and cannot be removed ?
seems like an unnecessary thing to add on a nice Parker... done only for sighting the gun or are there other reasons

The safety is not selective - just says "Safe" .. its pretty sticky to move but does move and does work

[John Davis]

David, I would venture to guess that the beaver tail is aftermarket as well. I would surmise that someone wanted to make it a dedicated target gun, ie vent rib, bt forearm, single trigger. Even has a trap style recoil pad. Would be interesting to know the choke configuration. May make a heck of a doubles trap gun.

[David Safris]

John - That would actually fit the story line pretty well... I had not thought of this as one of the sporting guns.

The barrel does not have the reinforced forend loop - so I think you are right on about the aftermarket beavertail.

I think I am going to have to leave this one as it is .. too much going on here.

[John Davis]

David, I really like it as is.

[Dean Romig]

The safety is not selective - just says "Safe" .. its pretty sticky to move but does move and does work


The barrel selector switch appears to be in front of the trigger… is it inoperative?





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[Bill Murphy]

It seems to be the late version of the Miller trigger, with the selector in front of the trigger shoe. It is a rocker type of mechanism that goes left and right. It is a selective single trigger. Thanks, Dean, I didn't see that. The Simmons rib should not be removed. It adds to a gun of this value and condition. Leave it as is and make a great pigeon or trap gun as Mr. Davis suggests. How about that upside down "P" on the barrel flat? Unusual at the least. David, is the original owner of this gun from Pennsylvania?

[David Safris]

A few updates and photos

The selector just forward if the trigger does work - the safety works but is very hard to move and I haven’t wanted to force it back and forth - possibly a bit of movement would loosen up the 40 years of whatever is making it stick.

I made a mistake above - the barrels are the reinforced forend style so I think the beavertail for end is correct - original ? not sure on that .

I took the barrels to a gun smith and they measured the barrels and choke constriction - they measure - full and a tight modified -

The barrels measure for shorter shells 2 9/16

It wasn’t a full analysis but he said ‘go shoot it ‘

[David Safris]

Oh not sure on original owner. I have a letter for the gun and will check that tomorrow - maybe indicates where it was first sold - I would guess it spent the last 60 years in Nebraska/iowa

[Dean Romig]

I have an 1898 DH 12 on the 2 frame and 30” Titanic F/F barrels with 2 9/16” chambers that I have always shot 2 3/4” shells in with no ill effects at all.





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