1923 Trap Configured VHE (Pic Heavy)

[Mike Poindexter]

Just picked up a 1923 12 ga VHE with BTFE and a 2" DAH, but without the vent rib or single trigger. The gun letters as is, with the exception of the recoil pad which appears early aftermarket without spur. The chambers are 2 1/2" and the chokes are 40 points each, over pristine .734 bores. The gun shows expected wear and tear but the trigger plate screws appear untouched. No repair codes visible on the barrel flats. I mention this only because I questioned the overbores as being inconsistent with factory standards at this time, while the 2 1/2" chambers are spot on according to TPS. Also, because of the high comb, I just wondered if somebody ordered special boring to enhance the full chokes for the trap game. Either that or they have been honed or back bored later on. The only other unusual thing is the checkering on the BTFE doesnt match any shown in TPS, or in earlier BTFE forum topics, and seems a little fancier than a straight VH pattern, but not as fancy as the higher grades. I copied the letter and attached a bunch of pics for your thoughts and/or comments. Seems to be all original except the pad. Interestingly enough, the serialization book shows only extras are barrels, which dont appear in the letter.
Thanks in advance.

[Dave Noreen]

I'd say it is just an earlier style checkering pattern before the trap forearm checkering patterns were formalized. Here is the listing from the 1922 Parker Bros. catalog which shows a DH-/DHE-Grade and the checkering pattern isn't what we later think of as the D pattern.

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The Brothers P continued to use the same picture in their pocket catalogs for at least another eight years.

[David Noble]

Good find Mike!
I'm not sure when Parker quit using over bore in their barrels, but they probably would have done so on special order even after that. Perhaps it was done on this gun to reduce pressure and recoil, being that it was basically considered a competition model.
Those are some very tight chokes though. Like maybe 445 #8 pellets in a 30" circle at 40 yards. Lol

[Dean Romig]

That’s a 1923 Parker…





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[Craig Larter]

A 1923 gun may have been made without a spur. I don't own one Parker 12ga that the bores measure .729, they are all a few thousands oversized.

[Bill Murphy]

Craig, my experience is similar. I have had many 12 gauge Parkers that seem otherwise unmolested that have bores over .729.

[Mike Poindexter]

Thanks for all the comments. I looked back through some saved articles and found this from Austin in the archives. I was familiar with the .750 overbore in the 1880's, but had forgotten there was a tendency to bore .730-.735 in the later years. Since there is no evidence this gun ever went back to the factory, I will conclude that the pristine .734 bores are original and just evidence of a well maintained gun. I think I am going to have to float the bird with that 2" drop.

[Mike Poindexter]

Here is the article.

[Brian Dudley]

Nice gun! The forend checkering is very different. For any grade. It makes the gun all the more unique.

[Dean Romig]

What is “W93/W97” ??

I wish I could ask Austin…





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[Bill Murphy]

Not having reviewed the entire text and background information, I would guess the W93/W97 is the advent of cutting fixtures that eliminate the need for emery for cleaning up pitted or rusted barrel bores and for enlarging bores to increase the choke constriction.

[Craig Larter]

I have found the same with Parker 20ga bores. Most are a few thousands over .615 up to .620. And most/ many 0 frame 20's have a min under .030, most seem to be .022 to .025. It would be hard to find one with .030 wall.

[Mike Koneski]

I’m curious as to why a 1923 gun would have 2 1/2” chambers? Maybe to bump pressure/velocity for trap competitions?

[Mike Poindexter]

I thought so too, having always heard the 12 bores were chambered 2 5/8 for 2 3/4 shells. When I looked at TPS, however, the factory chart from 1920 clearly shows 2 1/2" chambering as standard for the 12 ga. See Vol. 2, p. 519, Fig. 12-18. I measured them with both a fixed diameter Walker gauge, and my inside dial caliper. Definitely 2 1/2 inches.

[Bill Murphy]

That would be 2 1/2" chambers for 2 5/8" shells, the most popular shell of that era.

[Dave Noreen]

The "standard" 12-gauge field loads with 1- or 1 1/8-ounce of shot came in the 2 5/8-inch shell, but from 1907 onwards our ammunition manufacturers only put the 1 1/4-ounce loads in 2 3/4-inch or longer shells and "trap loads" whether 1 1/8- or 1 1/4-ounce came in 2 3/4-inch shells.

That said, the 12-gauge Parker Bros. hang-tags I've managed to save pictures of are very confusing, several showing targeting with 1 1/4-ounce and saying "Use Shells 2 5/8" --

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Others do show 2 3/4-inch shells --

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or targeting with 1 1/8-ounce and "Use Shells 2 5/8" --

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[Dean Romig]

And that information begs the question “why would a ‘competition’ gun of 1923 have 2 1/2” chambers?”





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[Scott Smith]

This is one of those Parkers that has tons of character. It saw lots of action and served its owners well. And the unique checkering pattern makes it even more interesting.

[Dave Noreen]

Here are some pages from a January 1, 1925, Remington ammunition Price List with the 12-gauge 2 3/4-inch loads annotated.

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Before 1907, Union Metallic Cartridge Co. offered a Load No. 5 or X5 that was 2 3/4-dram and 1 1/4-ounce of shot in a 2 5/8-inch shell which was dropped by 1907, and Load No. 8 or X8 came in a 2 5/8-inch case. Remington Arms Co. used Load No. 8 to target their doubles --

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Beginning in the July 1907 UMC Price Lists Load No. 8 and X8 were in a 2 3/4-inch case.

[Daryl Corona]

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;430708]And that information begs the question “why would a ‘competition’ gun of 1923 have 2 1/2” chambers?”

I'm not so sure it's a competition gun.

[Dean Romig]

Apparently not…





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