"Parker VHE 16GA AS-NEW "MAGNIFICENT" on GI

[Stephen Hodges]

Parker experts, the seller is saying that this VHE 16 Ga that he is selling on GI is original, and is in "as new" condition. It does look like a nice gun, but do you guys think that it is original, as claimed, or refinished?

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Parker-VHE-16GA-AS-NEW-MAGNIFICENT-.cfm?gun_id=100217781

[Chuck Bishop]

Just guessing here but Remington did put cyanide colors on Parkers but I haven't seen enough of them to be expert on them. They were also known to put nice wood on lower grade guns and the fluting at the nose of the comb looks right. I'd say it's original. Nice gun.

[Chris Travinski]

Not to pick a nice gun apart, my guess would be a restoration, but an excellent restoration. The lines at the head of the stock (where a D grade would have the drop points) aren't nice and sharp. Also, were the triggers on V grade guns blued? Here's a link to an original beauty.

http://www.gunauction.com/buy/10695217/shotguns-for-sale/side-by-side/parker-bros.-vhe-20ga.-26-inch-barrels-85-colors-take-a-lk

[Dave Suponski]

I am thinking DelGrego. A couple things that caught my eye. Going by the pictures the profile of the forend looks to be the more squared off style typical of them. The case colors look to be theirs also but the typical line under the breech balls is not there that I can see in the pictures so it could be Remington. Still in all a wonderful gun with great wood. I wouldn't kick it out of bed...:rolleyes:

[Pete Lester]

I wouldn't kick it out of bed...:rolleyes:

Gee Dave at your age that is not saying much :bigbye:

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[Dave Suponski]

Pete, No I suppose your right but we will discuss that comment further on January 1st......

[Dean Romig]

Sorry guys... I think the wood is much too nice for a Del Grego job.

But the serial number is a tad early for a true Ilion made Parker unless it is one of those that were serialed in Meriden and not finished until late in the Remington era.

It is a real beauty and I still think it is original...

[edgarspencer]

Wouldn't it stand to reason that if the gun was built in Meriden, it would have been heat treated as any other Meriden gun? It certainly doesn't look, to my untrained eye, like any guns I've ever seen that were heat treated at the 'home' plant, by the people who had been doing it all along.

[greg conomos]

IMO it is restored. It is too 'fresh' looking to be 75 year old work. I also don't see the slightest amount of handling marks on the wood....even a gun that has been in a box since new will have some haze to it.

[Brian Dudley]

Deffinately a gun that was made before or around the time of the move to Illion. Has Meriden Marks on rib, but Parker Mark on bottom. The Stock does not appear to be as "fat" as many of the Illion made guns were. That wood looks just too nice to be for a V grade. But it may have been used to for the sake of draining inventory before the move. Who knows??? Nice gun though.

[charlie cleveland]

if i liked the gun and could afford it i would by it regardless if its new or a refinished gun...love is only in the eye of the beholder... charlie

[Gregory Miller]

Seller says that the serial number is 2372xx. I have 237939. And, mine was built December 28, 1935 in Meriden. So, if it remained in stock I suppose it could have been finished in Ilion, but number is low for an Ilion gun. Wood looks right as compared to mine, although mine is all matching numbers but is marked as Grade 4 on stock, although it is otherwise a VH. Why is lost in the sands of time. My wood has been refinished, Checkering is original and typical for Grade 4 and the oval has been replaced as it was missing when I got the gun. Silver Pad is modern.

On the upside, no hole for reblue on barrels. And, why would such a fine gun not have a letter from PGCA? Seems like a letter would be the starting point.

Picture of wood from my gun attached for comparison of late 1930s work by Meriden.

[Stephen Hodges]

I received the complete serial # from the seller, who seems to be a really nice guy, and it is a 1935 serial #, if that makes an difference.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks for posting that picture of your handsome VHE Greg. I was going to suggest you do it but you beat me to it.

Some wonderful Parkers were produced in the Remington era.

[Richard Flanders]

Greg's is a V grade??!! Looks more like an AAAAAAAAAAA-grade to me... I want one!

[Gregory Miller]

A letter should tell the story. There are records for the gun.

[Dean Romig]

Greg's VHE is a really neat gun. The forend is V Grade checkering but matches the buttstock in figure. I wonder if Remington ever used straight grain American black walnut on any of their Parkers.

[Brian Dudley]

Thats a C grade style buttstock on Gregs VHE. Must have been a special order.

[Dean Romig]

Brian, Greg mentioned in his post that the stock is stamped for a Grade 4.
Some of those Remington Parkers had some very interesting "special order" features. Perhaps Russ Jackson will post a couple of pictures of the checkering to the buttstock and forend of his CHE 20. A fabulous Parker.