VH 20 w/ 26" barrels

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Got my Parker letter on my VH 20 #177061 this weekend. I guess in the old doubles world we are presumed guilty until proven innocent. I was recently told that the barrels most definately had been cut because there are not many 26" guns and the chokes measure out to be cyl/mod ( this was not on the forum here but someone who claimed knowledge and had the gun in hand.) Well, (drum roll please)- the letter says-26" cyl/mod. Yes this gun had been restored before I bought it in the "80's--reblued,recased,and refinished. Unfortunately, not a lot of other info was available on the gun(such as weight or other specs). I will try to post pics and scan the letter.
How about a new thread--who has 26" original or shorter, and what are they choked: here are mine:
DHE 16 O frame 26" cyl/mod
VH20 O frame 26" Cyl/mod (factory letters on both)

[Rick Losey]

Nice little upland gun

The "expert" said cut because there were not many made? :) Even if that were true, why would that preclude yours? Here is a good example of why the letters are a good idea.

As is often said here never says never about Parkers.

[Brian Dudley]

I don't think that 26" is an uncommon length for a 20g. gun.

[George M. Purtill]

I don't think that 26" is an uncommon length for a 20g. gun.

All 3 of my 20 gauge guns are 26 inches original
DHE
VH
Trojan

[Rick Losey]

It was my impression that shorter barrel were all the rage for upland hunters during many of the pre WWII years and were offered by all the American (and a couple British) makers, a standard option if thats not an oxymoron.

AH Fox even designated 26 inch barrels as a standard in a Sterlingworth model called the "brush gun"

[Harold Lee Pickens]

The "expert" pointed out the finishing at the end of the rib at the muzzles, there is not as clear a line and space as on my other 2 Parkers. Hey, how about a picture of your OH Ostahaus setter -the new home for Old Hemlock setters is not far from me.

[Chuck Bishop]

Harold, I just checked the order book again just to make sure I didn't miss anything. There is no info in the order book as to weight and stock configuration. The stock book that would have that info for that S/N is missing.

[Brian Dudley]

26" was also a common length with Skeet guns. The Lefever A grade Skeet was 26" and the Fox Sterlingworth Skeet/Upland Gun was 26" as well.

[Dean Romig]

26" barrels are quite common on Parkers from .410 up to 12 ga. but scarce on 10 ga. and unheard of on 8 ga. guns

[Harold Lee Pickens]

I also have a little Lefever DSE 20 with 26' barrels. They dont appear to be cut but I guess records dont exist to document Lefevers. I do have a Fox SW (Utica)with barrels cut to 261/2" that is quickly becoming a favorite.

[Rick Losey]

The "expert" pointed out the finishing at the end of the rib at the muzzles, there is not as clear a line and space as on my other 2 Parkers. Hey, how about a picture of your OH Ostahaus setter -the new home for Old Hemlock setters is not far from me.


New home?? Did they move that old house since I checked on them after the storm this weekend?

That grand old house will all be home to us, or are you referring to the Ohio addres where Roger, the new keeper of the bloodline lives?

I'll put up some picture of my boys on the off topic board, but in the meantime if you want some setter overload take a look here - I put a collection together from contibutions of many OH owners for the annual gathering a couple years back.

http://www.oldhemlock.org/PhotoAblum/OHGathering/index.htm

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Yep, I was refering to Roger Brown in Monroe county, Ohio. I was born,raised, and still work in Belmont county which is adjacent to Monroe. I still own 170 acres in Belmont with a restored 175 yr old log cabin on it, but now live on the other side of the river. I met George Bird a couple of times and my cousin was his dentist. Those sure are beautiful dogs.

[Rick Losey]

That house is one cool piece of history.

We live in a nearly two hundred year old stone house, and I pass by a log house along the local trout stream several days a week.

Being a history nut, i enjoy seeing these things saved.

[Mills Morrison]

I also have a Trojan 20 with original 26" barrels (confirmed by PGCA Letter).

[Dave Noreen]

I have a 26-inch barrel, 0-frame, VH-Grade, 20-gauge, shipped in 1930. It still has the short chambers for the 2 1/2 inch shells, and is choked plenty tight. I'm at our place in Kodiak, AK, away from my records, so can't give what the letter and my micrometer says about the chokes right now.

[charlie cleveland]

i do not have a letter on my johney cash gun its a g grade with v grade barrels but they have not been cut and are 26 inches barrels made in 1904 by serial no...i agree the 26 inch and less barrel were the rage in there dayin the south for quail... i like short barrels for there ease of handling.... charlie

[Larry Frey]

Number 171102 is a 26" Titanic 16 gage choked RH Cyl. LH Mod. per it's PGCA letter. Number 176884 is a 26" Titanic 12 gage choked RH. Cyl. LH Full per it's letter. I have other examples of guns ordered with one barrel open and the other tight. Having hunted for years with a flusher this combination with two triggers offers the choice not to destroy a close flush or to pull the back trigger on a bird that gets up at extreme ranges.

[Dean Romig]

And we must not forget that sweet little Titanic 28 ga. straight grip 26" DH that was choked right open and left close... yes, I still dream about that one...

[Daryl Corona]

All 3 20ga. 26"
VHE -IC/IM
VHE- SK IN/ SK OUT
PHE- IC/M
26'' VHE 28ga IC/M

[Dave Suponski]

68805 16 gauge PH 26" Titanic steel barrels choked cyl. and full

[Eric Grims]

26" VH 12 gauge choked IC/MOD from the factory

[Larry Frey]

And we must not forget that sweet little Titanic 28 ga. straight grip 26" DH that was choked right open and left close... yes, I still dream about that one...

Dean,
Just so you don't forget.

[Rich Anderson]

GHE 12 26inch bbls skt/skt
GHE 20 26inch bbls IC/M
DHE 20 26 inch bbls Cyl/Cyl undoubtly opened up but what a Grouse gun!
VHE 20 26inch bbls skt/skt
H&H 20ga 26inch bbls IC/M just for diversity:)
VHE 16 26 inch bbls skt/skt

[Herb Hewlett]

VH 20 26" imp. & mod.
VHE16 26" f.&f.

[James L. Martin]

12ga 26" DH cyl and mod .001 and .024
20ga 26" VH f and f .026 and .026