VHE SKEET

[Michael Murphy]

What does the assembled and learned throng think about this particular gun?

http://www.gunsamerica.com//984831786/Guns/Shotguns/Parker-Shotguns/Must_See_1935_PARKER_VHE_12_Gauge_Shotgun_in_Leath er_Case.htm?wl=1#

[Daryl Corona]

Looks to be a nice gun, reasonably priced. Don't know if someone cut the checkered butt, but it looks like it. If anyone is interested the shop selling it is about an hour away and I'd be willing to hop down and look it over.

[Andy Kelley]

Hi really nice gun but has it been restocked...I'm no expert but the profile of the stock seems a little too sleek .top dollar but beautiful metal coloring etc.

[George M. Purtill]

Th Book says it doesnt have a Trap forend.

[Rich Anderson]

Out of all those pictures the one with the reinforced lug for the forarm is conviently missing. IF it's a true skeet gun the PG version is seen far less than the straight grip guns.

[Michael Murphy]

Thanks. As usual, the knowledge base regarding Parkers on this forum is outstanding. I'm a neophyte in that area. I didn't get my first "old" Parker until about three years ago, though now I have a few. I do have several Repros and have had them for many years.
I was mildly interested in that particular toy, but suspected the restock myself. It also seems to be in too good a shape for a Skeet gun. They generally get a lot of shells poured through them and are handled a lot, which would have worn the case hardening colors more than shown. It is a pretty piece though. However, with a suspected restock and probably a refinish, including case colors, the price seems a little stiff.

[Bill Murphy]

The leather?? cover on the pad is very fresh and new looking.

[Andy Kelley]

Hi again, you might want to go back to the seller and question some of the claims he made in the ad and try to get the price down. Should you be a skeet shooter this gun should get you many positive comments on your choice of gun. I am not tied by a hard and fast rule about everything on a gun having to be 100 percent like it came from the factory.

[Pete Lester]

A couple of thoughts; maybe someone could ask the seller if it has a non-automatic safety, that was normally standard on a "skeet gun". Lack of a BTFE in the serialization book gives me pause. A pistol grip skeet would have been special order as normal configuration would have been a straight grip. I wouldn't give up on this gun if you want it, see if it was special ordered. The letter would increase or decrease the odds it was stamped "skeet in" and "skeet out" at the factory. The gun could have been modified with the BTFE and stamps applied much later.

PS. ask the seller for a picture of the forend lug to see if it is the factory reinforced lug used for the BTFE.

[edgarspencer]

I see nothing that would indicate to me that the stock is a replacement.

[Bill Murphy]

I agree with Edgar. The wood is very V Grade skeetish, especially the forend.

[Michael Murphy]

oops! deleted reply

[Robert Beach]

Parker 239502 was received at Abercrombie & Fitch on November 30, 1936. The shotgun is in the ledger as a VHE Skeet grade with a full pistol grip and a LOP of 14 5/16 inches. The price of the gun was $143.85 which was the catalog price in 1936 for a VHE Skeet grade with a single trigger.

Compliments of Griffin & Howe, Inc.

Bob Beach
Records Archivist

[Pete Lester]

It's a skeet gun, but the BTFE mystery remains, error in the Serialization book perhaps.

[Eric Eis]

Pete remember there are many errors in the "Book"

[Bruce Day]

If a person had a genuine interest in the gun, it wouldn't take much to remove the forend iron and determine if the forend wood has the proper serial number. While I appreciate that a skilled counterfeitor can duplicate that too, I believe that such counterfeiting is rare. There is lots of discussion about whether the forend is right or not. To my eye, it has the proper narrow , barrel hugging configuration for a late beavertail forend, which look different than the earlier, blocky beavertails. The serial number in the forend wood will tell you whether the wood is factory or not, and to me as long as it is factory work, I would not care when it was done. I have also seen many thin recoil pads on late guns, and can provide provide photos if needed. The leather facing is unusual, but Parker offered leather faced thin pads, and whether it is factory leather faced would not be consequential to me.

If a person was a serious Parker collector of skeet guns, I think this gun merits interested consideration . The price is always open to negotiation but if a person is never willing to pay the price, he seldom gets what he wants.

[Dean Romig]

After examining all of the details of every picture it certainly looks like the "real deal" to me. Nothing about that gun raises any questions I can think of.

[edgarspencer]

After examining all of the details of every picture it certainly looks like the "real deal" to me. Nothing about that gun raises any questions I can think of.

Sensei has spoken.

[Fred Preston]

I have #238528, a 12ga VHE 1&1/2 frame, 26" "skeet in-skeet out" bbls. w/ 2&1/2' chambers, SST, PG, BTFE. It's slightly older than the subject piece, but the BTFE is "blocky" to my eye (original w/ reenforcing rod and the "tough lug"). I've used it hunting with an SFE from another VHE to look cool, but it doesn't balance well; needs the heavy lumber. Will get out the camera to post some pics if anyone wants.

[Fred Preston]

Just checked the S&I book for #239602 (if that's the right # for the subject gun) and it shows ejectors and SST as extras, no BTFE. Also, says it's a 20ga.

I looked at the watertable pic again and the # may be 239502 in which case it is listed with the same extras (no BTFE), but is a 12ga.

[Rich Anderson]

Just because there are serial numbers in the wood doesn't guarantee it's originality. Someone skilled enough to make the forarm could also duplicate the numbers.

If memory serves Ed Muderlak had a 12ga skeet gun with a splinter forarm. never say never.

[John Havard]

Wouldn't there have been a fore end tip escutcheon? I thought all VHE's had them, or were they not installed on beavertails?

[Dean Romig]

They were not fitted to the beavertail or "trap" forends.

[Michael Murphy]

VHE Skeet is gone! Anyone here grab it?

[Bill Murphy]

Great, now I don't have to worry about it. Someone got a great gun.

[Michael Murphy]

Bill, Just as I feel. Bought too many guns the last couple of years.

[Pete Lester]

Bill, Just as I feel. Bought too many guns the last couple of years.

To paraphrase Sen. Phil Gramm, "I have bought more guns than I need, but not as many as I want" :rotf:

[Michael Murphy]

It gets tough when you can't remember where you put them, or forget if you still have them or traded them.

[Bill Murphy]

If I had driven the 90 miles to Easton, I would now own that gun. Sometimes we show some restraint.

[Stephen Hodges]

If I had driven the 90 miles to Easton, I would now own that gun. Sometimes we show some restraint.

Bill, life is to short......................eat desert first and buy all the guns you can:rolleyes:

[George M. Purtill]

If I had driven the 90 miles to Easton, I would now own that gun. Sometimes we show some restraint.

And it was in Easton since 1935 so you could have gone anytime to see it.

[George M. Purtill]

And it was in Easton since 1935 so you could have gone anytime to see it.

Bill
If you read the PP article you will see I was wrong about the gun being in Easton since 1935. It was only in Easton recently. And it wasn't built until 1936.