New buttstock - VH 12 gauge

[Frank Srebro]

Most of my friends know that I'm trying to corner the market on nice 32-inch straight grip guns. :) I found a 2-frame VH last year with two barrels, one 32-inch 12 gauge choked IM and Full. And a 32-inch 20 gauge/3-inch barrel choked F & F. Original stock had 2-1/2" drop and fit me well but someone had pried the stock off, and the top and bottom tang inlets were pretty rough. Then last October I had the gun slip off my shoulder (in a padded gun case) and hit the concrete deck in the predawn darkness at at hotel on the St Lawrence river in NY. I thought it escaped damage but later in the goose blind I discovered a cracked wrist.

I had a gun restock in queue at Susquehanna Stockworks here in PA and Craig Libhart let me switch out the VH for that one. I asked Craig to replace the buttstock only, and he did that to my somewhat higher and longer dimensions so I could use it for hunting and clays. Of course I went with figured American black walnut from his inventory. Gun is now stocked 1-1/2 by 2-1/4 by 14-1/4" LOP. Original stock shield, tang bolt ferrule and buttplate screws were reused. Ready for this upcoming season. Here you go guys and gals. It looks like I'm limited here so more pics to follow. Frank

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post89.jpg

[Frank Srebro]

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post90.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post91.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post92.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post93.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post94.jpg

[Frank Srebro]

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post95.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post96.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post97.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post98.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post99.jpg

[Chuck Bishop]

Frank,

Craig did a real nice job on your VH. I'll have to ask him if he stained the stock and if he did, what color was it. He likes to use Behlan's. It's nice to have a good stocker local to our area.

Did I read correctly that the VH 2 frame 2 barrel set had one set in 12ga and the other set in 20ga? If so, it makes me want to find a set of 20ga barrels for the 1/2 frame I picked up in your neck of the woods 2 weeks ago.

[Frank Srebro]

Chuck, thanks for your feedback. As you know Craig is a superb ACGG stockmaker. I'll post some additional pics here to show what the inletting looks like; no exoxy or acraglass etc was used. Yes the gun came with two barrels and two forends, both 32"..... one 12 gauge/2-3/4 inch and the other 20 gauge/3-inch. The 20 gauge barrel and forend were numbered to another 2-frame VH and Dewey Vicknair fitted them to this frame. Good to go for ducking starting next week. I'll never find a 20 gauge Super-Fox at a reasonable price so I call this one my Super 20 Parker. Hey your 1/2 frame gun sounds neat! Frank

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post88.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post87.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post86.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post85.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/post84.jpg

[Dean Romig]

Very nice work Frank!

[Dave Suponski]

Frank, We talked about Craig this weekend and I am impressed with his work. Is this gun a Remington era gun? I ask because of the fluting and shape of the nose of the comb. Great pictures ......Thanks

[Daryl Corona]

Great gun Frank. What a neat combination of barrels. Craig does wonderful work. But... you can stop now as I don't need the competition for 32" guns. Now, if only I could find a set of 32" 28ga., 00, ejector barrels to compliment my 20 and 16ga. 32" straight grip guns I'd be content for a while.:)
Dave,
Safety button looks like a pre 1917 or so style.

[Tom Brown]

Yes Craig does excellent work, eye for detail!

[Frank Srebro]

Thanks again everyone. The gun is numbered 1724xx and Dave you looked it up for me one time and said it's an original straight grip. Craig profiled the new buttstock to be exactly the same as the original one, except for the new drop at heel and LOP. The nose of the comb is shaped the same as the old one. The 20 gauge/3-inch barrels and their forend were numbered 1499xx and another helpful gent looked them up for me and as I recall he said that VH was sent to a firm in Maine. The back end of that VH is MIA.

Here's a pic of my Super 20 Parker on that trip last October right after the stock got cracked. I used factory Bismuth Cartridge Company 20 gauge 3-inch shells loaded with 1-1/16 ounce of 4's.

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/IMG_8961-1.jpg

[Brian Dudley]

He did a very nice classic oil finish on that VH. Thanks for sharing frank.

[Frank Srebro]

Thank you Brian. Just to clarify, although it looks like an oil finish, the stock has three coats of an old time exterior varnish that's finished to a satin look. The varnish is at least 48 years old; it came from a hardware store my Dad bought to convert to apartments. He liquidated most of the inventory and kept some paints and varnishes for himself, which is where I got the unopened quart can after Dad passed a few years ago. I tried it on some test pieces of walnut exposed to weather all last (rainy) winter and it held up very well. Craig sealed the wood pores with whatever he uses for that purpose, and Dad's varnish was applied afterwards.

[Brian Dudley]

Thanks for the clarification.

[Dean Romig]

According to the safety switch it is a pre-Remington gun.

[Chuck Bishop]

I received a e-mail reply from Craig. "That wood was stained with a really light application of Minwax ebony stain and wiped off after being on for only about 10 seconds. That darkened the wood enough so that when the finish was put on, it turned that real nice brown."

[Frank Srebro]

I had two questions on the gun weight. With 12 gauge barrels: 8 - 0 right on the nose. With 20 gauge barrels: 8 - 8. Those 20 gauge barrels have heavy walls. This pic was taken right after I found the gun last year. Old stock is shown here.

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/IMG_8072.jpg

[Brian Dudley]

Yeah, you will get that with those multi barrel sets of different guages.

[Jerry Andrews]

I've been a stockmaker since 1976 doing factory work on American doubles. I specialize in factory work, mainly on the L.C. Smith guns, but I've done my share of Parkers. I'm very impressed with this work and I don't hand out compliments very easily on stock work, but this guy is very good. Nice to see the craft surviving. Jerry Andrews

[Frank Srebro]

Thank you Jerry. I'll pass your comments on to Craig. So, I had 56 loaded shells left from the Vintage Cup and shot this VH on Wednesday with the 12 gauge barrel on it. First time I fired the gun since the stocking. My buddies made it a little tough and wanted to shoot all simos at my local club (Rock Mtn here in PA), but I did 53 ex 56 with the Parker. I was straight on the last 34 targets until I ran out my S x S shells and switched to the over/under. :) I shoot 1 ounce loads/7.5 shot with "PB" powder almost exclusively in all my 12 gauge S x S's. Frank

[Jerry Andrews]

Wow! Some darn good shooting! I've not shot the damascus Parkers much, used to hunt with a PH 20 damascus gun, I loaded my own blackpowder shells at the time. Now with the RST loads it should be much easier. I have a graded hammer gun, 12 gauge, heavy with color & pattern, I've been saving for a turkey hunt. I'll buy some RST loads and give it a try. The workmanship in this early gun is simply outstanding! Jerry

[Chuck Bishop]

Frank,

What would it take to make you switch sides on the next Fox/Parker challenge? Remember, us Parker guys don't have much money to bribe you, at least not me:bowdown: