VH lever malfunction /ask the experts?

[Bruce MacGregor]

Hi, A Question for the Experts,
One of my Parkers, a early , mint VH , has a problem with the lever sometimes (once out of every 5 times), not staying over to the right when the gun is opened.

When it does this ,the gun can not be closed with out manually moving the lever back over because the latch is still sticking out.

The lever also feels like it is rubbing / binding on something when it it moved normally to the right to open the gun.

Also the lever seems to come back to center to various positions.
The gun is clean and lightly oiled, not a relic.

It has perfect screws so I'm not to excited about opening up the floor plate.
Any ideas before it goes to a Parker gunsmith?
Bruce MacGregor,
Rhode Island

[Dave Suponski]

Bruce M, Being that your gun is as you said an early VH that would mean that your Parker is equipped with the early "Flat spring" top lever spring.Judging by the symptoms you posted..rubbing/binding and not returning to the same spot.I think you might have a broken top lever spring or maybe that the tip of one side of the spring has broken off.

[Austin W Hogan]

I have a five digit VH that I use for 2 - 3000 shots a year at skeet and five stand. Most of the shots are 7/8 ounce over a light charge of Promo that is quite dirty. I occassionally experience a floppy top lever, or a failure to close tightly on the first try. This is usually due to powder residue in the locking bite, and sometimes to unburned powder grains on the water table.
Check these things before you try any major repairs.

Best, Austin