20 ga. evaluation?

[Clay Eaves]

I would appreciate your help in evaluating a 20 ga. double (VH ?) that I inherited from my grandfather. I'm confused because I thought he bought this gun new however he was born in 1895 and the serial number as I've researched it seems to indicate the gun was manufactured in 1900. Somehow I doubt he bought the gun when he was 5 years old!! :-)

Can anyone help me determine a value for this gun or give me advise on what to do to determine a value? I have other pics if needed. The serial number is 97076, frame size 0, and barrel weight 3. As far as I know the gun is all original with the exception of the recoil pad that my grandfather added. I don't use this gun anymore and am considering selling to someone who can get some enjoyment out of it.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Rick Losey]

Guess I am the odd man out

My first post was asking about advice buying a gun not to sell one.
:rotf:

[David Noble]

Clay, the stock book for the time period of that gun is missing, and looking at the Serialization book for serials in that range only grade 3 and higher guns are listed so it makes it difficult to tell the original dimensions of the gun and the barrel type.
Does this gun have Twist barrels? What length are they and is there a termination of the wavy lines on the rib before they reach the muzzle? The white line recoil pad could be replaced with a period brand or style pad. These are all things that will affect value.

[Clay Eaves]

Thanks for your response David. This gun does not have twist barrels and they are 26" long. The wavy lines run all the way to the end of the muzzle. Here are a few more pics.

[David Noble]

Clay, it is almost certain that your barrels have been cut 2 to 4 inches. There is probably very little if any choke left in the barrels. This affects value to a pretty good degree.
I would not want to put a value on your gun in this public forum. You are obviously doing your homework and asking questions so you will soon be able to make a fairly close evaluation of it yourself.

[Dave Noreen]

I see a Remington repair code KJ3 on the left barrel flat. K = May, J = 1940. That butt stock looks like way nicer wood than the Brothers P were putting on a VH-Grade in 1900. Much more like Remington was putting on a VH-Grade in 1940. Is that recoil pad a Fray-Mershon Whiteline? If so it could be factory original from 1940 Remington work.

My 138000 later 20-gauge 26-inch VH-Grade has barrels with a 3 weight stamp. We need to see a picture of the muzzle end of the top rib, like this shot of an uncut 20-gauge --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parker/UncutMuzzle.jpg

Also, a side quartering view of the breech end of the barrels to see if the gun was fitted with the post-1910 replaceable bolt plate when it was to Ilion in 1940. This picture shows a 1930 20-gauge VH-Grade with the bolt-plate on left, and a 1902 12-gauge VH-Grade without the bolt-plate on right --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Parker/BoltPlateleftwithoutright.jpg

[Clay Eaves]

Clay, it is almost certain that your barrels have been cut 2 to 4 inches. There is probably very little if any choke left in the barrels. This affects value to a pretty good degree.
I would not want to put a value on your gun in this public forum. You are obviously doing your homework and asking questions so you will soon be able to make a fairly close evaluation of it yourself.

I'm assuming that if the barrels have been cut that it affects the value in a negative way?

[Clay Eaves]

I see a Remington repair code KJ3 on the left barrel flat. K = May, J = 1940. That butt stock looks like way nicer wood than the Brothers P were putting on a VH-Grade in 1900. Much more like Remington was putting on a VH-Grade in 1940. Is that recoil pad a Fray-Mershon Whiteline? If so it could be factory original from 1940 Remington work.

My 138000 later 20-gauge 26-inch VH-Grade has barrels with a 3 weight stamp. We need to see a picture of the muzzle end of the top rib. Also, a side quartering view of the breech end of the barrels to see if the gun was fitted with the post-1910 replaceable bolt plate when it was to Ilion in 1940.

The recoil pad is a White Line from Pachmayr Gun Works in Los Angeles. Here are the pics you discussed. Let me know if it shows you what you need.

Thanks, Clay

[Steve Huffman]

Does NOT look cut Positive way ! Stock looks pinned back to a negative

[Dean Romig]

And it sports the 1910 replacable bolt plate.

[David Noble]

I stand corrected Clay, your barrels appear factory length. When you answered that the wavy lines on the rib went all the way to the end, I thought you meant they ran right out to the end. That is why the pictures are so important! Every detail and nuance has some meaning and a part to tell about the gun.
Good catch on the Remington repair codes Dave!

[Clay Eaves]

I appreciate all of the input because admittedly I don't know guns the way you guys do! I would love to ask my grandfather a few questions right now! I've asked everyone still living but no one has any knowledge at this point.

So Remington repaired this gun at some point? I'm sure the code doesn't tell us anything about what was done? Am I correct that the serial # 97076 indicates this gun was manufactured in 1900?

[Bill Murphy]

Yup, no idea about what Remington did and 1900 is right. The bolt plate could have been updated any time after 1910.

[todd allen]

The highest possible value for that gun would come from passing it down to a son/daughter, or grandson/grandaughter and hopefully pondered a hundred or so years down the trail.

[greg conomos]

It's a well used/worn Parker 20 Ga V Grade. I'd have no doubt you could get over $1000 for it and I'd be really amazed if you got $3000 for it.

[Rich Anderson]

FWIW I bought a VH 20 in much better shape for $2300. This is just to get an idea on pricing not an evaluation of your gun.

[todd allen]

It looks like a great little shooter, to me. If I was in the market for a 20 bore, I would be interested.

[Jeff Christie]

The highest possible value for that gun would come from passing it down to a son/daughter, or grandson/grandaughter and hopefully pondered a hundred or so years down the trail.

Absolutely!! Keep the gun for the family. If you sell it you WILL always regret having done so!

I have two 'family' Parkers that my great grandfather bought over a 100 years ago here in Iowa. One is a 20 about identical to yours- even to the Pach white line 'tennis shoe' pad. Enjoy the gun. Get it out of the safe, into a case and into the truck and go hunting with it.

I doubt there are one in 10 (more like 1 in 100) PGCA members who have a Parker of any grade that came down thru the family. Most of them bought their own first Parker. You are one of the lucky ones who inherited theirs. You don't own a family gun- you hold it in trust for the next trustee. Keep the entail going.