Jerry, it seems that Remington discontinued the "mullered" concave checkering border sometime after the move to Ilion. Possibly some of the highest grades may still have retained that feature but from what I've seen up through CH grade it is lacking.
Your VHE appears to be in high condition and very possibly original finish . . . except for that forend.
What is wrong with the buttstock that it needs raplacement?

Someone cut the comb off, then inlaid a piece of wood to raise the comb. Darn trap shooters! ( only kidding ). But it probably was. The gun is in very high condition, I don't think it was used much at all. Single Parker trigger, and ejectors, quite a bit of color remaining and blue. It's a shame about the stock and forend. I have the ability to return them back to factory specs ( not tooting my own horn, I'm just crazy to the point of making myself nuts when I restock. A monkey could do it if you could get him to channel a bit ) so I guess that's where it's headed. The gun is going up for sale or trade. I have a weak spot for Winchester high & low walls and a guy has a High Wall Schutzen in 38-55 he's been teasing me with, and he's a stockmaker, and a very good one as well. He'll do it justice also, but I might rather sell the thing, I just don't know. I have wood coming, and maybe a factory forend someone one here was kind enough to tell me about.
I know one thing. This board has some very helpful, very kind folks on it. Jerry

Jerry: I have been working on a rust bucket for a while. You say all your numbers match. Stocks are also numbered from what I found on my project. If you remove the forend iron you should find a SN on the wood. Here is what I found on a splinter forend.
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/cpg1...108603_029.jpg
After removing the rust from this, the full SN became visible
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/cpg1...108603_030.jpg

My wood is not right for sure, it's gaudy and horrible and no way can it be from a Parker! Thanks for the tip though, looks like you have your work cut out for you. I've had them like that before, just have to stick with it and go after it. I have a low wall deluxe in .22 LR that was in a bag when it came to me, if I can post pics I'll put one on here. Thanks much, Jerry

This gun was not shootable when I received it, bought it for parts basically. The scope is one of the new ones by Leatherwood, 18 inch 6X, very nice scope. I shot a bundle of squirrles with this, the longest shot at 91 yards, ranged. Do'nt give up on the rusted Parker, this is much proof it can be done. I built the stock from a blank I've had for nearly 20 years, Al Springer did the colors. The only complaint I have is I lost the super tight wood to metal fit when the gun was colored, but I guess that's to be expected. Jerry


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