GHE Damascus three barrel 16, no provenance on any set, DH Damascus #3 frame 12 two barrel set, lettered, PHE vent rib trap, two barrel set, no documentation of second set. DH 12 two barrel set, vent and solid rib, no documentation. All of the mentioned undocumented two and three barrel sets are obviously factory work with perfect fit and markings. In the early seventies, Larry Del Grego Sr. installed a set of PSS barrels on a GHE 16 Damascus gun for me. These barrels fit as well as the original barrels. He numbered them with late serial number stamps. This gun appears to be factory work although I know that it is not.

Two Barrel Set Guns
 

Well said Bill. Two barrel sets are found at about 2 per thousand guns in the archive, until about s/n 200000, where the fraction increases to about 5 per thousand. A far greater fraction are found.

Best, Austin

A friend of mine's grandfather, Jake Gay, purchased a AAH in 1897 and over the next 16 years had four additional sets of barrels made for the Parker. One set of 28" Vulcan barrels cyl and mod and the rest were 32" Whitworth barrels with 2 7/8" chambers and various full chokes for live bird and clay pigeon.

Harry

Wow Harry, we know of a documented DH 16 ga. that had three extra sets of barrels for several different shooting needs making it a four-barrel-set but this AAH is the first 5-barrel gun I've heard of.

Is there any more we can learn about that AAH?

Harry,I would think that would be a significant Parker. More info? Please..:)

I also agree with Dean. I have three 2 barrels sets that letter. First a DH, a CH and a CHE and I was very willing to pay a premium for those sets.
David

David, I am not familiar with your D but I must say I am envious of the other two.

In fact, it could be said that I covet my neighbor's C's

Hmmm.... I may have to go to confession tonight :rolleyes:

A Quandary
 

During the time of production from s/n 90000 to 180000, a VH cost about $37.50 to 50 and grades DH and higher cost $100 to $400. A second barrel was 1/2 the price of the gun.
How could the customer turn down two or three specialty barrrels for his D C B A at $18 - $25 each?
Along the same line, a new stock cost 1/10 the price of the gun. A DH stock would add $10 to the price of a VH and a BH stock $20. A VH with a DH stock would have cost $60; why would the customer pay that for a PH? Even more so a VH with a BH stock at $70 would be a much nicer gun than a GH at$80.
Is the reason for this Parker policy? That is they would not mix grade on a new gun, but would "repair" a used gun by fitting any barrel if they recieved a frame from the customer? A policy like this could explain the large number of two barrel sets in existence compared to the number archived.
Best, Austin

Jake Gay and JAR Elliot shot against one another in Louisville for the Chmpion Live Bird Shot of the United States in January 1897. Gay shot a Parker and Elliot his Winchester pump. Elliot won by two or three birds. In April of that year Gay ordered his AAH. Sadly the house burned to the ground in about 1977 with all of the Parkers except one and that was a DH 20 gauge that Jake's widow Lucy had given to her granddaughter, Monnie Gay. They did know however where the jewelry and the AAH were in the house and searched the ashes and they were recovered. DelGrego restored the AAH. It survives with only one set of the five barrels. I have writen a story about it, but want to get more information about Jakes shooting before I try to have it published.

Harry

Thanks Harry, I can't wait to read your story - it should prove very interesting.

Austin, I know of a AAH 20 gauge made new with Whitworth Steel barrels and an additional set of Acme 28 gauge barrels as requested by the customer, Henry A. Bishop.