Dean
I have your gun!! I have actually considered selling it until I pick it up and look at the engraving again. I just sold a really nice D grade 16 ga , 30" to a member with 40% down the rest as he can. Your $10K would make an acceptable down payment.:bigbye:
David

Have we established the use this gun will be put to?

Yep. making the owner happy.

A CH with Bernard barrels or a VH 28 gauge

Depending on the market at the time, a 12 gauge BH would be my goal if I could find one at that price, I currently do know of such a gun that I could acquire for that price, but more likely a 12 ga CH with nice engraving and bernard's would be a plus.

i would go with a vh hammerless 20 ga with 26 in barrels with open chokes...and have enough money left to buy some more parkers...charlie

A nice condition CH with Bernard barrels would be nice.

Followed closely by using the funds to do a complete correct restoration my BH-12 which needs close to that amount to bring back to it's glory days.

An original 20 gauge CH straight grip with Bernard barrels. OK, probably not for $10K. Maybe a 20 straight grip DH Damascus?

If I had $10,000 to put into a gun, I'd buy this Purdey:

http://www.gunsinternational.com/gun...n_id=100620800

My tastes run closer to Charlie's but then, I am not a collector, just a grouse hunter/shooter that happens to like Parkers. So, I would look for a high condition 20ga GH with factory 26" or 28" open choked barrels. A pistol grip, splinter, double triggers and a DAH of no more than 2.5". Nice wood that is often seen on G's would be a definite plus. To get picky I would definitely prefer a weight of 6-12. Might have to be a 1 frame to get that spec. I would think I should have some money left over for ammo.