Brett, I thought the barrels were original blue, but thought that the forend iron and trigger guard would have shown more wear for a gun that was devoid of case color. My guess would be this gun was made in 1920-22 era, don't have a serial number book

Hello Harold , just my opinion but I believe the reason the receiver looks flat or sand blasted ,I think at some point the receiver may have had some light surface rust or corrosion on it and some one used Naval Jelly to remove it ! The reason I say this ,I had bought a 12 Gauge DH Grade gun years ago with light rusting ,no pitting and used this same product and that is the exact out come I got from using it ! I used a lit buffing with Flitz Polish to take the edge off of it but I never buffed it as I was worried it would put a shine on it and I surely didn't want that ! Nice find in 20 Gauge !

maybe so Russ, good to hear from you--hey, Washington County gun show this weekend, you going??

Hello Harold , Didn't know about it but maybe ! Depends what else might be going on ,how about you ?

Personally I would judge a Parker like that on how it fits me than anything else. Finish grade or configuration as shown not worth extra. If it was top condition never touched another matter.

2 5/8 drop would be a plus for me.

William

None of the metal finishes on the gun are original. They all appear to have been media/vapor blasted and then the barrels and forend metal blued. Likely Hot blued by the look of the barrel lug. And the frame left raw. Much like the finishes used by large manufacturers on economy guns.
Looks like whoever did it knew how to finish and 870, but not a parker.

As you said Harold it is a 20ga. Parker. Seeing how it is available to you for inspection I'd go and check out the barrels, the wood looks to be in good condition and interestingly the screws look to be unturned. I'd start at $3500 and go up to $4000. Then again, it is a 20ga. Parker and you know how I love those smallbores.

Compare the receiver finish with a gun you know to be untouched, under strong magnification. Tell us if you think that P grade receiver was sunk in an acid bath of some sort. It looks that way in the mediocre pictures you supplied.

Yes, I know the pictures were not the best, but he flagged me down while I was out running, and all I had was my cell phone. Bill, when he carried the gun in, I was immeadiately struck with the odd, flat appearance of the frame. I do believe that as you, and others opined that something was used on it, or it was media blasted--sure doesn't look like the silvered frames of my well used Parkers. I will go look at it again, but will probably just walk away from it.

Got Chuck's letter yesterday(thanks). The PH 20 came home with me a couple weeks ago. The measurements I took after getting it home match the letter. A heavy little O frame 20 at 6 lbs 11 oz, it should be a nice shooter with its 2 3/8 DAH. Wish it were a little more open choked. The right barrel not as tightly choked as the left, more like an improved mod and full--certainly not going to change anything, maybe load up some spreaders. I t should be a good 20 ga pheasant gun and sporting clays gun. I have 2 other open choked lightweight VH 20's.
The barrels ring nicely. Someone suggested that perhaps a bluing remover was used to remove the cc, certainly something was doe to it.
Price ?, well I certainly didn't get hurt, Itold him what I was willing to pay, (less than what I had suggested here) and he said sure. I think he wanted me to have it.
Havent had it out to shoot yet, but maybe remedy that this weekend.