I would suggest you don't let anyone touch any part of that gun except to simply clean the mechanical aspect of it. Those finishes are probably all original and need to be kept that way in order to keep its value. Any refinishing will severely diminish its value.





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I wish to thank you all again for the warm welcome and for taking time to respond to my posts. Brad

Just be aware, you won't get order book info because the order books ended i n Dec 1919 before your gun was built. You'll get the build specifications from the stock book.

That is in great condition. I like it !

Brad:

What a pristine VH and with family history. As others have said, get it "cleaned good" (strip and clean) by someone who knows what they are doing and go out and enjoy it.

Brad, barring any unforseen alterations, a VH 12ga with that much original case colors and general great condition is worth at least double what ever value has already been stated in this thread.
I hope you are not selling it!

These issues need to be addresses and I don't think anyone has. If the lever stays to the right and appears loose you have a broken spring for the top lever. If you can't get the forearm to go on perhaps the the gun was dry fired and the ejectors have fired and they need to be recocked. If you can answer these two questions with more detail someone can advise you.

Is the lever wobbly with no tension once the barrels are closed onto the frame?

The photo looks as if the lever is just not fully closed on the forearm. This happens on guns that the tolerances are tight. Try pressing the forearm against the barrels with your hand and assist the lever to close gently without pushing too hard, with your fingers. It should close.

Maybe that is why it has not been fired for so long and retained its condition; it was broken.

Any of the issues you have with the gun are likely stemming from the gun just needing a good cleaning. These later guns have coil top lever springs which nearly never break and when they do, the mechanism will usually continue working since the spring is encapsulated in a collar/pocket. The lever not closing is likely more a sticking trip. And the forend not latching is also either due to needing cleaning, or simply your just needing to squeeze harder.

This really is a phenomenal gun. Look at the lines on that stock! Perfectly shown in the profile photos. Quintessential 1920’s Parker!

If the barrels close fully it can’t be the trip which holds the lever open. The lug would have pushed the trip fully out of the opening lever. That’s why we need a more detailed description of what is going on with the top lever. Maybe he meant it stays to the right when apart which is correct as some doubles do go back to the natural position and move when one closes the barrels. i did not look at the serial number to determine if it was a jacketed coil spring about which you are correct.

Late to the party here, but the pictures look great!