Question on Factory 28 gauge barrels
 

if a gun was originally a 16 gauge & was sent back to factory & fitted with Vulcan 28 gauge barrels( letter confirmed )...would it have the value of a factory original 28 in the original grade ? any thoughts would be appreciated.

ddp

To me a 1 or 0 framed gun with 28ga barrels would be less desireable than 28ga barrels on a 00 frame gun, barrel length, grade and condition factors being equal. Such a gun would also be heavier than a 20ga, and possibly heavier than a 16ga, and most people desire a 28ga for weight reduction.

good point on the weight...it was originally 6lbs 5 oz. with 28" DAM barrels. the 28's are also 28 "
I don't know frame size yet.
thanks for the reply.

ddp

I guess I am one of the few who would prefer a 28 on a O frame because I want a heavier gun.
Desirerablity to an individual would determine value.
It all in the eyes of the beholder.

I see a lot more 28s on OO frame than on O frames. A 28 on a #1 frame would be a less than common find IMO.

If the gun is built on a 0-Frame I would think it would be more valuable than a 16. Are the original 16 gauge barrels still with the gun? That would make for a very nice (and valuable) two-barrel-set Parker.

unfortunately the Damascus barrels are missing.

ddpp

I especially like the Parker 28 ga guns and 28" is perfect. I have a couple OO frame and one O frame. I find the O frame a better shooter as the OO can be "whippy". IMHO a factory O frame is as valuable as an OO frame.
David

would you consider this a factory 28 gauge as far as valuation?

ddp

Yes I would. It would not be quite as valuable as if it was originally a factory 28ga but close. The value would mainly be driven by condition and originality(stock).I actually have five, but only four are original, the fifth one an O frame hammergun with an added 30" 28ga barrel by Brachelder.
David

sounds like quite a collection of 28's
this gun is coming to market & i'm trying to decide if I want to take a shot at it. well on the high side of what I normally look at. it's going to be 12 to 13 I believe. any thoughts ?

ddp

Dwight, what is the grade of the gun?

If it originally had Damascus Steel barrels it was probably a Grade 2 or higher.

sorry...PH & it appears untouched.

ddp

That depends on the condition-case color, blue, stock originality and condition.
An all original OO , 30" 40% CC, good blue and stock finish is about 12-14K?
Good Luck-they do not come available that often!
David

the case color , %, vivid?, location makes a HUGE difference in value. I saw a beautiful VHE 28g 30" , SS ,with 90% vivid CC go for $24,000 and was probable worth more
David

David, I disagree with that assessment for a 28 ga. in the condition you discuss.

I would tag it between $16k - $19k with ejectors.

$14 - $16 with extractors.

A PH would normally have had Twist Steel barrels rather than Damascus Steel. Have you seen the letter?

With it being rebarreled I don't think it would have anywhere near the value of a true 28. For my hard earned dollars I would pay more for an original VH/VHE 28 than a rebarreled PH on a heavier frame even if Parker did it.

Dean , your right, I checked the letter. it came with 28" twist barrels.

I agree with David and Doc Truitt. An O frame 28 gauge is a wonderful gun.

Sure it is if your going to break targets with it BUT if your going to carry it all day in the uplands then the 00 frame rules.....ask anyone who hunts with one......Yup COB's right......again:duck:

I have a nice 28ga Damascus gun that is on a 0 frame. I am so embarrassed that it is a 0 frame that I can hardly be seen in public with it.

I'm not so sure a 28 that was rebarrelled by Parker is any less desirable than one that was built that way. I suppose it comes down to, maybe, snob appeal but then whether Parker did the work or not is what we normally use to judge snob appeal so that goes out the window.

If the gun letters with Parker work I'd consider it every bit the real deal, unless the result was something ungainly - like it doesn't balance properly or weighs 7.5lbs because the 16 was a heavy gun to start with.

I've never understood the fascination with the 28ga when you can find a 20ga that will weigh maybe 5/10 to 5/14, cost far less, balistically equal if not superior and use shells that can be bought inexpensively in about any place that sells shotshells.

What is a 28ga, at least $1000 per ounce over a similar 20 ga, probably more?

I have to agree with Rich on this one.:eek: If it's targets you want to shoot then the O frame would be fine. On the other hand why not shoot a 20 with 3/4oz. loads? A OO frame is unsurpassed in the field for ease of carrying all day. But........... that's why they make chocolate and vanilla.:)

Here is a 5 lb, 12oz DHE 20ga made for quail, woodcock and grouse. It was patterned with 3/4oz , 2 dram loads. I shoot it as intended by Parker or with 7/8, 2 1/4 dre loads.

Each to his own.

Rich and Daryl, I currently hunt with a 6lb.2oz 20 gauge Trojan. I can't believe a O frame 28 would weigh a whole lot more than that.

It probably does'nt Dave, but my 5lb. 8oz. VH straight grip 28 is a real pleasure to carry all day. Those 10ozs. don't sound like much but, like a lightweight pair of boots, their weight is a godsend for me after walking a few miles and carrying a gun 10ozs. lighter.

These guns are tools. Each designed/ brought to life to do a job. Fortunately Parker could and would make what you want.
An upland hunter wants a lite gun to carry, a duck hunter a heavy gun, a pigeon shooter, trap shooter etc all different.
IMO, based upon some reading and history, the game of skeet is what kept the 28 ga alive and help bring its exposure to more shooters/ hunters via sales man etc.

Again the value of a gun is in the eye of the beholder. We all want something different. Just like Mr Corona said we each have different tastes.

If any one out there has a 34" 28 ga on a O or 1 or any frame size and is not happy with it, please give me a call. :)

The difference is in mere ounces. The 0-frame 28 gauge barrels are 'swamped' very acutely and the gun balances exactly where it should... right on the pin. The difference between a 00-frame 28 ga. Parker with 28" barrels and a 0-frame 28 ga. Parker with 28" barrels, all else being equal, is hardly noticable. I've carried both and the tiny difference is quite negligible.

The purpose of the 28 is a lighter, faster handleing upland gun. I wouldn't use a 9lb Beretta O/U with 28ga sub guage tubes to go Grouse hunting any more than I'd take my 28ga 00 frame VHE to a registered skeet shoot.

If you want to carry an 0 frame gun than the 20ga makes more sence. If you persist in using a 1 1/8 0z load of shot for a 16 than you might as well use a 12.

I also am a fancier of the 28 Ga. .I have owned two OO Framed 28's and one O Framed gun ,I love the look of the OO Framed guns and the feel but don't seem to shoot them as well as the O framed 28's ! One was a VHE which had a straight english stock and splinter forend and weighed an impressive 5 Lb. 4 Oz. and was so light ,I couldn't keep up with my target , EVER !!!!!!! The other was a DHE which weighed 5Lb. 12 Oz. but had 30" Barrels and always seemed to be in my way !!!!! The O Framed gun was a 25" Barreled DH Grade which weighed 6 Lb even and I shot it like a champ but traded it off for a large part of the price for my 410 ! With all this said ,I really like the O Framed 28 Ga. guns ,I always felt like Greg ,wishing it were a OO Frame when I owned it but would like to have it back ! I am contemplating a set of Briley 28 Ga. for either my DH 20 or my GH 20 Dam. gun and keeping some extra cash for my next 20 Gauge !

When I read about our troops carrying 60lbs. worth of gear into battle, I have a hard time understanding how a grown man could get worked up over 5 ounces. I'm usually so happy to be in the field I don't even notice what I'm wearing or carrying.

Thanks Russ...I rest my case...:)

God Bless our troops, they are young men carrying all that stuff. When I was 20 I was taught to downhill ski with full gear including my M16.

I'm 60 nearing 61 and I'm carrying enough extra weight as it is so a saveing of a half pound in the Grouse cover is appreciated.

English game guns are light weight affairs. I have a H&H 20 w/26 inch barrels that weighs 5lbs 12oz and a Charles Boswell 20 w/28 inch barrels thats only 5lb 6oz. I think my VHE 28 w/28 inch bbls weighs more than either one. If I were to buy another 0 frame gun it will be either a 16 or a 20 as an 0 frame 28 defeats the purpose of the 28 IMHO.

Maybe you should eat some wheaties C O B.

Wheaties won't help...I could stand to loose 20lbs or more but thats easier said than done but bird season is coming and I'll walk off a few pounds. I won't give up my 00 frame 28's though.:)

I already lost the 20lbs. Now I can carry a bit heavier gun COB.....:whistle:

You don't look any thinner to me:nono: IF you want to carry a heavy gun than go for it, at the end of a hard day fightening the brambles and the Grouse flushes that lighter faster handeling gun will be very much appreciated.

If you need proof come on up to the U.P. hunting with me:rotf:

As my wife says for every Jack there is a Jill and for those of us inclined to prefer a heavy gun than by all means carry it, after all it's better than not haveing any gun to carry.

My diet and excersise program is about to begin...I'm going to walk the sporting clays course.....twice:bigbye:

We were going to walk the sporting clays course yesterday, but there was a storm coming and we took a golf cart in case we got caught by the rain.

COB, Glad to hear you're walking the course twice! Larry,Deb and I did that three times last weekend.....:rolleyes: Enjoy your day and shoot straight! Give me a call about that Fox. Inquiring minds want to know....

FOX ?

I'd like to hear too.

ddp