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Hello all, am new to the Parker group. I have just purchased a VH 16ga with 28 inch barrels, mfg in 1907. I have admired these guns for many years and have bought my first and probably not last. I am a lover of side by side guns, currently own 3 Lefever doubles and an Italian Bernardelli Gamecock Premeir. Looking foreward to hunting with the Parker this year!

Welcome Michael,
Describe your 16 VH a little more. Does it have capped pistol grip or straight grip. Any options. I have 2 parker 16s a DHE and a Trojan.
Erick

It has a capped pistol grip, no ejectors. Just a very nice original gun, no cracks or problems with the wood. Origional 2 5/8 chambers I guess. Should I have them opened up to 2 3/4? Has steel barrels.

No.

That gun, with 2 5/8" chambers, was designed to be used with 2 3/4" shells.

So leave the chambers alone, I guess Polywad and other sights sell 2 1/2 inch shells for use in Damascus?

I went back and checked my specs and I was told this gun has 2 9/16 chambers, still OK for 2 7/8" shells??

I shoot 2 3/4" shells in my 12 ga. DH with Titanic barrels which has 2 9/16" chambers.

OK then, will use over the counter 2 3/4" shells when the season comes.

Okay but use light loads. There is no reason to use "heavy" or magnum or 'max' loads in these guns.

Michael;
Does your VH16 have damascus barrels? Yes, leave chambers and chokes alone. Shoot her enough and you'll leave those other guns in the safe.

This beauty has steel barrels, thought I read some where that it was a fairly low production model.

All of the special order options makes it 'low production'. 20 gauge barrels of fluid pressed steel were being used for a couple of decades before yours was made.

did any VH have damascus barrels??

I thought the Vulcan steel barrel was one of the features that defined the switch to the V grade designation? I know other grades wore damascus well past the intro of the VH

I believe a number (20?) VH Parkers went to Japan and all of them had composite steel barrels but I don't know if they were actually Damascus or Twist or Laminated.

Two PGCA Members that I know of have VH's with original composite barrels, and there may be more.

serial number indicates this one was made in 1907