CHE 230160 12 ga 30in bbl
 

Hello,

Trying to determine if anyone would have any insight into a CHE 12 ga numbered 230160 30 inch bbl. The database says built in 1928. The number inquiry form for a letter says they don't have any information on this particular gun, as did Chuck's response to a message I sent him.

New to this game, I ask, are there any other avenue's or resources available to help with a search for the history?

many thanks,

Sam Sellars

Not likely. I also check the G&H database on all letter requests. All you can
do at this point is to go back in history for previous owners.

Thank you!

I was once custodian to CHE 230760 and sadly there was no information on that one either. It was a fully optioned Parker double trap, one of only four known to exist (until mine turned up there were only three) with 30" Acme Steel barrels, and this one may have been the only fully optioned gun to have been made.





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Dean this gun has a fat and shortish beavertail. Single selective trigger accorder to some knolwedgeble parker folk who saw it. It has the heavy lug extra metal for a beavertail. Super clean.

Nice! Please show us some pictures.




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here are a few pics

Pretty shotgun!

and a couple more

Now that beavertail forearm is very interesting. Can you shoot a couple of pics of the end of the forend or front of it facing the barrels? And a few shots of the inside of the forend?

That is definitely a specially ordered forend. It's pretty sad that there are no existing records for 230160





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forearm

more yet

Can you show us the front end of the forend where the reinforcing rod's screw head shows?





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screw heads...is this what you mean?

Ok...this is what you wanted.

No, the one in the very front of the forend, like this...


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Perfect Justin - Thanks!

That's just what we were hoping to see.





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what does that tell you?

It suggests more to the originality of the short forend.

Without factory records to prove anything about 230160, that forend, in my opinion, looks to be original.





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Of note, it looks like the trigger, a single selective trigger, has the numbers on it as well. can just make out the last three digits on it...

Wow... that forend is not much to look at by way of proportion. That must have been a VERY specific customer request as to the size and shape of it for the factory to have made it like that. But... all things point to it being completely original.

I agree with Dean on the forend

Sam, for what it is worth I had a deceased friend who owned a Monogram grade L.C.Smith which had nearly identical specs to your CHE, 12 ga. single trigger, swamped rib, 30' brls., apparent choke in both brls., and the short fore end. Several of us didn't feel that was made by L.C. due to the checkering mismatch, inletting, difference in wood color, and difference in grain.

Craig, this is a friends gun I am researching; all the numbers match, even on the trigger. The wood and checkering match as well.

Who would have made the gun if not LC?

Have a competent gunsmith take the wood off the forend iron and see if the serial number is stamped in the wood.

Julian, the L.C. Smith was obviously altered but by a very competent craftsman. It was an early Monogram maybe 1910 sticks in my mind, with a Miller single trigger and a Silvers recoil pad. The gun was purchased between 1973-1975 out of Shotgun News and was used alot as the barrels were off face. The possibility that the same person owned both guns exist, the Smith altered to meet his requirement and the Parker ordered to meet those same requirements. Chasing info on the Smith may lead to info on the Paker.

I wonder if the LC had all of the cc rubbed off as it appears to have been done to the Parker. If the same person owned both he may have not liked cc.

No, the Smith had 25-30% cc but I maybe generous. The butt stock was refinished and probably the barrels. The barrels were put back on face. I have not seen the gun in 30+ years so my recollections may not be totally accurate.

I tried to buy that gun from Rich Wingle back around 2004. I am not sure about the year but 2004 is close. He had it at the Vintagers and the Louisville show. I latter bought a DH that had a short forend just like this C grade. I am convinced they were both original. The D grade was in much better condition but the stock was a little short for me.

Some Ithacas from that era had the same style short forend.
I bet with some research you will find one of the big dog shooters of that time was shooting one.

230329 Things that make you go Hmmmmm?
 

According to Michael McIntosh Parker Invincible #230239 has a factory letter.
However search it on the site and no records are available.
I believe whoever was involved with the Invincibles,has access to the "Lost" record book for the guns in the 230xxx range.

That's no surprise, considering who has owned it over the years.






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Not intending to start anything, "that book" has already been hashed to death as a subject, but has anyone outside of their family ever had unfettered access to it? Just curious and wondering if there is any chance an as yet unknown grade 9 is in that book?

There are already three known Grade 9 Parker Invincibles. Another Invincible is always a possibility I suppose - In fact, there have even been unfounded rumors of such, but seeing is believing...

Now, the possibility of the existence of a Grade 10.... Hmmm...





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That is a rumor I have never heard Dean.

I'm pretty sure it was no more than speculation intended to start a furor among the ranks.

As far as I'm concerned, it's no more than a myth.





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The guns built in that serial number range just before the stock market crash,were ordered in prosperous times. I bet there are many interesting guns in that book. Look at the small sampling of the guns we know in that range. The ones listed are fully optioned guns. My GHE is a two barrel set, each set with a vent rib and Beavertail.