DHE .410 Repro on 00-frame - do they exist?
 

Has anyone here seen, or anyone here own, a Parker Reproduction DHE .410 built on a 00-frame? I'm asking about a single gun, not a .410 that's part of a 28/.410 set.

Skeuse marking on barrel or Galazan or other?

I'd be happy to learn of any Skeuse, Galazan or other you have seen or own.

They did not make a production stand alone 410 OO frame gun, only 410/28 sets. It is thought that only one run of 25 barrels were made in OO frame 410. The final count is not known this project was cut short by the sudden factory close. Maybe a second run was in progress??? Side note...all the DHE grade guns I have ever seen available had 26" barrels choked Q1/Q2 or IC/Mod Some of the A1 special sets had 28" 410 barrels and I would love to have a set of them! The last ones I saw listed 3 barrel sets A1 had a price of 50K or close to that.....At those numbers I will most probably never own one of them! )-; SXS Ohio

Kenny, I agree with much of what you've written here and I do recall that A-1 Special 28/28/.410 set listed by G & H for $50K. Where did that "It is thought that only one run of 25 barrels were made in OO frame 410. The final count is not known this project was cut short by the sudden factory close." come from? Is that documented or speculated? And how do we explain the 33 DHE .410s in the Production Chart, are they just the barrels, stand alone guns or are they all 28/.410 DHE sets? Or, another possibility is that the quantity of 33 was mistakenly extrapolated from the Sisley article where he wrote "Finally, the factory started 133 .410s on the tiny 4/0 frame. They completed 33 of these, and that's when production ceased." But, the problem with this possibility is that the 0000-frame guns were intended to be finished out as BHEs or A-1 Specials, or weren't they???

Hi Greg....We are talking PARKER Repro X-files. Lots of smoke but no real proof....all here say, but that's all we got! Maybe there is a big stash of 410 reproductions in some vault....maybe Bill Gates hid them away? Or maybe California gun haters destroyed them. If there was a bigger run made we should be seeing them come out of the big money collections from time to time. How about all the BHE grade guns we seldom see?? Truth is they did not make all that many....They really are scarce is the best answer I have. I think the stated estimates we have are real close. In the last few years I have seen the hard to find guns come available less and less with bigger and bigger price tags! Maybe the serialized production info will surface one day but I will not hold my breath waiting? I will keep my eyes open for a 5lb oooo frame 410 DT-SG-BTF with 26" and 28" barrels or a 28 gauge BHE ....Sweet! (-: SXS Ohio

SHOOTING SPORTSMAN magazine, October/November, 1988,
"The Parker Reproduction, An Interview with Jack Skeuse by
Stuart M. Williams...
Quotes....
Question: Williams:
"Tell me about your .410. In what grade or grades is it made?
Are you going to limit it strictly to a run of 100 guns? On what frame
is it made? How much does it weigh?"

Answer: Skeuse: "The .410 is on two frame sizes. The 00 frame is a 28 gauge
that can be ordered with the .410 barrel as a second or third barrel and
is comparable in weight to the original Parker on a 000 frame.
The new .410 is available on a 0000 frame. It is the frame Charles Parker
would have built it on if he were alive today. It weighs about five and a half
pounds, a weight we feel is ideal for this bore, light but not whippy.
We expect them to sell for the same price as our 12, 20, and 28 gauge guns of
the same grade. At present we have just 100 on order."

Take away from this interview....
Late 1988 interview
PR plant closed at end of December 1988
100 of the 0000 frame .410's ordered
Ordered late but production ended in 1988
Just how many of the 0000 frame guns were actually produced and assembled?
As it is said " the thrill is in the hunt"!!

Bill, I ordered a BHE .410 when only a prototype had been built. My BHE and a BHE ordered at the same time by a friend were never delivered. I doubt that 100 were built, 33 being a more realistic total. The prototype was a really nice gun and I offered to buy it at the time it was being shown. The Skeuse representative would not sell it to me.

As hard as I've tried, I find it impossible to believe that 33 is a realistic number of 0000-frame .410 Repros built when we have this:

We, or I, would like to hear more about this gun.

BHE 0052
 

Hi Guys ,Where did this photo come from and where is this gun? Anyone know? Thanks

Well, I copied the pic from a FOR SALE listing, the seller is apparently from Florida and it's #52 of the reported 133 0000-frame .410 Repros that were started when the factory closed. It is also the 2nd BHE .410 on a 0000-frame to be found having DHE style engraving. This one has "PROTOTYPE" and "NFS" stamped on the barrel flats. The other rare, odd and unusual BHE/DHE engraved .410 4/0 framed gun, which I have held and examined, doesn't have these additional stampings.

Rumor was always that the unfinished 0000 frame guns were held by the Skeuse family. Some came out one at a time to Geofroy Gournet's shop for engraving and finishing. I don't expect Mr. Skeuse to confirm this information unless his family has plans to market these guns.

I find it is interesting to see a gun with a serial number of 52 being labeled
PROTOTYPE and NFS. One would normally expect to see that nomenclature
on the first one made, or a very low serial numbered gun, no number at all, or a "pxxx".

Bill... Do you remember the serial number and or any of the markings on
the "sample gun" you saw several years ago the PR representative had
when you ordered your 4/0 gun? As I recall you tried to buy it but it was not
for sale.

Sorry, Bill, I don't remember the serial number and I didn't take any pictures. It was an outstanding little gun and I wouldn't have expected a production gun to be any nicer.

I purchased a repo 410 barrel years ago and have shot on my repo 28ga gun. This barrel is 0000 frame size with serial no. 410- 43826 choked Q1 & Q2. From what I’m reading on this post, the 0000 barrel should not fit on a 00 frame 28 ga. Note that when assembled on the 00 frame there is a small amount on play when unbreached., locks up tight when breached. Am I asking for trouble pairing these two together.? Also how do you explain the high serial number?

Pin separation of the two frame sizes is not identical if the 0000 marked barrels are actually 0000 frame barrels. Most are actually mismarked 00 size and should fit a 28 gauge Repro just fine. 0000 size barrels are unheard of not attached to a gun.

Thanks Bill. Do you know the pin separation on a 00 frame and a 0000 frame.

Pin separations are listed on page 527?? of The Parker Story. In my experience, the 000 pin separation is the same as the 0000 frame.

410s
 

Hi guys. I sent a few messages to Tommy on the 410 with to many numbers in the serial number. For some reason either I’m now sending right or he isn’t answering. Please have him send me photos of the serial numbers on the water table,the trigger guard and grip area and bottom of the barrel That will tell us what he has. Thanks.

Sorry for the delay. I’ll try to post pictures this evening.

Pictures coming later but serial no. is 410-03826. My bad.

If you purchased this .410 set of barrels separately from your 28-ga. Repro, it appears that your .410 barrels were part of an original Parker Reproduction 28/.410 2 or 3-bbl. set. Check the forend lug or barrel lugs for a "1", "2" or "3" stamped on it.

If I'm correct, there's no harm using them on your 28-ga. Repro -- providing they were/are fit properly to the frame of your gun.

410 Barrel

Thanks for the clarification and pics Tommy.

I remember bidding on a set just like that several years ago. I stopped bidding at about $4K




.

Pictures requested. Jack, Posting here as I don’t know how to send in messages.

Greg,
I have a 28ga SST english stock/splinter 00 frame gun which are perfectly fitted with Galazan 28" 410 barrels. I also have an original 00 frame Parker ejector forend iron, which I intend to have a small BTFE made for and fitted to the gun. But I have been distracted.
regards
Chuck

Yes Chuck, I recall quite vividly the long road it took to receive your set. You're probably one of only a couple patient enough to stay the course and get them. :cheers:

I had given some thought to selling off the gun. I'm oggling a new one.

28 ga
 

Hi Chuck Please PM me at rskeuse@reagentchemica.com on this gun Thanks