Just picked up a 16 ga VH
 

Just purchased a 1916 VH 16 gauge, 28" choked Cyl & I/C on a "0" frame. Unstruck barrel weight of 2 14 and an overall weight of 5 lb 13 oz. Has capped pistol grip Parker Bros Meriden Conn and a DHBP LOP 14". Took it to the club and shot the pattern board, wow it was great. Can't wait to get a poke at a nice ringneck.

Sounds just like the 16 I might be looking for. I am a born 16 Gauge guy.

That’s a very light weight gun. Can you post some pics? We want to see it.

Nice find!! Congrats.

Congratulations! That’s a classic upland gun for sure.

The unstruck barrel weight and the measured total weight of the gun make it an unusual Parker if not a "rare" variation. I would like to see the original order for this gun to determine whether it was an accident in manufacture or a special request for a "light as possible" gun.

Very nice! That'll be a favorite. I have a VH 16 0 frame 26" that is a favorite of mine. It's also 5#13oz. WICKED fast to the shoulder, a delight to carry. A quail harvesting machine.

I have my grandfathers 16 ga vh. Had DelGrego restock it and do a complete restoration on it some 12 yrs ago. My brother and I grew up with this 16. It's special.

My "light" 0 frame 16s, both 26" and 28", are all 6 pounds, 4 ounces. This gun is 7 ounces lighter. What a neat gun, deserves a PGCA letter to find out how it got that way. A find for sure.

Pictures and Letter
 

I sent a request in for a letter just yesterday I too am anxious to get some feedback on this gun. As soon as I get a chance I'll do my best to put up a few pictures of the gun, I am an amateur photographer with very basic equipment. This is a fine handling gun it has a few light barrel dents and appears that it may have been reblued at some time, case colors are gone with a couple of light indentations in the buttstock, but not bad for a gun that's 105 years old. Still very tight and right...

Pictures VH 16 Gauge
 

:corn:Here are some photo's of my VH 16 Gauge "0" frame built in 1916.Attachment 100938

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Attachment 100942

Forgot to attach this photo.
 

Here is the photo I forgot to attach.Attachment 100948

that's a light one should be a joy to carry...charlie

I've got the same configuration gun from the same era with serial 173384. Unstruck barrel weight stamped 1 ounce lighter at 2 13 . Parker possibly was looking to make the lightest 16 ga possible at that time . Mine's a feather weight for sure

I would think a 20 gauge, all other aspects being equal, would be a heavier gun than the two 16’s referenced in this thread strictly for the thicker walls at the breech end of the barrels.

But I just checked my grandson’s 20 ga. VH with 26” barrels and proved my theory incorrect. 1 ounce does not a significant difference make.



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I would have thought the 20 would be heavier too .
Just for trivia , would anyone know if Parker sometimes drilled extra holes thru the stock to lighten or balance a gun ? I've a got a 1906 GH 12 that has 2 extra holes drilled at least long ago when I looked under the butt plate

Yes, that was a common practice with most any maker of good guns. It won’t be supported by factory records but rest assured that not only did they bore holes in the butt stock to reduce weight, they also bored holes to add weight, all for correct balance and handling dynamics.





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That is one Sweet 16, Dan!

Love the gun, the barrel length, the weight and the chokes. What a bird gun.

Townsend Whelen said “Only accurate rifles are interesting.” He should had added and shotguns that plate ! Glad you got one that does !

This thread got me wondering. I have 6 "O" frame 16s. I weighed the 2 straight grips..26"..2/13 unstruck..Gun weighs 5 lb.10.7 oz..28"...2/14 unstruck..Gun weighs 5 lbs..13.1 oz..

This 16 DHE O frame is 6lbs even, with its 26" cyl/M barrels. Thought about cutting a couple inches off to lighten it up--JUST KIDDING!

Inverted


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I just bought a 1901 DH damascus 16 O frame on Gunbroker. Factory letter showed 5#14oz. Everything matched the letter exactly except it appeared to be restocked with heavier walnut and now weighs 6# 1-1/2 oz. Barrels are 28" and incredibly thin at he front but thicker toward the forend. Raw barrel weight was 3# even. Barrels were apparently struck for minimum weight. From weight and barrel measurements, I think the barrels are totally original.

To re-checker or not
 

The checkering on the splinter forend of my VH is well worn with a bit of varnish over it so it doesn't provide much of a grip. What are some opinions on getting it refinished and checkered, any ideas on the cost.

Dan...Call Ken at Pads N Checker...217 738 2298..All he does is just that .."Pads and Checkering"..For jobs like this he's a pro..Excellent work..fast..and very reasonable...Let me know if you use him...Jerry...

Checkering recommendation
 

Jerry, thanks for the recommendation, I just called Ken,:):) there was no answer or answering machine, I will keep trying, sounds like just the guy I am looking for.

Brian Dudley has been known to take on small jobs like that if he's not too busy. Might PM him here and see. First class work.

That splinter forearm is just there to hold things together. Your forward hand belongs on the barrels in front of the forearm.

Attachment 101114

Attachment 101113

Research Letter received
 

I received my Research Letter today and found that my gun was ordered by J.D. Weed & Co. of Savannah, GA on January 18, 1917 and shipped on September 13, 1917, wow a nine month wait. According to Parker Bros. Order Book No. 95, it was a VH Hammerless, 16 gauge. It featured Vulcan steel barrels with a length of 28 inches. The stock configuration was a pistol grip. The requested chokes were RH modified, LH full. Expensive $45.65, LOL.:rotf:

Accordering to Parker Bros. Order Book No. 98 the gun was returned on November 5, 1918 by J.D. Weed & Co. for credit.

Appears this gun sat in their store for over one year and was then returned for some reason. Perhaps someone else ordered a 16 Gauge VH and wanted open chokes and that is why this gun is Cyl. & I/C. I am going to have the chokes checked in this gun to see if they are what I was told (Cyl. & I/C) or perhaps it is still Mod & Full.