VH 20 Acquisition 1927
 

Recently picked this up. VH 20, 28" barrels IC & F. 1927
Has anyone ever seen a 3" stamp on the flats? Chambers measure a bit over 2 3/4", but not 3":

Barrel weight
 

It may be the barrel weight.

The 3.IN. on top was probaly added when someone opened the chamber up. This may not be good if barrels are too thin.

The smaller 3 on the bottom is the barrel weight in lb's.

Any chamber length I’ve ever seen on a Parker was stanped on the side of the locking lug.





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I believe it is safe to say that 3.IN. stamp was not done in either Meriden or Ilion. Neither was this one --

Attachment 114407

I don't believe the chambers are opened up. It's kind of a mystery stamp.

Chris, have you ordered a research letter?





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The 3” stamp in the photo above looks a lot like my 30” 1901 Monte Carlo VH…
It’s my favorite Parker to shoot among many.

No Dean, not yet

That stamp is not factory. The main clue is of course the deformation around the stamping that was not dressed down before bluing. Also the general appearance of the stamping.

Not many, if any, chamber length stamped pre Remington era Parkers. I have had 3" 20 gauges, lettered as such but unmarked. I presently have a 3 1/2" 10 gauge, lettered as such but unmarked. The 10 gauge is a Twist gun.

I don't know why they would stamp it. It doesn't measure 3". Other than that, it looks to be all original and in good shape.

If the factory cut the chokes at 2 7/8” or thereabouts it was made for 3” shells.






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My 1930-vintage VH 0-frame 20-gauge has the 2 3/8-inch chambers intended for 2 1/2-inch shells. The progressive burning powder, high velocity, 1 ounce 20-gauge loads, mostly put up in 2 3/4-inch cases, came out in 1922, but Parker Bros. certainly didn't rush to chamber their 20-gauges for such loads. Remington made their Model 17 20-gauge pump for 2 3/4-inch shells from the get go and Winchester began making their Model 12 20-gauges for 2 3/4-inch shells by 1926.

That is one fine looking VH either way! Congrats, my first impression was that it was not factory also

Thanks Harold, other than being straight stocked, my favorite part is the narrow feel of the wrist. I told my friend that every once in a while a gun comes along that just fits. This is one.

Great looking little 20. Straight stock too. I'm looking for something like that.

I have a 1917 VHE 20 with a 3 stamped where I usually see the barrel weight and the gun has 3 inch chambers which I wonder if they were extended. What I have read on this forum and elsewhere is that some of the CA duck club guns were 3 inch 20 ga. and dated around 1917. My gun has 26 inch barrels choked Imp Mod and cylinder. Any thoughts on this one?

That is a great little 20 that you have and like I mentioned, the 3 on your gun is identical to the 3 and its position on my 0 frame 20.

Alfred, if your gun has a "3" stamped where the barrel weight is usually stamped, the "3" is the barrel weight, 3 pounds, zero ounces.

I think most of the 3" chamber California Duck Club 20's tended to have longer barrels and tighter chokes for water fowling.

My 2 frame 20 with lettered 3" chambers and 30" tubes went to Montana. It is 1000 serial numbers before the CA duck guns.