DHE - Broken Stock
 

It pains me to post this for the world to see but I was interested in the wisdom of the group on what path to take with this DH .

It was sadly damaged many years ago while moving. A replacement stock was sourced at that time but never put on the gun. I would like to get this sorted out.

The replacement stock has the trigger guard on it and shows number : 178219 ( i am not sure if this is from a DH graded gun) but the wood and condition is very nice.

- Find someone who can put replacement stock on the gun - it appears it was cut down at some point and then built back longer? so if a better original DH stock could be found that would be ideal
- start over with custom made stock ?
-I do not see fixing this stock as an option - but open to ideas on that.

May wanna contact Brian Dudley.... his info available here.

I would not waste any effort putting that other stock on the gun. It is not even an original parker stock, let alone in the proper style for the grade.

Repairing the old stock may be an option, but it is compromised and will always be a concern going forward.

The best, but most expensive option is to just replace it with new and be done with it.

I had the same thing happen to a 20ga. VHE with 30" barrels. I had Brian Dudley replace the stock and refinish the forend. The quality of the work far exceeds the cost! I have never regretted going with Brian and the new stock.
Buddy Marson

That's why we have guys like Brian, and others that do what they do.

Thank you everyone -looks like we quickly eliminated using that stock that I have - and I am not in favor of trying to repair that broken stock - i'll look into fixing / restoring and hopefully report back at some point in the future on how that worked out. Guessing that work exceeds the value of a DH but I do have sentimental value to this gun that makes me want to save it.

Show us a picture of the bottom of the barrels at the forend attaching area. If it is a reinforced forend lug, the beavertail is original. The gun is well worth a new stock. By the way, it is a DHE, not a DH. E signifies automatic ejectors, which this gun has.

I believe this shows what you are looking for. All the major stampings align to the same serial number on the gun . and i believe it to have the correct reinforced foreend. Unfortunately a Parker letter is not available for the serial number.

If it were mine, I would not hesitate to have a new stock made to my specifications. Don’t think you would ever regret it.

Im wondering if the broken stock is original to the gun or has it been repaired because of the checkered panels

Yup, yours is a reinforced forend lug that indicates an original beavertail forend. Congratulations.

Hi Bill - I have been around these guns a long time but never really dug into the nuances of the guns until recently - would a beavertail forend be rare on a DH ? or just a nice to have? I personally like the beavertail over the splinter as a preference but was not aware of it being an interesting feature of the gun.

Beaver tails are certainly rarer than the splinter forearm and original is always better than aftermarket. I would consider them an extra that may or may not add value depending on who the prospective buyer is. Some folks like them, some folks hate them. Personally for me and what I’m looking for in a gun, it’s typically a must have feature and I would pay a premium for it or at least it would be a determining factor in whether I purchased it.

The silver lining on this unfortunate situation is you will have a stock made to your specifications which means you will shoot it better. Plus with a new stock you get to choose the type of wood and checkering. I had a situation similar happen to me and now after repairs were made I shoot that gun the most. Good luck.

Your gun is a DHE, not a DH.

Rick, about 20 yrs ago I had Lawrence DelGrego restock my grandfathers 16 ga VH that I grew up. My grandfather had ordered it with a significant amount of drop in the stock. All those years of shooting it on grouse, pheasant and woodcock I had to force myself to adjust to the dimensions. 20 years ago or so my wife and I drove out to Lawrence's home, spoke with Lawrence and gave him the dimensions I wanted. About a year later Lawrence called and said the gun was done. Ive been shooting it ever since and since it fits me perfectly (I was professionally measured to get the right dimensions) I have no regrets whatsoever about restocking it. Sometimes you justy have to bite the bullet when a gun doesn't fit and either sell it or get it fixed. no regrets

@winplumber got it right! It is actually a great relief to me to find out that this gun had already been re stocked - possibly sometime in the 1980 time frame. Still an expensive mistake but I had worried over having damaged an original gun. So, quick update - on a referral I sent the stock & forend to Dennis at the Stock Doctor. He has done a quick review and provides this summary

"The gun was restocked by Larry Del Grecgo using Fajen semi- inletted stocks. We held his patterns at Fajen. He ordered,we delivered. The recoil pad has his company name on it. The pad was made by Pachmayr for Larry's shop."

So, with that known. I am going to pick out new wood for the stock and forend and get this DHE looking great for the next phase of its life..

Thank you all for your comments and information and referrals..

Now, how to pick one set of wood from the 100's on offer..

I think I would pick out a piece to match the original forend. Why have a new one made?

No one better than The Stock Doctor.

I should have been more clear above - The Stock and forend were both replaced at some point - Also on closer examination by Dennis the forend had some issues as well so based on that we are just going with new wood for both. now the waiting starts...