Upgraded VH 20ga Indentification
 

This V grade 20ga has clearly been upgraded, but I am not familiar with the process and would appreciate any information about who may have done the work. I doubt there are many candidates, so perhaps some here recognize the work and craftsman. Any information is helpful. Thank you.

Looks like Pachmayer's work.





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Study it closely. Maybe even take it apart. Look for a signature of some sort.

I have. No identifying marks that I can access. This is an auction gun and I am not permitted to take it apart except for removing the trigger guard, which has been done to confirm that the stock is stamped with the same serial number as the gun plus the characters "R" and "8".

I’m most likely wrong but I’d be willing to bet the gun was also restocked and the stock maker stamped the serial number in the wood .

Craig I think you are correct!

I think it's better than Pachmayr, and I was leaning towards Angelo Bee, but the trigger plate is so good, I'm not sure it's Bee. Bee's signature is a tiny bumble bee.
The stock and ssbp looks like an original DH grade stock.

I think so as well.

I agree with you on the stock and buttplate comment Edgar.





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Where did Bee typically place the signature? I'm not seeing "ABEE" anywhere, like what others have.

On the examples I have seen he normally signed on the side of the receiver. Sometimes he would engrave "ABEE" and then his signature engraved bee. It shouldnt be hard to find if Bee did the work.

Finally found something. Tucked in tight within the engraving on the trigger plate.

Albin Obinsching who did a lot of work in the 60's and 70's from Germany.May have the spelling a bit wrong.

Thank you.

I found this data:

Albin Obiltschnig; (correct spelling) 1894-1975 was one of the most respected Ferlach, Austrian gun engravers of his time and father of engraver Hans Obiltschnig. Innovator of relief scene work incorporating Diana, goddess of the hunt which is sometimes referred to in Ferlach as an "Obiltschnig motif."

It was usually not obscured but rather in a small clean area.





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I wonder if he created the Diana grade Fox?




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I think many makers had a special gun, using Diana, or Goddess Of The Hunt. Holland & Holland had more than one. A Royal Grade double rifle, and a Royal 12 bore SxS. Browning had a Diana.

I am speaking of a specific Fox Edgar. It is mounted in a velvet-lined walnut display case.
It consists of just the elaborately engraved frame with a 4” section of the highly engraved barrel block.
An esteemed PGCA member owns it. If you haven’t seen it you should and you’ll see the similarity of its engraving to Obiltschnig’s work.

I have pictures of it at home but I’m not there currently.



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I almost bought an Angelo Bee engraved K-32 three or four years ago and it was signed “ABEE” .

I don’t think I’d call this an upgraded gun but rather an embellished gun . But that’s my own personal opinion . I wonder why they didn’t engrave the barrel wedges all the way back ? Can’t say I’m overly fond of the plain unengraved ring they left .

I've known for Angelo for many years & most of the Pachmayr engravers, too. This work is not theirs. Angelo's style is different. He engraves in the Belgium style.

I have seen and have owned quite a few Pachmayr Parkers. I don't believe this is one of them. Just my humble opinion.


Thanks for sharing this gun.


Bobby