New Member - Needs Help!
 

All~

My Dad gave me this Parker many years ago. I am trying to understand what it is - how to properly describe or name it.

By way of introduction, I imagine I am a bit off course from many of the members. I have hunted ducks since I was 12 (I'll be 60 this year). I was lucky to have a Dad who ignited the passion and I was lucky enough to take my Dad gunning into his last year; I watched him double on Brant at age 85. Although I chase Turkeys in the spring and may shoot a deer each fall, I am a waterfowler at heart. I carve and paint decoys, build and restore boats, and retired a couple of years back from a 35-year career as a Wildlife Ecologist (primarily with NYSDEC). Although I have shot a few ducks with this 12 gauge Parker - and even shot my first goose with its 28 gauge twin - I was long ago corrupted by a friend who got me hooked on the Winchester Model 12. My everyday shooter is a 12 gauge Model 12 built in 1925 (coincidentally, the year of my Dad's birth).

Here's what I think I know/have discovered about this gun:

SN 241387

Manufactured after 1934, by Remington in Ilion, NY

It is 12 gauge, for 2 3/4" shells.

It has ejectors (not just extractors).

Frame size is 1 / 2 - which I gather means between Size 1 and Size 2 (and not Size One-half)

Barrel weight is 3 10 (superscript) - which I gather means 3 lbs 10 ounces.

The barrel length is 28" - measured from breech to muzzle.

I am not certain of the chokes - is that stamped/engraved anywhere on the gun? I think I remember my Dad telling me it was Mod and Full but cannot verify that.

The grade is the confusing part. As you can see from the pictures (I hope I am attaching them correctly - is there a way to import them into the message? Should I use Photobucket?)

As per this site's instructions, the water table is stamped DH. But, on the lug, it says G Grade. On the action, GH is stamped.

My Dad had always referred to it as a DHE. (my understanding is that the E signifies ejectors). This designation seems to match well with any pictures I have seen in books and on the web.

Am I on the right path?

I will appreciate any help you can give to a pump-gun shooter.

All the best,

SJS

GHE, not a D grade. Its says G right on the barrel lug and frame flats.

Parker did not mark chokes, you'll have to measure them.

Its a 1939, maybe 1938 gun, made in Ilion after the Remington purchase. It is one of the last made.

Nice and desireable gun. If you spend some time shooting it, you might find you prefer it over a pump gun. Treat it with respect, it will go for 150 years or more.

Looks to me like you have a 1/2 frame 12 not a 1 1/2.

Steve,
Your gun is a "Half Frame" not a 1 1/2 frame making it somewhat rare and to some more valuable. Very nice gun in excellent condition.

Have you weighed her? It would be interesting to see how light they got these 1/2 frame 12s.

Congrats Steve. You sure came to the right place. Please post pics of the "twin" in 28 ga. and serial# Who knows could be consecutive #s. Jim D.

I agree with Jim, let's see the 28. nice looking GH. i don't believe i could leave that in the closet for the Mod 12. IMO
ddp

Sorry - the 28 gauge is long gone
 

All~

Thanks so much for all of the great information. I'm stopping by a friend's tomorrow to measure the chokes. (He's a "double" guy who has done it before and has the right calipers.) Might as well weigh the gun, too.

The story on the 28 is...amusing. When I was 13 or 14 (1966, 67), a friend of my Dad's stopped by with the gun one evening after dinner. I do not remember his name, but he owned the bowling alley around the corner. (I grew up on Long Island, in East Islip. Oscar's on Carleton Avenue was the bowling alley.) He came by it when some guy came into the bar and offered to sell him the gun for $25. One can only speculate about the "provenance" of this fine fowling piece but I would imagine the deal was quickly closed. In any event, the new owner lent it to us for the duck season. It was returned to him afterward and I have no idea where it wound up.

As I mentioned, I did shoot my first goose with it. We were hunting on the shore of Nicoll's Cove (on Great South Bay) with a duck rig on the water and a goose rig on land behind us. My Dad had left to get some coffee when 3 Canadas stooled right in. I had to shoot my bird 3 times to bring him to bag. My Dad, when he returned, was very excited for me and proud - but did ask why I hadn't grabbed his 12 gauge (Winchester Model 50) right next to me in the blind....

Interesting coincidence: Just today, while sorting through a bunch of vintage shotshells (also from my Dad), I gave a friend what I thought were a bunch of loose 20 gauge shells. His sharp-eyed son could read that they were, in fact, 28 gauge.

All the best,

SJS

Pencil Brook Farm
South Cambridge, NY

Great gun. Maybe some one can tell us why it is clearly marked with a DH to the right of the serial number, but GH on the water table and elsewhere. What type of steel is marked on the rib? Perhaps that is why his father referred to it as a DHE( I agree its a GHE)

Good eye Harold, i missed it. interesting.
ddp

GHE chokes, stock ,etc
 

All~

I got together with a friend today - to measure the chokes and a few other things.

Here's what we found on the chokes:

Right barrel: .734, choke .017, muzzle .717

Left barrel: .734, choke .034, muzzle .700

Right ~ Modified? Left ~ Full?

The gun weighs 7 lbs, 4 oz (IF we were using the electronic scale correctly...)

Trigger Pull: Front 4.0 lbs, Rear 4.5 lbs.

Stock: Drop at comb 1 5/16"; Drop at heel 2 9/16"

Cast on: ~ 1/16"

This all make sense?

Where should I look for type of barrel steel? I see no marks on rib (I presume underside).

Thanks again!

SJS

Pencil Brook Farm
South Cambridge, NY

Steve, welcome to the 1/2 frame club. I was fortunate to pick up a VH two barrel set last summer.

Your Parker is a late Remington gun therefore there is no rib inscription. Meriden made barrels have the barrel steel stamped into a blank spot of the rib matting. Your chokes would be considered RH modified, LH full.

Again, what do you make of the DH marking just to the right of the serial #? Are they just initials then ?
they are on the barrel flats

That is light alright.

My guess is that the DH is the date the gun was manufactured, September of 1939. The DH is in the general area where Remington stamped the code. Some of the date stamps are right against the lug and you really have to look close to see the stamp. If the gun was returned to Remington for service, the stamp would read DH3 (3 meaning returned for service in Sept of 39). This service stamp would be found on Meriden Parkers also when repaired by Remington.

My Remington VHE is marked Full/Full on the barrel flats.

Daryl, I guess that means you are "full of it":p

Thanks Chuck, that clears it up for me.

You know... with this economy there are a thousand comedians out of work. Don't quit your day job Chucky boy.:bigbye:

:rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf:Nice Double Lab!

Daryl, if I quit my day job doing the letters, can I get unemployment????

I'll remember the comedians crack the next time you request a research letter. It may get to you in a few years:rotf:

No unemployment for you. You need to sign up for obamacare to take care of those mental health issues you have been dealing with. Maybe more trigger pulling will cure your ills.:corn: A few years for a letter? Mr. Dunkle are you monitoring this threat to a Life member? With the economy the way it is I'll be lucky to afford the gas to attend your esteemed shoot next month.:bigbye:

Steve,
Look up Craig Reynolds in the members list and let him know you have a Remington 1/2 frame gun. He documents and keeps track of 1/2 frame gun serial numbers.

Half-frame
 

Will do.

SJS

steve
i collect info on 1/2 frames and i would like to what there is for a butt and if there is any writing on the rib. that sure is a nice gun you have. any chance of getting a photo of the wood? thanks craig

GHE info
 

Craig~

Here are a couple of pics. (Trying to remember how on this site...I think they are attached) I can take some more of the wood tomorrow.

Butt plate is original "dog's head".

More tomorrow,

SJS

Unfortunately - yes.....

But, like the scene of a terrible accident, I have to look away quite often...

;)

John

BTW - Steve?? AWESOME Parker!!

steve
thanks for the info. you sure have a great looking gun craig

Sanford GHE - butt plate, stock
 

Craig~

No writing on rib. Here is a better photo of butt plate (I cleaned off the whitish residue) and one of each side of the stock. Better?

Questions:

What breed of dog/species of bird on butt plate? I have always taken them to be a Lab and a Snipe.

Wood: I do not know much about stock woods. How would you describe the figure on mine?

All the best,

SJS

I would describe it as beautiful. You have a very nice gun there Steve. That stock is figured walnut.

GHE Wood
 

Thanks very much, Paul.

SJS

Steve
Your gun just keeps getting better. The stock in my opinion is exceptional, both in color and figure. I agree with you about the snipe on the buttplate. The dog, however, reminds me of some of the birds that parker put on some on their earlier guns. They can be any type bird that you want them to be. Thanks Craig