PARKER VH QUESTION/OPINION
 

I am not a collector but a real admirer of Parker shotguns . I have three that I hunt with. The question I have is I have a parker VH 12 ga. with 26 inch barrels, ic/mod, front ivory and mid sight , 1 1/2 receiver, build 1936 .
I have had the gun verified by the Association and what I state was the original configuration . Question is I see a lot of these guns for sale . Most of them have 28 to 30 inch barrels and mod/full or full/full, the larger frame size . Now back in the day I think this might have been the norm . My question is how rare or unusual do you think would a gun set up the way mine is be for that year/period ? I hope it was ordered for a New England grouse hunter!

26" barrel length would have been a special order gun for Parker to have built.
They are rarer than 28 and 30 inch barrels since a lot less of them were made. But not nearly as rare as 24" or shorter original guns.

If it is a collector gun in high condition, the 26" length would add a premium due to its relative rarity. However, as a shooter, it would not add much value unless the buyer wants a 26" gun since today longer barrels are prefered.

VH Production
 

Here is a VH production table.

Shorter barrels became more common in late versus early production guns.

Production records that I have seen show that most V grades were produced in lots for sale to major distributors, although records also show that any Parker could be special ordered. I know of no evidence showing otherwise for 26" barreled guns.
I am sure that some 26" barreled Vs were special order, and since almost 2300 were made, that many were not. I also think that since so few were made from 20 to 25" in 12ga , that those were all likely special order.

The below table is from The Parker Story, a necessary reference book set for any person with interest in the Parker gun.

Dennis:

When I started REALLY collecting Parkers some 45 + years ago, I only purchased 26" guns because I am mainly an upland bird hunter and a 2 frame 30"/32" gun was a kiss of death----now look at the difference in what people shoot !!! 26" guns were not hard to find, especially when dealers know what you are looking for and you were a willing buyer.

Allan

I would love to have a gun in that exact configuration. A 1 frame would be even better.

A little harder to find a 12 with 26" barrels. I have a Dhe 16 and VH 20 with 26", both choked cyl/m and the factory letters to go with them. Allen is right, years ago the 26" commanded a premium, but now its the long barrels that are desireable. My opinion is that as upland hunting becomes harder, more people get into target-clays shooting where the longer barrels shine. Give me 26" in the grouse woods!

I have a 26" P 12 ga on a 1 frame that is a sweet handling gun. Balanced and dynamic, it handles like a 20. I also have a V 12 ga 2 frame with 30" barrels that handles like a log in comparison. It would make a good duck gun however.