161275 DHE 16 ga, a 20 month chase
 

In September of 2014 a gentleman approached my table at a gun show where I always have a large sign "Wanted Parker Brothers Shotguns Dead or Alive!". He said that he had his life long hunting gun, a 16 ga DHE with significant damage to the buttstock....would I be interested in such a gun?" I said certainly and promptly gave him may card and said I looked forward to his call. Weeks went by and he never called, Cindy will attest I lost sleep over this encounter, I muttered over and over "you are an idiot....why didn't you get his number." I wrote the gun off after a time as it seemed hopeless that I would ever find this man again.

Out of the blue I received a call 2 weeks ago from a gentleman that got my name from a friend. He had a 16 gauge Parker that he was interested in selling with a broken stock, in the middle of his story I cut him off and asked if he was the man from the previous encounter....he promptly said "yes, I remember you!" Well needless to say I have been in a very good mood waiting for today at 5PM when we would meet. With great anticipation I arrived at his house and entered to see a black case on the table, this is what finding Parker's is all about. My senses were on high, he opened the case and there it was.......... a 16 gauge VHE with 28" barrels! Ahhhh.... the emotion dropped immediately but did not leave me entirely, it went from DHE level to VHE level.

What a great gun, a well hunted example with crisp screws and sharp engraving. The barrels are clean and the chip will glue back just fine! The 80 year old gentleman shared a few hunting stories and remarked how the gun served him well for 40 years and now it was my turn. We worked out a fair deal and after a firm handshake we parted ways. What a great day and another great Parker for my collection.

Happy Sunday everyone!

Looks like a great 16 gauge project. Just like bird hunting half the fun and excitment is in the chase.

Gotta love cross grain like that in the head of a stock. At least the break is clean.

Looks like a decent gun with a lot of honest use on it, but not abuse.

Great story Brian. Meeting the owner and hearing those stories must really makes this VHE special. I'll bet you'll think of them every time you pick it up.

Hopefully will be a fairly easy fix. Also, looks like pretty shootable dimensions.

Did he say how it was broke?
scott

A neat story. I sometimes wonder when shooting my 12 or 16 what was the main purpose the gun was purchased for ? was it grouse, quail,or ducks ? You got find out from the man who used it 40 years.

D, V - what's the difference...?

I like the #3 photo, it's a nice cutaway view.

In Alberta you hunt Hungarian partridge and pheasant mostly, which is what this guy was into. There are some grouse as well. This guy was a long time serious hunter of birds, his 13 year old black lab met me at the door when I arrived at his house. Next to the fireplace was a 20x30 picture of her with a duck in her mouth. He said the gun came from his close personal friend, an avid collector in Victoria BC and shame on me for not getting his name who passed on years ago. He mentioned the gentleman having many high end Parker's,one even having gold on it as he remembered.
By his answer to the question of how it broke I believe he fell and broke it while hunting, he blamed it on oil soaked wood and deterioration but there is not much oil there. He did not want to dwell on the break so I did not press him.

Wood has nice figure for a VHE.