New to me vent rib DHE (GHE)
 

I enjoyed the article in the last Parker Pages on the excellent job Chuck Bishop does and the work he has done to make the research letter turn around time faster. Thank you, Chuck. Still, occasionally one gets him to take a second look. This is one of those. Checking the serialization book and the Parker Story this one showed as TI3, H, 21, C, 12, 32". TI3 should have been a DHE and extras code 21 stands for a vent rib with ejectors (no beavertail forend). When I sent the letter request in for 228445 I filled in the blanks as a GHE with 32" barrels, vent rib, and almost certainly replacement BT forend (no 2 piece forend loop or through bolt). When Chuck checked the records there was a 3 in the grade spot where a DH would have either Dam 3 or TI3. He made a search of the other similar configurations showed one other with a 3 in that spot followed by DHE. Since the letter has to match the records it was written up as a #3 grade.
For some reason when I saw the dimensions in the letter I expected it to shoot a bit above the point of aim. I was surprised to find it shot around 45% over and 55% under at 40 yards. I suppose that explains why someone added a piece of horn to the nose of the comb :shock:and an adjustable comb to the original stock:shock:. I haven't played with the height yet, but I'll take it up to get about a 70/30 where I like it.
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Here are some more pictures showing why I had it as a GHE.

It's choked .029 and .038. Maybe make a good doubles gun? Oh, I forgot to mention the through bolt in the stock head.:crying: By now some of you are probably gagging from these pictures. Is it weird that I love shooting it?

Now that gun hasn't languished in a safe!! Wish it could talk!! Looks like a gun Donald Whittaker could have been shooting live birds with in the 1960s.

I like it. Doubles trap would be my next stop and I wouldn’t hesitate to work on those choke constrictions if need be.

Bob, it's different, that's for sure! But someone obviously cared enough for it to do the modifications to make it their own, and repairs to keep it shooting. Its got history and character, you gotta love that! Now, make it your own and add to the history.

Thanks for the comments. While I was waiting for the gun and letter to show up I poked around in the serialization and Parker Story to learn more about it. I could find 49 total Parkers with the extra code 21. One is a SBT. The vent rib/splinter forend might have been used a bit in skeet as there are some 26 and 28 inch barrel 28, 20, and 16 gauges in there. There were seven 12 gauges listed with 32" barrels. One A6, one A5, one VHE, and four DHEs. I think that should have been 3 DHEs and one GHE. I may fjnd and put a splinter forend back on the way it left the factory with. Heading to the trap range now. Maybe I can find a field set up for doubles and give it a try.

Shooting is one thing, collecting is another. So shoot the heck out of it!

I'd being sharing lots of time with this shotgun on the wobble and bunker fields!!!