Price check: 20 ga VHE
 

Looking at a 20 ga VHE with the following specs (all confirmed with a Research Letter):

32" barrels (full/full)
Chambers: 2-7/8"
Straight stock (DAC=1-5/8, DAH=2-1/4)
#1 Frame
Silvers pad
Weight: 6-lbs, 12-ozs.

Gun is in excellent condition, although I believe it has been refinished (by someone who does good work). Colors look a little dark to me.

Fair price?

Thanks,

JDG

What is the for sale price?

Owner wants me to make an offer.

Puglisi had a similar gun earlier in the summer, but it was an extractor gun. Price was $3,995. It had honest wear, but had a nasty looking dent in the right barrel. It had an O frame. I have wondered if someone here got that gun. I agree with Jent on the high end, Might be worth more. Sounds like a great gun.

I'd love to find a good condition, 20 gauge VHE, with a straight stock, 28" barrels, for $1800 to $2400.

I agree.

The only way you'll find a good conditioned 20-ga. VHE with a straight stock, 28" barrels, for $1800 to $2400 is if the owner has it mis-priced or doesn't know what he's got. These are $4000+ guns and a 32" gun may be a little more...I could be wrong though--but I don't think so.

Agreed; you're not wrong Greg. $2400 for that gun in 28" would be low, depending somewhat on the refinish quality of course. I thought I did ok getting an all original 28" VH20 for $3400 a few years back... BEFORE prices went ballistic. If mine had a straight stock and ejectors, I'd still be laughing. The only reason I got it for what I did is that it has 3"DAH so no one wanted it. I had to clean up and reblue a patch of lightly corroded finish on one barrel breech(the seller never mentioned that little issue of course); other than that it's in excellent condition - maybe 75% or so... maybe a bit higher. It's very clean.

This is an interesting prediciment. Presented with an opportunity to buy a 20 ga V with straight stock and 28" barrels for $2,800 I would jump in a heartbeat. In addition to the diserable configuration, there is probably nothing that could not be hunted with that gun and if I could have only one SxS it would probably be that gun (talking real world here, not English guns). However, the gun in question is a #1 frame 20 that is pushing 7 lbs when loaded - not a terribly practicle or verstatile gun and I think a lot of the value is probably based on it being collectable. However, it's been re-finished andthere goes the collectability.

Based on the contents of the letter, I believe this gun was built specifically for the pigeon rings and/or duck marshes of California. Regardless, it's a pretty specialized gun probably best suited today for clays, phez, and ducks over decoys. Perhaps I am trying to justify a lower offer but that's why I ask.

Any additional thoughts?

JDG

Two years ago that would have been a $6500 gun...
today - $4500 - $5000.
No, it's not an upland gun, but quite unusual and collectible yet.