Valuation / information inquiry on VH, 000, .410

[Richard Papa]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the community and recently came into possession of a family-inherited Parker .410 and 28 gauge—I'll be making a separate post about the 28 gauge soon.

Right now, I'm hoping to learn more about the .410. From the research I've done, it appears to be a fairly rare piece, with only 469 produced in the VH grade. The serial number is 236496, placing it among the last guns made before Winchester took over Parker.

It features a 26" barrel, 3" chamber, double triggers, and a round pistol grip. I'm looking for any additional information or insights that might help us better understand its value and history.

I will be attaching some photos for reference.

Thank you!

(Edited by John D. to conform to forum rules)

[Researcher]

Your VH .410-bore was made after the Remington take over. The PARKER GUN WORKS - OVERLOAD PROVED is the Remington era proof stamp. The KD on the left barrel flat near the lug is a Remington date code K = May D = 1935. Your frame was certainly already serial numbered during Parker Bros. days. Expensive .410-bores were certainly not fast movers during the Great Depression. Some other guns I've recorded in the 2364xx range carry the PARKED BROS. - OVERLOAD PROVED stamp and no date code on the barrel flat. Guns weren't completed in exact serial number order.

[Tennessee Dave]

That gun will be worth quite a bit of money.

[todd allen]

I remember the days at the Sahara Gun Show in Vegas back in the day, questioning the reasoning to pay 3500.00 for an old Parker .410.
I passed up a 3500.00 DHE 32" 28 gauge at a pigeon shoot, as well.
Dumb me!

[J. Scott Hanes]

What a great inheritance! And a 28 to boot! Your relatives had great taste in shotguns. Appreciate your sharing the photos.

[Bill Murphy]

Maybe I'll quit trying to sell my shotguns and let those who shop my estate sale comment on my "great taste in shotguns" after I'm gone.

[Tennessee Dave]

Originally Posted by todd allen

I remember the days at the Sahara Gun Show in Vegas back in the day, questioning the reasoning to pay 3500.00 for an old Parker .410.
I passed up a 3500.00 DHE 32" 28 gauge at a pigeon shoot, as well.
Dumb me!

How many years ago are you talking about? It's very likely that $3500 back then was equivalent to 15-20K today.

[todd allen]

I think the DHE 28 was about 25 years ago. It came out of an estate in So. Cal, and the dealer didn't seem to have much knowledge or interest in old Parkers.

[Researcher]

Originally Posted by todd allen

I think the DHE 28 was about 25 years ago. It came out of an estate in So. Cal, and the dealer didn't seem to have much knowledge or interest in old Parkers.

Could it have been Edwin Hedderly's 28-gauge DHE?

Edwin Hedderly 28-gauge DHE order.jpg

Edwin Hedderly.jpg

[todd allen]

I wish that I had taken some pics. Phones didn't have built in cameras back then, and we missed a lot of opportunities to document such things.
What struck me was how the little gun with the long barrels handled!
It would have been dynamite in the 28 gauge flyer events!