New Member

[p_jackson]

Rookie Pete here and thanks in advance for your input. I have sitting in my safe a DHE 20ga. This is the only place that seems to have anyone with knowledge of these shotguns. I'd like to shoot some trap with it. It's been in my family a while; letter says it was built in 1938. Beautiful gun with normal handling marks. Got it from my dad who got it from his uncle (I believe uncle was the original purchaser) and it's sat for at least 30 years I know of. No pitting in the bores and the gun locks up tight. Any cautions that y'all would give me? I restore and shoot orphaned C&R .22's but this is a whole different animal I've got here. Any suggestions, cautions or endorsements are greatly appriciated.
Thanks again-Pete

[Mills]

Welcome Pete and that is a great family heirloom you have there

[OH Osthaus]

Welcome Pete

if its a gun with only normal handling marks, i would not worry about any restoration, that is for well worn guns that need work to save them. Honest wear, especially on a family piece is memories not damage.

If you could post some pictures, you could get a gun specific answer

[p_jackson]

I have no intention of any restoration whatsoever. The research committee letter advised me this was shipped with a trap forend and vented rib. I should have been more precise in my question. Should this shotgun be safe to shoot with modern light trap loads? It is marked 2 3/4" and appears to be tightly choked.
I'm a shooter, not a collector and I've no room in safe my for guns I can not or will not shoot. I've been shooting trap wed. nights after work and want to see a 75+ year old gun and 50+ year old body go against my friend's 21 year old son.
I have a Winchester model 64 that came from the same uncle and safely shoots modern 30 wcf ammo. Just wanting to know if I can do the same with the parker or will it go to my grand daughter when she's born in the spring.
Pete

[Dean Romig]

Hi Peter,
Your heirloom Parker was made to shoot modern loads and you'll do fine with anything but magnum or 3" ammo. You don't need to shoot heavy loads either - the chokes will take care of everything as long as you do your part.

We'd love to see pictures of this special gun - please post some up so we all can drool.

What is the barrel length? What are the choke markings on the barrel flats, if any?

[p_jackson]

Thank you all for your replies. Unfortunately, my wife has the camera so no pictures at this time. The gun has 28" barrels and there are no choke markings.
I will post a picture here in the near future.
Now, to see if I can do my part and bust some clays with it.
Pete

[p_jackson]

Sorry Gentlemen but I move with the speed of molasses. As promised, here's a couple of pictures.




Composition isn't the best-I'm a shooter and a hack photographer.
Pete

[Dean Romig]

WOW Pete! What a wonderful Remington era Parker! Many of us here would give our right arm and our eye teeth to have such a fine gun.

[Bobby Goins]

Beautiful gun! Enjoyed seeing it!

[Bill Murphy]

Maybe you could show us pictures with the vent rib showing. That is a rare option on small gauge Parkers and adds thousands of dollars to the value. Pictures of the butt end of the stock would be interesting also.