1926 VHE with Take Down Issues

[Mike G.]

I recently aquired my first Parker. According to the serial number and other markings I have determined that it was made in 1926 and is a 16ga., VHE. I was told that it had an "excellent" refurbishment by a qualified gunsmith but could not get any info about who or where. The gun is tight and shoots very well. But, I cannot separate the barrels from the reciever. And "at times" the forestock is difficult to put back in place. All of the serial numbers match so I am pretty sure that everything is an original match. I grew up with various SXS's and understand their actions well. But this has me perplexed.
Can anyone direct me to a knowledgable parker gunsmith who might know what the issue is?
Many thanks
Mike

[Brush Buster]

Mike , You could give this a try ,Open the gun and cock it ,Shut the Gun ,Fire Both Triggers ,then before opening again ,Pop the Forend off and slide the opening lever to the right ,the Barrels will probably seperate at this point ! I don't have a scientific answer to this but have owned many Parker guns which behaved this way ! Some Folks say the Internals are Gummed Up but I know a Couple I had ,were clean on the inside and still behaved in this manner ! Give it a go ,you can't hurt anything and see if this works for you ! Good Luck With it ! Russ

[C.O.B.]

I don't think you would want to take the forarm off an ejector gun without it being cocked.

[Brush Buster]

Rich Good Point ,I hadn't given any thought to the ejectors so I just tried it on one of my Ejector Guns and I had no trouble putting the forend back on and it cocked as per normal although a bit louder ! Good thinking though , I would know how to cock the ejectors if need be ,maybe Mike should just find a competent Smith to take a look at her , I have had the same problem many times with Parker Guns and this is my remedy !

[C.O.B.]

Whenever I have taken a forarm off an ejector gun without them being cocked it's a pain to manually recock them esp if the forarm is a BTF. I leave all the guns cocked that way I don't have to remember when I take them down.

[Brush Buster]

Rich ,I agree they are a pain in the butt to recock , I use a pencil and Hold the Forend Firmly and use the eraser end to Recock the ejectors ! I had posted some pictures earlier ,well quite a while back and I know it's been copied on Our Home Page on how to do it but I can't seem to locate it ! I think the LC Smith is even worse without a Cocking Tool !

[C.O.B.]

I was cleaning the gun room and found a cocking tool for a Smith. I haven't had one for over 10 years, where this came from is a mystry.

i have skinned a knuckle or two trying to recock Parker ejectors.

[Brush Buster]

Now there's a For Sale Item for the Forum !

[C.O.B.]

Not a bad idea, I wonder what it would be worth.

[Brush Buster]

???