1909 Parker VH Info Needed (Tiger Striped Case)

Christopher Barker · 02-07-2014, 10:03 AM

I am trying to get as much info as possible on this SXS Parker. The case shows colors unlike anything I have seen before, but have been told by 1 gunsmith that it could be a factory finish. All the info is below. If anyone has any info, I would be greatly appreciative.

Serial # 150XXX (The full serial is visible on the watertable)
1909 manufacture date based on the serial #
Side by Side Double Barrel 12 Gauge
Rib says Vulcan Steel
Lines on the rib go all the way to the end of the 26" barrels
Blueing faded on the barrels
Barrels need to be tightened (have a little play in them)
Case has tiger striped symmetrical pattern
Frame size on barrel lug is faded

I am curious about the following info:
Did the shotgun actually came with the 26" from the factory?
Does the case appear to be factory finished?
Any idea of value?
Is there anything in the order books on the factory frame size?
Any other info on the gun from the experts here that I am not bright enough to ask about?

I have new, but from what I have seen on the forums, the Research Letter is important to have, but it doesn't answer some questions and even raises other questions. I plan on getting the Research Letter, but I was hoping to get some informatino beforehand.

David Noble · 02-07-2014, 10:18 AM

The barrel length checks out the correct length according to the serialization book. I suspect a refinish of the trigger guard and frame. You will want to address the looseness in the barrels. That can be as simple as a shim in the pivot.
It looks like a new front bead is in order. Otherwise, the gun should make a good shooter.

Christopher Barker · 02-07-2014, 10:32 AM

Thanks for verifying the barrel length. The finish on the top tang appears to be from a former refinishing job. Would a quality professional refinish affect the value positively if there has already been a former refinish job done on the stock? I know that the former refinish job is at least 60 years old.

B. Dudley · 02-07-2014, 10:47 AM

Another example where the matting running off ended up not proving that the barrel length is altered. Book confirms 26" length. Providing it is accurate. Research letter would confirm.
Factory 26" barrels would add a little bit of a rarity factory to it. Just a little.

The colors on the frame are cyanide dip like the kind that DelGrego used to do. Cannot tell for sure if they would have been the shop to have done it or not. But it is NOT factory work. The top lever has been blued which is NOT correct. And it looks like based on your photos that maybe the forend latch was blued too??? but hard to tell with the lighting in the photo. And yes, the trigger guard blue is redone as well. There is some old oil or varnish on the gun's metal parts in areas that could stand to be cleaned off.

The gun is a 2 frame most likely based on the style of buttplate on it.

edgarspencer · 02-07-2014, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

The gun is a 2 frame most likely based on the style of buttplate on it.

Brian, I have two 1 1/2 frame guns with that HRBP. It was also the style on the unfired VH shown here previously
3#8oz sounds pretty light for unstruck 2 frame bbls. Maybe Mr. Baker could get and accurate firing pin cl measurement.

Christopher Barker · 02-07-2014, 11:30 AM

That's interesting. If DelGrego or another quality shop did the case refinishing, would there be any stamp on the case that could prove that? Or did DelGrego keep records that survived on work orders?

I checked out some of the tiger striping on DelGrego's work, but I can't find any examples that have the symmetry on the underside that this one has.

Bruce Day · 02-07-2014, 01:08 PM

Chris, since you have a statement from Larry or Lawrence Del Grego that original Parkers are tiger striped and use black and white color case colors, I have deleted my post about cyanide case color techniques.

Good luck with your investigation.

Christopher Barker · 02-07-2014, 01:23 PM

I called DelGrego in NY. He said that without having the gun in their hands, there is no way to tell if it came from their shop. He said that they have case hardened 90,000 Parker's over their existence. He did say that Parker did some tiger striping and the silver and black color are the colors that Parker and DelGrego used, as DelGrego used the same Parker tanks. I will have to ship it to DelGrego for them to confirm or deny that they did the work.

B. Dudley · 02-07-2014, 02:07 PM

Why are you so concerned about who did them work? To the point of paying to ship the gun to DelGrego for confirmation.
Is it really that important to know who did the incorrect work on the gun?
Rest assured, it was not factory work.

90,000 guns have gone through DelGrego's shop for coloring? Wow... That is about a third of the Parkers made in total.

Christopher Barker · 02-07-2014, 02:21 PM

Dudley, I must have hurt your feelings by trying to find out more information about a gun. To respond to your terse response, I would like to know everything available about the guns that I have some interest in. I came to this forum because I was hoping to find some experts on here who knew more than me about this subject. Don't waste your time questioning why I want more information.

Ignorance is Bliss, but Knowledge is Power.

If all you have left to offer is rhetorical sarcastic statements, your input is not needed, nor welcome. If, however, you have anything of substance to add, please post to your heart's content.