screws in top of the rib

[Bill Murphy]

I have a minty 20 gauge late VHE with four holes. I tried to line up the holes on two Nydar sights and neither one had holes that would line up with the holes on my gun. Apparently, some other aparatus was installed in the holes.

[Big D]

When I was shooting skeet at the DuPont club near Newark, Del in late 50's, early 60's, there was a gentleman who had apparently had a tough experience in WW2. He showed up with a telescopic sight somehow mounted on his shotgun. Scary

[Researcher]

Weaver made the K1 scope for use on a shotgun. I tried one on a gun someone had down at the Potomac River Gun Club one time. Couldn't say it helped or hindered my skeet shooting, but certainly seemed unnecessary. One is pictured on page 162 of Shotguns by Keith, but the one I shot was decades newer then the one Keith pictured.

[Leighton Stallones]

I had a friend of mine show up at the range with one. I tried it and found it was one of the dumbest things I have ever witnessed.

[jerry serie]

I have a very nice condition Philly Fox Sterlingworth 20 GA, w/ 30" bls, ejectors, and 2 screws in the top rib. My question is whether I should have it repaired? What would be the cost? Who could do such work? Or, should I leave it the way it is? Your advice would be helpful.

Many Thanks........Jerry

[Bill Murphy]

I think Steve Bertram can do it. There was a post or thread not long ago about this. I will use him if he is the one mentioned.

[Kevin McCormack]

I would definitely leave those screws in the rib; just make sure they're "timed" each time before and after you use the gun!

[Craig Larter]

I have a Super Fox that had screws in the bottom rib from a non-factory swivel. I asked Doug Turnbull about welding them up and spot re-blueing. I was told it could be done but the blue over the weld would take a little different color and the repaired holes would be still visible under bright sunlight. I decided to just have two screws installed flush and timed. Satisfies me. Just part of the guns history. Like many I sometimes get a little crazy about trying to make a gun original, not worth the expense in most cases.

[Fishtail]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

I have a minty 20 gauge late VHE with four holes. I tried to line up the holes on two Nydar sights and neither one had holes that would line up with the holes on my gun. Apparently, some other aparatus was installed in the holes.

Perhaps I may be of some assistance.

It's easy, in today's world of easy access internet, to forget that in the Victorian age and thereafter, it was not nearly as easy for the sportsman to access materials of interest.

Many a fine gun, Parkers included, were drilled to allow a stereoscope (see below) to be mounted. To the casual observer, it merely appeared as though the gentleman was out shooting his gun at whatever game was available. No one was any the wiser, no one was offended. But with the stereoscope, one merely needed to insert the desired photograph(s) and one could enjoy oneself afield as we do now in the privacy of our own toolsheds.

[Bill Murphy]

Thanks. I won't be filling those holes.