Price check: 20 ga VHE

[Setter Man]

Looking at a 20 ga VHE with the following specs (all confirmed with a Research Letter):

32" barrels (full/full)
Chambers: 2-7/8"
Straight stock (DAC=1-5/8, DAH=2-1/4)
#1 Frame
Silvers pad
Weight: 6-lbs, 12-ozs.

Gun is in excellent condition, although I believe it has been refinished (by someone who does good work). Colors look a little dark to me.

Fair price?

Thanks,

JDG

[Ed Blake]

What is the for sale price?

[Setter Man]

Owner wants me to make an offer.

[Ed Blake]

Puglisi had a similar gun earlier in the summer, but it was an extractor gun. Price was $3,995. It had honest wear, but had a nasty looking dent in the right barrel. It had an O frame. I have wondered if someone here got that gun. I agree with Jent on the high end, Might be worth more. Sounds like a great gun.

[Dave Miles]

Originally Posted by Jent P Mitchell III

A good Parker 20 gauge SXS with 32 inch barrels is probably a $3000 to $3500 shotgun in my opinion. The same gun with 28 inch barrels would be a $1800 to $2400 gun.
Good Shooting To You, Jent

I'd love to find a good condition, 20 gauge VHE, with a straight stock, 28" barrels, for $1800 to $2400.

[Wild Skies]

Originally Posted by Dave Miles

I'd love to find a good condition, 20 gauge VHE, with a straight stock, 28" barrels, for $1800 to $2400.

I agree.

The only way you'll find a good conditioned 20-ga. VHE with a straight stock, 28" barrels, for $1800 to $2400 is if the owner has it mis-priced or doesn't know what he's got. These are $4000+ guns and a 32" gun may be a little more...I could be wrong though--but I don't think so.

[Richard Flanders]

Agreed; you're not wrong Greg. $2400 for that gun in 28" would be low, depending somewhat on the refinish quality of course. I thought I did ok getting an all original 28" VH20 for $3400 a few years back... BEFORE prices went ballistic. If mine had a straight stock and ejectors, I'd still be laughing. The only reason I got it for what I did is that it has 3"DAH so no one wanted it. I had to clean up and reblue a patch of lightly corroded finish on one barrel breech(the seller never mentioned that little issue of course); other than that it's in excellent condition - maybe 75% or so... maybe a bit higher. It's very clean.

[Setter Man]

This is an interesting prediciment. Presented with an opportunity to buy a 20 ga V with straight stock and 28" barrels for $2,800 I would jump in a heartbeat. In addition to the diserable configuration, there is probably nothing that could not be hunted with that gun and if I could have only one SxS it would probably be that gun (talking real world here, not English guns). However, the gun in question is a #1 frame 20 that is pushing 7 lbs when loaded - not a terribly practicle or verstatile gun and I think a lot of the value is probably based on it being collectable. However, it's been re-finished andthere goes the collectability.

Based on the contents of the letter, I believe this gun was built specifically for the pigeon rings and/or duck marshes of California. Regardless, it's a pretty specialized gun probably best suited today for clays, phez, and ducks over decoys. Perhaps I am trying to justify a lower offer but that's why I ask.

Any additional thoughts?

JDG

[Dean Romig]

Two years ago that would have been a $6500 gun...
today - $4500 - $5000.
No, it's not an upland gun, but quite unusual and collectible yet.

[Austin W Hogan]

Charlie Price wrote a series of articles titled "Whatsitworth" for Parker Pages when he began the magazine format. He likened collecting to a search for a white crow; collectors search for guns that should not be there. These include long and short barrels, mis matched gauge and frame , etc. Enough 32 inch twenties have surfaced to remove their white crow status.
Forbes, WSJ and CNBC.com have run articles on collecting as an investment in this time of low interest rate. They have concluded that where sold is a major factor in sale price.

Best, Austin