Rare BHE .410 4/0-frame sighting

[davidkerns]

I would investigate the gun a bit more , im sure you checked to make sure the the bbls and the frame have the same serial#s , I am agreement with others that d grade engraving is a definite detract and I could be wrong , I don't think it will be treated like a double struck coin .
When a collector is buying a gun , particularly a Parker Reproduction if anything you would like to find the B grade with higher grade engraving , and on some original Parkers on rare occasion you would find a D grade gun with an extra duck or some extra engraving on the gun , again this is rare but it did happen , and sometimes a special order gun may have the extra embellishments.
I would say the wrong engraving drives the price down , none the less , this makes it a target for the seller to have to take a lower price , particularly once the news has travelled
and the seller knows what he has , and the item has not sold for some apparent reason.
Good luck on your venture.
Dave Kerns PGCA member#1691

[Wild Skies]

In going back and re-reading this thread it brings up several unanswered questions regarding these very alluring and intriguing little 0000-frame Repros. Questions like -- where did the numbers in the production chart for the .410s come from? Are these documented numbers, or are they assumptions? The 33 listed DHE .410s do not mention what size frame they were built on, nor do the 9 BHE 410s. Another question brought up in another thread was -- Do the .0000-frame production Repros with beavertail forends have the reinforcement rod?

Then we have the Nick Sisley quote in an article that he wrote about Parker Reproductions in the Jan/ Feb 1996 issue of Shotgun Sports magazine where he writes -- "Finally, the factory started 133 .410s on the tiny 4/0 frame. They completed 33 of these, and that's when production ceased. . . . As for the 100 partially made .410s on the 4/0 frame, Jack Skeuse continues to build as time and experienced gunsmiths permit." OK, here we have some numbers, but no mention of what grade they were finished out in.

Then, to add to the confusion regarding the 9 BHE .410s in the production chart, we have this -- a .410 BHE Repro on a 0000-frame -- the 2nd 4/0-frame BHE to be found with DHE-style engraving, Serial No. B .410-0052 . . . if there were only 9 built, how do we explain this gun at #52? Can we answer that without a question?

[Bill Murphy]

The number 52 can be explained by realizing that by popular rumor, 133 were started. There are probably a few of them still out there, but they are buried deep and will be expensive.

[Wild Skies]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

The number 52 can be explained by realizing that by popular rumor, 133 were started. There are probably a few of them still out there, but they are buried deep and will be expensive.

Wow, that is certainly is a different response to the 9 BHEs you claimed were built back on page 3 of this thread.

[Bill Murphy]

The nine BHEs were completed guns, or maybe there were 33.

[Bill Murphy]

Sisley created a little confusion when he used the same production total, 33, for two entirely different guns. In my opinion, the 33 DHEs were probably one barrel set .410s on the 00 frame. The second 33, again in my opinion, refers to the "finished" BHE 0000 frame guns. I think I made an error in my comments on page 3 of this thread. I think Sisley was probably correct in stating that 133 0000 frame .410s were started.