VH 12 with Briley thin-walled tubes

[Grantham Forester]

I borrowed a friend's copy of the 2010 edition of this blue book by S.P. Fjestad- page 1381- shows the VH in 12 gauge in 80% condition as to finish at $4000.00 No deduction for after-market choke tubes, whether by Briley or other barrel experts. How accurate is this Blue Book for realistic market values for long out-of-production double shotguns, I wonder?

[Autumn Daze]

Grantham, I don't put much faith in the Blue Book. A Parker or any collectible gun is worth what the seller will take and the buyer will pay. A wise old collector told me years ago that"You can't pay too much for a high condition original gun you can only pay it too soon"

[Bruce Day]

Originally Posted by Grantham Forester

I borrowed a friend's copy of the 2010 edition of this blue book by S.P. Fjestad- page 1381- shows the VH in 12 gauge in 80% condition as to finish at $4000.00 No deduction for after-market choke tubes, whether by Briley or other barrel experts. How accurate is this Blue Book for realistic market values for long out-of-production double shotguns, I wonder?

The Blue Book values are compiled by Bill Mullins, a PGCA director, coauthor of the Parker Story and long time Parker editor. They are reasonably accurate. The inaccuracy comes from over estimation of condition or not reading the preamble to the section which refers to Parkers in original condition. After market choke tubes are not original condition. Blue Book values are historical and people use historical sales data for all kinds of purposes, such as home sales, land sales and old gun sales, or a person can make up his own.

[Autumn Daze]

Exactly...And you can have two very knowledgable collectors looking at the same gun and be apart on condition. I hold to my original statement. And I am sure Bill knows I mean no disrespect.

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Altered barrels be they cut or have screw in chokes reduces the value of the gun by half. Use this as a guide and you will not pay too much.

An 80% gun would be a screamer! Please shoot some photos and share with us.

[Bill Murphy]

Grantham, please post the exact wording from the Blue Book that tells you that there is no value penalty for screw chokes in a $4000 VH.

[Grantham Forester]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Grantham, please post the exact wording from the Blue Book that tells you that there is no value penalty for screw chokes in a $4000 VH.

I re-and re-read in the 2010 copy of Mr. Fjestad's Blue Book- from pages 1378 through 1383, even used a magnifier for the fine print, and could NOT find any reference to the value-added factor for the Briley installed tubes? Would this VH be worth more if the Briley tubes were installed by the Briley folks in TX, as opposed to one of their licensed installer/gunsmiths, perhaps? If so, should I ask the party that owns this "fine shooter" if he has a letterheaded bill from Briley, that references this VH Parker by exact serial number? Thanks

[Grantham Forester]

Originally Posted by Mark Ouellette

Altered barrels be they cut or have screw in chokes reduces the value of the gun by half. Use this as a guide and you will not pay too much.

An 80% gun would be a screamer! Please shoot some photos and share with us.

My mistake-- the VH Parker is NOT the 80% condition gun- the AH Fox 12 A Grade is-had been in private safe storage from about WW11 outbreak in Poland until perhaps the last few years--As this is not a Fox forum, perhaps I should not have mentioned it here- my bad. I can't get someone to take good photos or provide the serial number data of either gun right now- if important, I can ask the owner of both these nice pre-WW11 double guns for the serial numbers and markings, possibly photos after that, but 100% do-able if I end up buying either, or both guns- then I will be glad to do so.

May I ask- of which Big Ten College football team are you friendly with? I am a Illini fan (my wife is an Alumnus) but trying to support them each Fall seems a bit futile- much like picking the Lions to win a SuperBowl, or the Twins to win a World Series--

[B. Dudley]

When I mention that collector value is greatly diminished by the addition of screw in chokes. I mean exactly that. An original condition gun has been altered greatly from its original configuration and the value as an original collector is no more.
And as I mention, there is another side to this coin and that is the "shooter" aspect of it. A shooter is something that is in a condition that reduces collector value or had had alterations that make it a departure from original. Shooters have value in their own right because one can take it out and hunt/great clays with it to their hearts content and have no worries about effecting the value of the gun.
Sometimes, alterations such as the addition of chokes give the gun a versatility that is valuable to some shooters.
I myself was considering the purchase of a VH about a year back that had screw in chokes installed. The price was right and the gun was in decent shape. But I thought about it too long and it sold to another party.
I would have never considered putting screw in chokes into a 80% condition gun myself. But if someone else has already done the deed and the price is right, why no buy it?

[Bruce Day]

Yes well there are all sorts of collectors. Several years ago I was approached by a person who wanted " an original Parker 28ga with lots of gold" and what it cost was insignificant.

Then there was the person who called me from Phoenix and wanted me to find him another 20ga VHE because he had one before and he tried to have that made into an A-1S by a local guy who said he could engrave it. The guy did a terrible job and ruined the gun so now he was looking for another 20ga because he had another engraver down there who this time could make it into a perfect A-1S. He was willing to pay book price. I did not help him.

I don't know what collectors like. I do know what I like and what my friends who have nice guns like.

The more I learn, the less I know.