1930 Parker VHE

[John Farrell, Charter Member #33]

From the way the lower tang is twisted, I would bet it was leaned against a car bumper and when the car was moved, the heel dug into the ground and the upper half of the gun (in its case) was moved forward against a stop of some kind, snapped the stock and bent the tang at the odd angle. I saw the same thing happen about 30 years ago a Win Mod 70 was leaned against the front bumper of a pickup.

You have to remember that back in those days the front fenders were like a bowl with the inner edge connecting to the body under the headlight which was attached to the car by a horizontal bar. I can see the gun being pushed forward and up against the bar and the stock snapping. The angle of the twisted tang and the missing piece of wood at the top left of the stock points to a violent action.

[John Farrell, Charter Member #33]

Mike -thanks for your suggestions. I am the kind of person that is able to see beyond the immediate situation and analyze things pretty well. Believe me, when I say, I am not being a pollyanna; (A person regarded as being foolishly or blindly optimistic) but there are details about the gun that I researched which substantiate the provenance of the gun and its history. My professional life over the past 35 years has hardened me against accepting anything as fact until I determine for myself what the facts are.

The intimate details of the original owner of the gun, as described to me by the seller, check out completely with research from historic records of the time and region in which the owner lived. The last surviving offspring of the original owner, the seller of the gun to my seller, is still alive in Minnesota.

This is a 1930 gun. Looking at the edge engraving around the receiver with a 8X loupe shows the edges to be sharp with no evidence of rework during a rehab or renovation. The screws are indexed and untouched. The screws and triggers are 100% case colored

There is no oil staining or solvent seepage in the wood or any other evidence that the gun underwent any cleaning in its lifetime. The barrel steel is undinged and there are no burrs or dents in the rib. Looking at the face of the receiver, the factory burnish is still apparent and no evidence of polishing out shell case deposits are evident.

If the gun was renovated by either Larry Del Grego or Remington, their mark would be on the receiver flats. I know that to be the case. Lastly, who in his right mind would go to the trouble of renovating a 1930 VH gun? The expense would exceed any amount one might dream of getting for a 1930 gun. So, in the case of this Parker, I do not believe the mine was salted.

Rather, the history, condition of the gun and intelligence of the seller (duh!!) are all harbingers of support that the gun has been in the closet(s) for 82 years and when it came out, I was there.

Your suggestion is not discarded out of hand, and I thank you for the thought. JF

[Bill Murphy]

What is the serial number, John? Nice gun.

[J.B. Books]

I have been in the left side of my mind and had a 1900 VH restored (3 frame 12).

Camera's can play tricks with colors.

Were the triggers of a VH cc'd or blued, probably a dumb question but I guess I have never seen a VH in new enough condition know or notice, I thought they were normally blued.

Is there any other damage to the gun? I would expect at least some marred bluing somewhere from a gun that took a fall hard enough to snap the stock off.

Still a great find and worth fixing up.

[C.O.B.]

Restocked to your deminsions and it will provide a lifetime of shooting pleasure. You won't get the investment back in terms of dollars but the joy of restoring this to shooting status and the use you will enjoy from it is priceless.

[Bill Murphy]

My choice would be to have one of the talented people out there put that stock back together. The king of broken stocks is Dave Wolf in Waco, but there are others. I am going to contact Dave about the CH I have written about. It is broken and repaired poorly at the grip and is way more complicated a repair than the stock being discussed here. What is your serial number?

[Double Lab]

John;
Very nice gun. I also would opt to have the original stock repaired. Over all you'll spend less on a repair than a restock and there are guys out there who can repair a stock and you will not be able to tell. I know as I had a beautiful straight grip DHE 20 that was cracked in half at the wrist. Had it repaired and I defy anyone to see the repair. PM me if you would like to see the before and after. Also, Delgrago did'nt always stamp his work on the frame if he refinished a gun. Your gun does look as if it has been fired. The circular marks on the standing breach are a telltale sign. Put the old girl back together and enjoy shooting her.

[Dean Romig]

John, please tell us the serial number of your Parker.

Del Grego did not necessarily mark all of the guns they worked on.

It has clearly been fired as is evidenced by the primer impact circles on the breech faces.

The stock checkering and the "nose of the comb" look suspiciously like Remington work (which is not a bad thing) and I have a feeling there is a Remington stamp on the left barrel flat close to the lug. Incidentally, the barrel blueing looks like Remington work too... a tad 'frostier' than Parker Bros. rust blueing.

This gun asks some questions and the answers lie in the gun itself through thorough examination.

It looks like a very nice gun and deserves the best stocker you can find.

[J.B. Books]

As far as the question of who would restore a VH. If I recall correctly in a discussion I had with Babe DelGrego a few years back he talked about busy times in the shop during the old days. I think they were buying tired guns, restoring them and reselling them for a profit since most of the cost was in their labor. Even recasing receivers was costing them very little due to connections at Remington. I suspect there are more restored VH's out there then people think.

I also don't think I have ever seen a marking on a gun indicating their work except for DelGrego & Son recoil pads and the polishing line indicative of some their work on the receiver.

[John Farrell, Charter Member #33]

In reply to several questions posed by PGCA members.

The serial number is 235XXX. I previously stated the gun had 28" barrels. The correct length is 30". They are choked F&F.

At almost 81 I really don't need another Parker gun to shoot. I have enough of them now that I don't use. My intention is to put it in the safe with the others and let history determine its ultimate fate.

I am going to put new wood on it for the reasons stated in previous posts. I am concerned about someone loading it up with magnum loads in the future and breaking the stock with potential injuries to the user. As we all know, things get lost in transmission during the heat of making a sale.

A commissioned research of the person the seller described as the original owner came back substantially affirming the verbal history of the owner (and his descendants) that was given to me during conversations with the seller.

The Parker letter I received does not disclose where or to whom the gun was originally shipped. That would be icing on the cake. I was hoping that information would be included in the letter, but it is what it is.

So until later . . .