VH 12 with Briley thin-walled tubes

[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--

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

What the heck is football? This is a gun collecting forum.

Big Friend Ten is my DH 10 in darn fine condition! That name is more polite than its actual name of my Big F---ing Ten!

As for a Big Ten College, ya you bet ya! Parris Island and a decade later The Basic School for Marine Officers at Quantico Virginia. Are those big enough?

[Bill Murphy]

Grantham, go back and read your post referring to the Blue Book's failure to mention the "choke tube penalty" We answered your question, whether you realize it or not. Actually, an 80% VH 12 gauge is probably worth $5000 or more on today's market, unless it has choke tubes, in which case it would be worth about $1500. Your reference to "value added" was not part of the original question. The original question referred to "value decreased".

[Grantham Forester]

Originally Posted by Mark Ouellette

What the heck is football? This is a gun collecting forum.

Big Friend Ten is my DH 10 in darn fine condition! That name is more polite than its actual name of my Big F---ing Ten!

As for a Big Ten College, ya you bet ya! Parris Island and a decade later The Basic School for Marine Officers at Quantico Virginia. Are those big enough?

So, I just assumed when you mentioned the Big Ten- well- my bad I guess. I have never seen a Big Ten gauge double gun, from your photo, your gun is in fine condition. Why is the top opening lever have a slight bend in its shape?? A real piece of craftsmanship, all engraved and with the snake-like lines of a King Cobra!!

[Grantham Forester]

I am afraid I may have not completely understood your suggestion as to a re-reading of the Blue Book's details. If I understand you correctly, an 80$ conditioned 12 VH might be worth $5000 on today's market, and lose $3500 with the alteration of the Briley thin-walled tubes, is that the case. Wow- what a financial loss to the owner.

I just spoke with him, he bought this gun at a gun show about 5 years ago, sent it to Briley's for the tube(s) installation, and has the supporting documents-so if he wanted to sell it to any well versed Parker collector, he would take a "bath" akin to those late comers who invested with Bernie Madoff? Wow- and wow again.

He is going to give the serial number(s), frame size, and with the A grade Fox- the barrel weight stamping number- and also similar details on a 12 DHE 30" F&F choked Parker he may think about selling- I shall also try to get some good detailed photos soon of these guns. Thanks again for your expertise and detailed explanations of current Parker gun values in today's market.

[Mike Murphy]

My take might be a bit different than most, but if you find a gun that you like, in great shape for a reasonable price and most importantly, that you shoot well - YOU BUY IT! Investment value is a secondary consideration.

[charlie cleveland]

i kinda figure old parkers are like old ford cars a rusty old parker will bring good money for the rite rusty old gun just like a rusty beatup old 34 ford roadster will bring a lot of change...charlie

[Grantham Forester]

Originally Posted by Michael Murphy

My take might be a bit different than most, but if you find a gun that you like, in great shape for a reasonable price and most importantly, that you shoot well - YOU BUY IT! Investment value is a secondary consideration.

The main focus of my questions here- what is the fair market value for this VH with the added Briley tubes. From all the well-informed answers I have read, it sounds like the gun is worth somewhat less than if the alteration had not been done. At least the barrels were NOT shortened..

[Ben Rawls]

I don't buy pristine guns. I like to shoot lots of shotguns and buying sound shooters lets me do that. I like to play with them and fettle them up a bit. I sold a very nice VH 12ga a few years ago for $1500. I'd put chokes in a "shooter" if I wanted to but I have discovered that many old guns shoot just fine if you look around for a load that does what you want. No real need to change chokes these days IMHO. I have a VHE from 1903 that I had recheckered but left the metal original. It is an English stocked 20ga 30" F/IC. I was somewhat upset by the chokes unitl my gunsmith(Henry Cheatham if any of you remember him) advised me that was the ideal quail gun in his opinion. Gun shoots very well and I think of Henry every fall when I take it out. Nicest thing about shooting old guns is the feeling of continuity with previous owners. As I remember I got the Parker and 5 Fox sterlingworths for $2200 There were 2 Philadelphia Gun Co guns in that mix. I kept the 16ga . My $.02.