Rare BHE .410 4/0-frame sighting

Bill Murphy · 02-12-2017, 11:34 AM

At the time, Sisley's statement was correct. There were more than a few real 0000 frames unfinished at the end of production. Many of these frames were engraved on the aftermarket, some under the direction of the Skeuse family. Although the 000 frame Parkers and the real 0000 frame Repros had similar pin separation (as I recall), the frame treatment and maybe some exterior dimensions were different.

Wild Skies · 02-12-2017, 08:37 PM

I'm kind of slow, please help me come through the fog and see the light. From the Parker Repro Production Chart on the Parker Grades page it says that:

* 16 A-1 Special 28/.410 sets were produced--these obviously were built on a 00-frame.

* 9 BHE .410 guns were produced--no frame size is listed, but it's assumed these were on a 0000-frame, right? If we assume Sisley's reporting is accurate, we know at least 33 0000-frame guns were completed, but we don't know what grade they were finished out in. From the pic I posted above we see that it is a 0000-frame BHE and it is #52, so it can be assumed there are at least 52 BHEs, or more, on a 0000-frame out there--and there were 100 more 0000-frame guns at the time at the time of Sisley's article that were started. We do know that Gournet engraved some of those as A-1 Specials, but we don't know how many he finished or if he, or other gunsmiths, finished them and in what grades.

* 33 DHE .410 guns were produced, but we don't know what frame size they were built on--were they on a 00 or 0000-frame?? Where did this quantity of 33 come from?

Do we know definitively how many Repro .410s were built on a 00-frame?

Do we know the number of DHE and BHE 28/.410 00-frame sets that were built?

Maybe there's no answers to the above, but if you're like me and enjoy the hobby, you'd like to know. At the very least, it appears the production chart could use a little help, it's our collective knowledge that can provide that help.

Wild Skies · 02-20-2017, 10:27 PM

There are several things we have learned and found concerning Parker Reproductions in this thread:

1. We now know and have seen pics of at least two 0000-frame BHE .410s produced that have DHE-style engraving. I believe everyone would have to agree that this is rare, odd and unusual -- even in the world of Parkers.

2. The Parker Reproduction Production Chart on the Parker Grades page of this website states that there were 9 BHE .410s built. In this thread we have seen pics of B .410-0045 and B .410-0052 (both of these happen to be built on 4/0 frames). It appears from these serial numbers that there were at least 52 built -- and there's probably more out there. The Sisley article corroborates these findings.

3. There are no BHE .410/28 sets mentioned in the Production Chart. We now know there is one and only one BHE .410/28 set ever produced. This is documented by a copy of a type-written letter by J.T. Skeuse, the President of Parker Reproductions to Leslie Blumberg.

Given the above, I respectfully request that the Production Chart be revised and updated to show these Parker Repros found. And going forward, as additional information comes to light, further revisions be made at that time.

George M. Purtill Member #28 · 02-21-2017, 08:58 AM

At least 52?
Then there is a chance I can buy one!!!! They are plentiful!

Bill Murphy · 02-21-2017, 09:55 AM

George, most of them have been through the Gournet shop. Most of those are maximum effort type guns. I won't be buying one of them.

Wild Skies · 02-21-2017, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George M. Purtill

At least 52?
Then there is a chance I can buy one!!!! They are plentiful!

Yep, at least 52 . . . and likely more. Serial numbers tell the tale, Parker Repros were serialized per grade and gauge starting at No. 1 (with the possible exception of the early prototype DHE 20-ga., specialty NSSF and Buffalo Bill Museum guns). In the case of BHE .410s, we have a pic of B .410-0052 -- making it the 52nd B-Grade .410 built, which is the highest number we have found -- so far.

Happy hunting!

George M. Purtill Member #28 · 02-21-2017, 08:41 PM

Greg
Someday we will both own one.

Bill Murphy · 02-23-2017, 07:07 PM

A few years ago, I spent three days attending a display at the Baltimore Show that included a 0000 frame BHE and a 0000 frame Gournet A-1 Special among other Parker .410s. Don't ask me any questions about that weekend. I don't remember anything. All I know is that we didn't lose anything.