new member, and need advice on inherited VH

[brucefalzarano]

My grandfather bought this Parker new, and owned it until he passed in 1964. My uncle got the Parker, and my father got his LC Smith. I inherited both guns a number of years ago, and basically just locked them in my safe for the past 30 years. I know, but raising kids takes a toll. I'm taking a look at the Parker finally and need some help. Overall, the gun looks and feels decent, except for the buttplate and the pinhole in the barrel. Locks up tight, and has most of the original finish and alot of blue.

Trying to decide what to do with the gun, and if it is salvageable. I've gotten alot of info/help off this site. Thank you all! I believe its a VH, 1 1/2, 12 ga with 30 inch barrels. I dont know how to tell chamber size or choke. I was told this was my grandfathers duck gun (LC smith with 26in the pheasant and rabbit gun) so I assume the chokes are full/full, but not sure how to validate that. Looks like it was made in 1924.

Here are some pics. Any help ID'iing, would be appreciated. Should I replace the buttplate, and is the barrel fixable? Or does this become a wall hanger? My kids are unlikely to ever shoot it, or want it. So perhaps I'll try to find a collector that would appreciate it. Is it a desirable gun for a collector?

Thanks again for your help and advice.

[Dean Romig]

Looks like a very decent VH. Please show us the “pin hole” if it’s in one of your pictures I don’t see it.





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[Big D]

Next to last picture, left barrel, in the gravers walk?

[Dean Romig]

If that’s really a hole that (for whatever reason) goes all the way through, have it professionally microwelded and finished and enjoy shooting it.

Personally, if it were mine and the hole is no bigger inside the barrel than what we see on the outside, I wouldn’t really be concerned... but that’s just me - others would err on the side of caution. Odds are that your grandfather didn’t even notice it and just shot it and shot it and shot it.



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[brucefalzarano]

Here's a pic of the pin hole. Its about 3/4 of the way down the left barrel towards the muzzle. Also, is a number 1 buttplate correct for this gun, and should I replace it. Can I find an original. And how do I determine choke and chamber length? Thanks so much!

[Dean Romig]

That hole can be repaired by the right gunsmith.

Chamber length is easy to measure even if you don’t have the proper tool to do so a machinist’s rule can do it with some difficulty... Take a 3”x5” file card and roll it evenly into a tube and insert it into the chamber. Mark it exactly at the breech when it meets some resistance. If you continue pushing it will enter the forcing cones so be very aware of when it first meets resistance. It should indicate somewhere between 2 1/2” to 2 5/8”. If the chambers are longer they may have been lengthened.





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[Gerald McPherson]

A no. 1 butt plate would be correct. An original can be found but may take some looking and will probably need a little fitting. Those reproductions are a little too small in my experience.

[Woodcock survey]

Can anyone explain how that hole could happen? Has anyone experienced something like this before? It really makes me wonder how this would occur.

[Dean Romig]

I've seen several old SXS shotguns who's barrels had been hit by bird shot and usually just dented. This one may be a more severe case of such an accident... or maybe not. But it's in a section of the tube that's only .030" thick...



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[Woodcock survey]

Blown up as much as i can, it looks to have a little denting but is irregular in shape. Possibly struck against a nail, barb wire? Does it go all the way into the barrel?