Interesting VHE 20 Gauge

[edgarspencer]

That's a great piece of wood!!!

[Kevin McCormack]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Yes, the upgrade pictured is a great gun, a great project. However, the gun in question is best purchased at a bit lower price by someone who has access to a stockmaker who will build a new stock and forend for less than a grand. I don't have access to such a stockmaker.

Neither does anyone else because they're are'nt any!

[Greg Baylander]

I am going to take this thread into the gunshop , and see what kind of deal I can get. This particular gunshop is know for buying used guns cheap, so maybe they don't have much into gun.

[David C Porter]

That was my $100 bargain. I knew the supplier & could hand pick my wood.

[Caryaparker]

Good evening, I am recently retired and now have more time , does anyone have any information on a Parked # 51358 3 grade hammer 12 gauge and a DHE 28 gauge # 191147? Any information would be highly appreciated, thank you.

[Dean Romig]

Hello Mr. Caryaparker -
You should join our Parker Gun Collectors Association as an annual member ($40 annually) and order factory letters on each of your Parkers… at $40 each.
Can’t say much about the 51358 but the 28 gauge DHE, if in good condition, is a desirable and quite vatuable Parker.





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[David Noble]

Cary, you should not make a request about a personal gun on someone else's thread.
You should have started a new thread, but being a new visitor to the site we'll give you a bit of leeway. Since you apparently own these guns, you know how they are currently outfitted and the condition. The only one I can help you on is the # 51358 grade 3 hammer 12 gauge. It is listed as a grade 3 damascus barreled top lever gun with a capped pistol grip and 30 inch barrels. The gun was made in 1887 and there are existing factory records to get a letter.
The Grade 3 28ga is not listed in the serialization and identification book. Depending on condition and configuration as well as remaining blue and case colors it could be a valuable gun. Unfortunately the PGCA does not show factory records available in their library for this serial number, however it was made in 1920.
I suggest you start a new tread in a day or two, after the site developer gets the photo posting mechanism working again, and post detailed pictures of the guns, a bit about how you came to own them, and of course any questions you may have.
And spend the $40 bucks to join the PGCA. It is well worth the money in knowledge you can gleam from the members here, as well as saving $60 on a PGCA letter confirming the way it left the factory, the date it was ordered and possibly who the original purchaser was, as well as any factory repair or refinishing that it may have received. The letters cost $100 for non members, but only $40 for PGCA members. On top of all that, you'll receive the quarterly Parker Pages magazine (at no extra cost) that each have hours of good reading and informative stories and pictures of Parker Bros guns by members of the PGCA!
Welcome to the forums!

[David Noble]

Originally Posted by Greg Baylander

Saw this VHE 20 gauge serial# 203160 28"barrels with beavertail forend. ... The guns price tag is $2700,

I don't know if you ended up buying that gun, but I would have, especially if the price was a bit negotiable. Yes it's got an ugly stock and forearm but it could be used as a loaner gun to a friend, or for a young shooter.
I would not have bought it to spend a couple of thousand extra dollars on though. But I believe an original stock and forearm of proper configuration would have been not too hard to find at a reasonable cost. There would still be fitting involved, but.
Just my opinion.

[William Machauer]

Sure it's not orignal but a couple hours spent with a #49 rasp, some flies and sand paper gets rid of the Monte Carlo . If the price could be haggled down you would be getting a very serviceable Parker. It's already an abomination so why not make it the way it should be. Heck even the beaver tail could be reshaped.
As for why it was done is the question.

[Phil Yearout]

Originally Posted by William Machauer

As for why it was done is the question.

Because some folks are determined to turn a vintage gun into a "modern" gun instead of accepting it for what it is, IMO. That stock looks like it belongs on a contemporary target gun.