.410 VH

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by todd allen

Checkering aside, I would guarantee that the above gun would spend some time in the pigeon ring.

Todd, and Ian, I have to agree, the stock is very reminiscent of those seen on competition guns. Overall, I would have to question the stocks origin, as some features look 'Parker', others do not. The drop points are not as graceful as most Meriden stocks, and the cheeks, in general, are sort of oddly shaped. That's the best way I can describe it. While I don't like the look of the comb, I have never been a diehard target shooter, and must admit that what works, often isn't what looks good.

[Bill Murphy]

How about that .410!!

[Pa SxS]

I tend to think it's not original however I can tell you that the DAC and DAH in the stock book was 1 3/4" x 1 3/4". A high shooter for sure so maybe that accounts for the odd shape of the rise from grip to comb. The checkering isn't correct but it could have just been redone incorrectly.

[Bill Murphy]

I'm going to call in Mark Conrad to recall a .410 skeet that we examined in Pittsburgh a couple of decades ago. It was shopped around by several dealers before it disappeared. It was a 00 frame gun of some serious weight. It was reputed to have been shot by Texan K.C. Miller, the first person to run 100 straight with a .410 in first generation NSSA competition. That gun was very similar to the one just sold, except that the Miller gun was a pistol grip with a solid red pad, probably a No Shoc. Like the gun just sold, that gun had a large beavertail forend with Winchester style checkering. Like the gun just sold, the Miller gun's forend extended well up onto the barrels, past the center line. Unfortunately, we will probably never know the connection between the two unusual guns. I question the advertised weight of the .410 just sold, 5 3/4 pounds. The 00 frame, and the immense beavertail makes me suspect the gun probably weighs a pound more than advertised.

[Mark Conrad]

Bill, the gun was heavy, close to 8 pounds and I agree with your discription. I have always regretted not buying that gun. The gun looked like it had tubes inside the bores when you looked down the muzzle end. That was the only thing I saw about the gun that didn't look correct. It was very unusual but with the extra weight it would have made a great skeet or clays gun. That was close to 20 years ago.

[Bill Murphy]

Mark, you are right about the sleeved barrels, but the gun lettered as a .410. I think it also may have been a 28" gun. We had several chances to buy the gun after we first saw it. I have the serial number and some pictures in my files. I haven't seen or heard of the big gun in at least ten years. My recollection is that the forend is almost identical to the one on the gun just sold. Probably both factory.