new parker owner

JAMES BAKER · 12-06-2009, 08:11 PM

have inherited a Parker 1906 VH and would like to find out if its
a reproduction. as some people have said.I checked the seriasl number
and it said it was made in 1905. comments and info greatly appreciated.

Dean Romig · 12-06-2009, 09:18 PM

Winchester started making the Parker Reproduction in the mid-1980's and never made a VH

Can you post a few pictures and the serial number?

JAMES BAKER · 12-10-2009, 04:27 PM

135408 serial number behind trigger

JAMES BAKER · 12-11-2009, 02:13 PM

the barrel length is 26 inches
it has a V inside a circle - there is a large 3 with a smaller 12 next to it - there are
the letters WK indicating it was repaired in August 1941 - on the barrel lug there is a 12
and a 1 1/2
there is also a v on the watertable over the serial number 135408
on the backside of the barrel lug is the number 48
the barrel says Vulcan steel
hope this helps as these are are all the markings i have found.
will get some pics posted soon.
think this is a genuine Parker Bros or a reproduction?

Labowner · 12-11-2009, 02:56 PM

James, your gun is listed as a VH capped pistol grip 12 ga. with 30" barrels, no options.

Dean Romig · 12-11-2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAMES BAKER

think this is a genuine Parker Bros or a reproduction?

See my first post to your question.

It is not a reproduction if it was made in 1906.

WK is the stamp of the Superintendant of the Parker Gun Works, Walter King

JAMES BAKER · 12-11-2009, 03:22 PM

geeezzz i guess its the real thing huh? could the barrels have been shortened by
Parker Bros in Aug 1941? i have no paperwork showing that. would a background check be worth doing?
i am thrilled to have a real Parker Bros shotgun....too cool.
thanks for all the help....now am interested in value for insurance purposes.

Dean Romig · 12-11-2009, 03:34 PM

James, you're jumping to conclusions. Nothing you have shown us indicates anything about August 1941.
See my most recent post about what the WK stamp means.

"Geeezzz" to quote you

JAMES BAKER · 12-11-2009, 03:46 PM

in my haste to find info i saw the remington repair codes link and entered the WK and
got back the message that it indicated the Parker was repaired in August 1941...so
making the mistake many do when "assuming" anything I figured the barrel may have been shortened at that time. ooops on me...LOL.

Old and Reliable · 12-12-2009, 09:29 AM

James- first of all, welcome. FYI, there are members here who know Parkers as well as His Holiness knows where all the lavatories are in the Vatican. Research alone on our beloved "Old Reliables" can in itself be a life-long labor of love. If your Vulcan 12 Parker was produced in Meriden in 1905-1906 and the records show it had 30" barrels when it left the factory, that you can take as "Gospel" truth here.

Did Remington shorten the barrels to 26" in 1941? I can't say, but I doubt it. Why? First off, I should guess they would would have offered the owner another set of 26" barrels fitted to his VH. When barrels are set and regulated, or "Englished" they have to shoot to point of aim and not "cross pattern" and the regulation done on the original 30" barrels, no matter the choke(s) would be gone forever with a 4" reduction. Even if a skilled barrel man/machinist, like the late Jim Geary (Parker's top barrel man) could remachine a recess or "jugged" choke, you would still have a possible problem in good patterns, and also, the fine balance Parkers were known for would also be adversely affected.

Another point, if you will bear with me-and I am guessing, but as, unfortunately, so many fine doubles produced during the turn of the 20th Century had 30" barrels- and later their owners wanted shorter barrels and more open chokes, the vise and hacksaw came into play often. Why would the owner send this VH to Remington in 1941 and pay for an "alteration", assuming Remington would have honored his request, when he could "alter" his gun almost for free?

I am curious as to the code or website site you used to determine, if I read your post correctly, that Walter King's stamp may have meant this Remington operation in 1941. I would like to visit that site myself, out of curiosity.

Whoever said your older Parker might have been one of the Japanese Olin Kodesha may well have been confused. Dean Romig answered that accurately, as the basic level grade for those repros was the DHE I believe, and our PGCA forum has an entire section just on those fine guns as well. And anything Dean Romig tells you about Parkers (or Volvos) you can "take to the bank"!!