My first Parker - please help me learn

[Chris.Cuello]

Thanks in advance for helping me learn! This beauty spoke to me - I wish I knew her story. I've been collecting European doubles for many years - this is my first Parker. From what I've read on this great site, I think this appears to be a proper restoration of a 20 bore VHE grade 0 size frame made in 1938 during the Remington era. Locks up tight and I love the bright case colors. 26" barrels, double triggers, good dimensions for me IC/M fixed chokes.

I have a few questions:
- What's your opinion on value?
- Did anything change during the Remington period (1934-1942)?
- Is the stock origional?
- Do you see anything I should be concerned with?
- What else should I know?

[Researcher]

Great way to start!! Very nice late Remington VHE 20-gauge. With those cyanide case colors, I would suspect it is a DelGrego refinish. The Remington date code on your barrels is OH -- O = July H = 1939.

241586 06a O = July H = 1939.jpg

[Chris.Cuello]

Thank you so much for that info!

[Robert Brooks]

Wonderful refinished 20 gauge! Bobby

[Mike of the Mountain]

Shoot it. Shoot it again, then shoot it some more!!

[charlie cleveland]

what a nice first parker to start out with...charlie

[Researcher]

- Did anything change during the Remington period (1934-1942)?

Remington began putting much nicer wood on the lower grade Parkers. Extremely plain wood on my 1930 VH 20-gauge --

235178 04 1930 20-ga VH-Grade stock left.jpg

235178 05 1930 20-ga VH-Grade stock right.jpg

After they used up the Meriden barrels, they began using Remington barrels with plain unmarked ribs, sometime after the move to Ilion during 1937.

Remington changed the butt plates from PARKER BROTHERS --

226000 09.jpg

to just PARKER --

241586 08.jpg

They made a new large size grip cap with PARKER and ILION, N.Y. for the 10-, 12- and 16-gauge guns --

Grip Cap Ilion .jpg

but I have not seen such a grip cap for the smaller size 20- & 28-gauge and .410-bore stocks. They continued to use the Meriden grip caps as on your gun.

[Mark Britton]

That would have been a bird gun FOR REAL here in Virginia but I'm sorry to say the quail are gone. You did well !

[Dean Romig]

Congratulations on a really nice VHE 20. It is nearly identical to my grandson’s VH 20 which had also been restored in the seventies.

Researcher filled in all the blanks for you and I will add only that the date code stamped there on the left barrel flat lacks the 3 suffix which would have indicated a service or repair. That date code indicates a manufacturing date.

Enjoy it!





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[Chris.Cuello]

Thank you all so much for the insights! Very knowledgeable and gracious group here. I am grateful! Happy Independence Day!