VH 12 GAUGE #3 FRAME

George Lander · 02-06-2010, 01:03 PM

I recently bought a VH Grade Parker SN 157714 built on a #3 Frame with the barrel weight at 4/13. The gun is in overall extremely fine condition. The 30 inch barrels inspector mark is "JG" which I assume to be James Geary, Sr.

I don't believe that I have ever had a 12 gauge Parker on a #3 fram. How unusual is that? I would welcome comments from the board.

Best Regards To All......George

J.B. Books · 02-06-2010, 01:11 PM

I bought a 12 gauge 32" VH built in 1900 on a 3 frame a couple of years ago. Barrel weight stamped 5 pounds even, gun weight 9 lbs even. It was solid but very poorly refinished. Since it was unusual, had good dimensions and I hunt waterfowl I had it restored by Larry DelGrego & Son. Ivory Beads had a couple of 3 frame VH 12's not so long ago and both had some "issues" as I recall. The PGCA letter on my gun indicated the gun was to have 32" bbls, full and full, and to weigh 9 pounds. I am guessing they used a 3 frame to achieve the desired weight. I am interested in hearing the responses to your post.

Bill Murphy · 02-06-2010, 01:53 PM

George, these guns are uncommon, but not rare. A while back Jack Puglisi had a 12 gauge VH on a #6 frame, so anything is possible. I can't remember how much the #6 frame gun weighed.

J.B. Books · 02-06-2010, 02:18 PM

If I recall correctly Bill Murphy has a 3 frame 16ga VH

Austin W Hogan · 02-06-2010, 04:23 PM

I remember a three frame 12 ga 32 inch barrels, AAHE offered at the last Julia auction. Probably a joy to shoot several boxes of heavy loads through from a comfortable blind in the good old days.
I have a three frame 32 inch twelve ga lifter gun weighing 10 pounds. It balances precisely and is an amazingly adept skeet gun.
The three frame itself adds little weight, but it allows an eigth inch overall increase in barrel width, that is 1/32 thickness of the barrels at the breech. The additional barrel thickness from breech to fore end allows a 32 inch to balance precisely at the hinge. I have a couple of two frame guns that weigh 9 plus, but they are a little muzzle heavy, probably built in down lead for decoyed ducks.

Best, Austin

Researcher · 02-06-2010, 04:48 PM

The Brothers P certainly did all sorts of things in the weights and balance arena. My Grandfather's 1890 PH-Grade 12-gauge is on a 3-frame with 30-inch Twist barrels that swamp very fast and that gun weighs 8 pounds 8 ounces. I have an 1889 GH-Grade 12-gauge on a 2-frame with very straight thick Damascus barrels with very little swamp and it weighs a fraction of an ounce over 9 pounds.

Whatever the customer wanted, that could be done within the Parker Bros. quality comfort zone, the customer would get.

Ed Blake · 02-06-2010, 05:05 PM

I have a 1892 GH on a #2 frame with 32" barrels struck at 5 even. Its a hoss and should prove to be a great clays gun once this @&^%# snow goes away.

MarketHunter · 02-06-2010, 08:00 PM

I killed a heap of ducks this past season with a #3 frame 12 gauge DHE with 34 inch barrels. Had a chance to buy a VHE 12 gauge on a #3 frame several years ago but passed due to condition.

DLH

Bill Murphy · 02-07-2010, 08:31 AM

Yes, Pete, I do have a little 28" #3 frame 16 that left the factory at 8 3/4 pounds. It has had the chokes lightened up a bit so it is now a nice little bird gun. A friend has a CH 12 gauge #3 frame that left the factory at 10 pounds even. My DH 10 gauge 3 1/2" magnum Lefever sleeved #3 frame left the factory as a 8 3/4 to 9 pound 12 gauge according to the order book entry.