VH with 24" barrels - cut?

[DGL]

I am new to Parker shotguns. I recently happened upon an "attic find" two barrel set 20/28 VH on 0 frame with splinter forend with straight stock, #156670. The barrels measure 24" (20) and 23" (28). Did parker every make a gun with such short barrels, or are they most likely cut? The barrels are stamped 3lb. 2 oz. and 2 lb. 12 oz. Can I weigh the barrels and determine if they have been cut based on the stamped weight?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Big D]

It's possible, but unlikely. Several things will help to answer your question. There may be surviving records for your gun which would answer your question. Secondly, can you provide a close-up photo of the top of the muzzle showing the matting at the end of the rib? If the barrels are cut, it is likely that the matting will go all the way to the end of the rib. If factory original, there is normally a small (1/8") blank space at the end of the rib.

[OH Osthaus]

Unlikely

There are some 24 inch original barrels but few

23 would be very unlikely

Pictures of the muzzle would help - to see if the keels are missing

You could also measure for chokes

[Patrick Butler]

#156,670 is not listed in the Parker ID book, but I would join the Association and request a letter. Do both barrels and the for end(s) have the same number?

There is a Parker ad offering 24" in 28 gauge, but I would agree with the other member's comments that the 23" are cut. Nevertheless, it sounds like a very interesting set.

Pictures, please.

[DGL]

Yes all parts have the serial number. The barrels are stamped "1" and "2" as are the forends. I don't have a picture of the muzzle yet.

[Researcher]

The tables in The Parker Story show 30 VH-/VHE-Grade 20-gauges made with 24-inch barrels, and 38 28-gauges made with 24-inch barrels. There were two 12-gauges and one 20-gauge made with 23-inch barrels. There are a couple of 28-gauges listed with 20-inch barrels. All this to say it is possible.

A check on the "Research Letters" serial number check on our home page shows there are surviving records for 156670. A Research Letter could answer a lot of questions on a potentially very valuable gun.

Wow!!! Why isn't something like that in my attic? My very first thought is that looks like late Remington era wood. A Parker Bros. VH-Grade in the 156xxx range would normally have wood like this --

[DGL]

I don't have any experience with Parkers, but it did occur to me that the wood looked too nice for a lower grade gun. I wonder if it was restocked at some point?

[Bruce Day]

Two original DHE 20 gauges, both un chopped. One is a 32" , the other 24".

[DGL]

BD, I would have assumed the barrels in the top photo were cut due to the engraving on the rib...

[Researcher]

The depth of the blank area at the muzzle end of the rib seems to vary a lot, and every now an then a gun shows up with squiggly lines all the way to the end and letters at that length?!? Makes me wonder if they were cut at the factory to fill an order?