Waited half my life - 1908 VHE - 16

[BobFlorence]

As a youngster I often "filled in" for one of my grandfather's bird dogs when he, my father and I went bird hunting in middle Georgia. Doves mostly, quail on occasion. My grandfather carried a whisp of a gun, one that always caught my eye as I held an Ithaca 37 in 16, and my father sported his '58 Belgian Browning A5, also in 16. Cold mornings, walks through fields, I always wanted to hold the gun that made others appear quite heavy. Grandfather passed away, bird hunting passed. Life took me away from hunting. I'd ask about the gun frequently, to make sure my father knew how important it was.
My father passed recently, but he made sure I was aware of the history of the guns he gave me.
A great uncle bought a new 1908 Parker, bought two actually. My grandfather wanted it so badly that he convinced a sale shortly thereafter. #145092, 16 ha, Vulcan, "0" frame, with "26 barrels. I figure it's a VHE, with ejectors. Barrels ring when struck, barrel end engraving circles the ends, I don't think it's been cut. All numbers match.
This gun's been used. Used often. Wood is darkened, checkering on the left grip worn away with grip. Blueing is a memory, but pits are few, slight and are superficial. Someone (30 years ago?) rubbed a few with fine steel wool, but only a bright light reveals them. The action is tight, no loose pivot. The "slightly looseness" described to me by my father has been found to be the drying/retraction of the wood in the stock. An ever so slight tightening of the screw under the barrel release tightened the gun up. I did not test the screw further.

I am looking to have an appropriate smith inspect the gun, make recommendations about
1. Stock fit - solution
2. Choke measurement. I believe the chokes vary from side to side.
3. Safety check and recommendations on shells.
4. Confirm its weight. The table shows a struck "2", badly upper struck "1" or "7", and a "5".

The gun has been in my family for its 108 year life. I have waited half of mine to cherish it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I can take pics, but (embaressingly) I need help in choosing the best way to post them.

Thank you for providing a forum that celebrates such history!

[OH Osthaus]

Welcome Bob

sounds like a great piece of family history

the unstruck weight of the barrels will be a set of numbers on the barrel flats -on the left is the pounds and the one slightly offset higher is the ounces

there are several good gunsmiths who can evaluate your gun- if you let us know where you are - someone can make a recommendation

[BobFlorence]

Thanks for the info!

On the barrel flats, a clearly struck "2". Upper right the badly struck "1" or "7", only the lower portion actually bent the metal. A "5" is firmly struck in the same plane as the partial number.

I live in the panhandle of Florida, between Pensacola and Destin..

[BobFlorence]

A photo attempt..

[BobFlorence]

Barrel end and various images

[OH Osthaus]

So. 2 pounds 15 ounces. Nice and light for an upland gun

[Brush Buster]

Hello Bob , Congrats on your new family heirloom ,sounds terrific ! Now lets discuss the engraving on the barrel end which as you say circles around the ends of the barrels ,sure would like to see a picture of that ! Are you sure it is a VHE , that is not common to a V Grade gun !