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A MYSTERY PARKER, "VH" W/ VERY EARLY VULCAN STEEL

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 800.00 USD
A MYSTERY PARKER,  VH  W/ VERY EARLY VULCAN STEEL
BBLS. & HIGH GRADE CHECKERING. Cal. 12 Ga., 2 3/4". S# 172657. Bbls. 30". The history of this gun is a bit of a mystery. At first it looks like a well worn "VH" that someone has augmented the checkering to mimic "B" style. Closer examination shows a replacement set of bbls. w/ the S# 82228. "The Parker Story" relates that the earliest "VH" gun in the stock books is #88220. These bbls. w/ a much earlier # are marked in standard fashion on the rib w/ "VULCAN STEEL". 82228 Is listed in the Parker Serialization Ledger as grade "V3", probably a grade 3 gun w/ Vulcan steel bbls. 82225 Is the earliest listing of any "V" gun. How all these bits came together is anyone's guess. It is, however an interesting Parker which has an unusual "Parker TrapGun" buttplate w/ embossed flying pigeon. 30" Bbls. have all correct markings on concave rib & water table. They were made for 1 1/2 frame gun & the loop is stamped "2" as is normally found on extra sets of bbls. Usual Parker VH frame features automatic safety & dbl. triggers. Plain American walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14 1/4" over "Parker TrapGun" buttplate. Checkering is well done & as mentioned before in "B" style w/ flourishes into butt & mullered borders. Matching splinter forend is near fully checkered, patent date is on release. MEASUREMENTS: BARRELS: L 730 .036 (FULL) R 731 .038 (FULL). Min Wall thickness: L .033 R .030. STOCK: LOP 14 1/4". DAH 2 15/16". DAC 1 5/8+". WEIGHT: 7 lbs. 6 oz. CONDITION: good as partially refinished. Bbls. retaining most of their original blue. Action cleaned to silver gray, engravings slightly softened. Stock has old refinish, pistol grip rounded, checkering appears to have been done after this refinish & is relatively crisp although execution is a bit haphazard. Bores are very fine to excellent w/ 1 or 2 scattered very minor dents. Action is very slightly loose & bbls. are a bit undersized for action. You've heard about buying a pig in a poke? (20-1659/MGM22). CURIO. $400-800.