Parker Bros VH Vulcan 30″ 20 GA Briley Skeet SXS Double Shotgun, 1918 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1805
LSB#: 210623LH01
Make: Parker Brothers
Model: VH Grade, Hammerless, With Vulcan Steel Barrels
Serial Number: 179708
Year of Manufacture: 1918
Gauge: 20 Gauge, 2 3/4” Shells
Action Type: Side by Side Double Barrel Shotgun with Ejectors & Single Trigger (mechanical, right barrel first)
Markings: The barrel rib is marked “PARKER BROS. MAKERS. MERIDEN. CT. VULCAN STEEL”, with two arrows pointing toward the lettering. The underside of the barrel set flat is marked “V” in circle, “3”, “5”, “HT” under the right barrel, “J.G.” in oval “DG3” and “P” under the right. The underside of the lug is marked “20” and the left with “179708”. The top of the forend iron is marked “179708”, marked over a previous serial marking, and “PAT’D MAY 7, 1901”. The sides of the frame are marked “PARKER BROS”. The water table is marked “PARKER BROS. / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. / PAT’D. JAN.18. AUG.16.1867. / PAT’D OCT.25.1910. / PAT’D. AUG.15.1905″ on the right lug. The left lug is marked with “VH / 179708 / V”. The lower tang is marked “179708”. The grip cap is marked “PARKER BROS. / MERIDEN. CONN.”. The forend latch assembly is marked “PATD. MAR. 26. 1878”.
Barrel Length: 30”, with solid, concave rib with wavy lines.
Choke: The barrels are both threaded for removable chokes with Briley S-58 Skeet chokes installed in each.
Sights / Optics: There is a white bead at the front of the rib and a smaller white mid-bead. The top of the rib is concave and serrated for glare reduction.
Weight: 6 lb., 15.6 oz.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a two piece checkered select walnut with beavertail forend, capped pistol grip, straight comb and solid brown rubber Decelerator buttpad. The forend has a slightly rough fit to the forend iron assembly with some fill around the rear of the iron and on the top-front of the forend (concealed while assembled). There is a grain-line crack at the bottom-rear toward the left. The wrist has a chip-repair along the right edge of the triggerplate, a ding at the right-front edge, and a thin crack at the rear of the top tang which may just be crazing in the finish. There are a few other scattered minor marks. The checkering is well defined. The LOP measures 13 7/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the pad, 13 1/4″ to the back of the wood. The pad has light shaping wear around the edges. The drop at comb is approximately 1 3/8″, drop at heel 2 1/8″. The cast is about neutral. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good-plus condition as refinished and not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blued & Case Color
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bores are bright. There is no erosion in the bores. There is stubborn melted wad residue in the choke tubes which should come out with a patient cleaning.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 90% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. Most of the balance is in handling wear toward the bottom-front of the receiver. The finish is otherwise generally strong throughout with only a few scattered minor marks. The receiver has some scattered minor erosion under the finish. The barrels have a few minor marks visible under the finish. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to shallow, but legible. Overall, this shotgun is in Very Good-plus condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The shotgun features an after-market single non-selective trigger which is mechanically set and fires the right barrel first. The tang mounted safety does not return to ‘safe’ when the action is opened. The shotgun has no play in the frame to barrel fit. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: This Parker Brothers VH Grade Hammerless comes to us from 1918. The VH or Vulcan Grade was a “knockabout” gun produced by Parker which still had the same quality in manufacture and attention to detail of their higher grade, and higher priced, offerings. This example has been re-stocked and refinished, with higher grade walnut than it would have originally shipped with. It has also been threaded for removable chokes with Briley Skeet chokes installed. It will make a nice addition to any collection, whether your interest is Parker shotguns, or you can simply appreciate a good looking shotgun. Please see our photos and good luck!