Parker Bros. Grade 1 VH Hammerless Vulcan Steel, Blue & Case Colored 30” Side by Side, Dual Trigger Shotgun, MFD 1923 C&R
SOLD FOR; $2,078
LSB#: 160430LW05
Make: Parker Bros.
Model: Grade 1, Engraved VH Hammerless, With Vulcan Steel
Serial Number: 201745
Year of Manufacture: 1923 (http://www.parkerguns.org/)
Gauge: 20 Gauge, 2 ½” Shells
Action Type: Side by Side, Dual Non-Selective Trigger Shotgun with Extractor
Markings: The barrel rib is marked “PARKER BROS. MAKERS. MERIDEN. CONN. U.S.A. VULCAN STEEL”, with two arrows pointing towards the lettering. The underside of the barrel set flat is marked “J.G.” in oval, ”V” in circle, “HT / A / 3 / 5”, the top of the upper lug flat is marked “20”, the left side of the flat’s lug is marked with the serial number, found again on the top of the forend bracket. The flanks of the frame are marked “PARKER BROS” The water table is marked “PARKER BROS / REG. US.S. PAT. OFF. / PAT’D JAN 118 AUG 15 1887 / PAT’D OCT. 25, 1910. / PAT’D AUG. 15, 1905 / VH / 201745 / V”. The lower lug relief is marked “745”. The rolled trigger guard and receiver have zig-zag pattern border engraving, the lower tang is marked “201745”. The upper tang is marked “SAFE”. The forend release lever plate is marked “PAT’D MAR 26 1878” and the pistol grip cap is marked “PARKER BROS. / MERIDEN, CONN”. the belly of the stock has a small arrowhead shaped sticker marked “DYAS / LOS ANGELES / HOLLYWOOD”, just aft of this is a shield-shaped brass insert that has not been engraved. The recoil pad is marked “THE / WHITE LINE / PAT. PEND. L.A. CAL. / FRAY-MERSHON / SKEET / SKEET”.
Barrel Length: 30”
Choke: The right barrel is fix choked about Full (0.583”), the left is fix choked Improved Modified (0.595”).
Sights / Optics: This shotgun is mounted with a steel bead, screwed into the concave solid rib; the top of the rib is milled in a wave-like pattern for glare reduction.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a two piece walnut set. The forend has underside checkering, displaying some moderate depth scuff marks and small dings; there are deep scratch marks on the underside and left flank. The buttstock has a checkered pistol grip with a black hard rubber “Parker Bros.” marked cap. The belly has a “DYAS / LOS ANGELES / HOLLYWOOD” sticker in the shape of an arrowhead; from our research, there was a department store in Hollywood (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_Hollywood_Building), which may have been the vendor of the shotgun. The stock has light to moderate depth compression and scuff marks as photographed. The stock appears to have been lightly varnished, given there is some dried varnish on the recoil pad’s spacers, which is not original to the shotgun. Drop at comb is 1 ½”, drop at heel is 2 ½”. The LOP measures 13 ¾” from the front of the rear trigger and 14 5/8” from the front of the forward trigger to the back of the Mershon White Line recoil pad; the pad is set with two white and two black spacers which have dried varnish present. The toe of the spacers have cracks and some shrinkage from age, the pad and spacers are in Good condition. The stocks rate in about Very Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blued & Case Colored
Finish Originality: The shotgun appears to have been professionally restored.
Bore Condition: The bores are bright. There are some patches of pin prick erosion present on both bores; the underside of the left barrel has a shallow ding that translated to a small bump on the inside of the bore.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows wear on portion of the case colored items, which look to have been incurred by consistent handling; the receiver and its components show very light sanding marks, with spots of very strong coloring remaining, the surfaces appear to have been professionally re-colored; there are hints at patina forming on the underside of the receiver and inside of the trigger guard. The barrel set shows a few light bruises. Underneath the finish we see some cleaned areas of pin prick erosion but we believe that the set was chemically stripped to retain the sharp markings found on the rib; there are also very light sanding marks present under the finish. The top of the forend bracket’s serial number’s last two digits (4 and 5) appears to have been double struck over the same numbers. The fit and finish of the metal components are retained as are the details of the zig-zag border engraving. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are crisp. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Very Good Plus to Fine condition as restored.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The shotgun features dual non-selective triggers and an extractor. The action returns to ‘safe’ when opened. The shotgun weighs 6lbs 12oz. 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 is a Parker Bros. Grade I VH (Vulcan Steel, Hammerless) made in 1923. The metal surfaces have been professionally restored and the job was done right. The barrel set shows some spots of shallow pin prick surface erosion and faint bruises under the finish, the markings on the rib were preserved and remain in crisp order. The case colored items appear to have been re-colored at some point, the markings, again, were retained. The stocks show scattered handling marks with a few deeper scratches on the forend and flanks of the butt stock. The stock is fit with a Mershon recoil pad and four spacers, which are not original to the shotgun. The bores are bright with some patches of pin prick erosion present. In all, this is one beautiful shotgun to look at and whoever paid to have it restored definitely went to the right craftsman. This Parker will do well in any collection. Please see our pictures and good luck.
