Looking at a Restored Parker VHE. 1 1/2 Frame Mod & Full 28 inches. To be clear I am not a gun collector would use it for shooting SxS Clays. Looks nice outside well done no over polish sharp edges. Seller said the Remington Custom Shop did the work. Something about Remington today makes me cautious. Bores are so good I would like to measure the barrel's see if Pitts have been polished out. Seller, shop I know well, and has the gun on consignment has agreed.

Two questions, If I measure what wall thickness am I looking for. My LC Smith and Birmingham Double are .035 or a bit more. I passed on a polished out restored Parker last month that was .018 one spot only. Too thin for me. 2nd Question Is Remington custom shop a positive or negative. Gun is not cheap but not expensive either, seems to be priced as what it is, restored.

All opinions appreciated.

Boats

i wonder if they are confusing the Del Greco shop (founded by a family of former Parker then Remington employees) with Remington itself.

it was my impression the Remington shop works on upgrading current production guns.

Just remember restored Parker shotguns have no collector value. So pay only what you would for a shooter. I'd much rather find a well worn gun that shows all its warts and nothing is hidden. Wall thickness: I start getting cautious with anything less than about .022 (personal opinion) and prefer more. Most Parkers were made with more thickness but I have seen several that were originally struck in spots as thin as .020. If they were trying to make a light upland gun they might strike them awfully thin. But if it is a heavier gun and has thin walls it has probably been honed.

Remington refinished Parkers when they bought (around 1934) the company. How recent was refinish? The barrels should have a weight on them. How close do the barrels weigh to the when they were original?

Ken

If it is the one I am thinking of look at picture 7. The ball doesn't fit the fences very well. The right barrel appears to be proud (by a lot) of the breech face.

The barrel weight stamping is before striking. An original set of barrels can weigh several ounces less than what's stamped on them.

Different gun. This one has only 2 pictures on line. Work is supposed to have been done in the new Remington shop, which sounds a bit strange I will admit.
Looks ok to me. Of course original would be better, it's priced under nice original price by about a third. Ejectors which I don't really need run things up. Be nice to have though.

I am going to measure wall thickness and chokes in person. 2nd look May change my mind. Thanks for the good advice

Boats

BTW It's DelGrego not DelGreco

Best Regards, George

Come on, George, get it right. It's Del Grego, not DelGrego. Your friend, Murphy.

If the barrels don't match the breech balls, these barrels probably didn't come on this gun when it was new. The modern Remington custom shop isn't going to be working on any Parkers unless it is an inside favor. You're going to have to fess up and post pictures of this gun. It doesn't sound good. We don't buy guns from the information provided by two pictures.

Agree buying off two pictures is not good. I looked at it in person and will look again soon. With a bore gauge. It's not mine no way to post a picture. Be hard for me to spend that kind of money off any photos. Probably why I have been looking so long

Boats