doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Parker 28 Gauge

Mr. Dave thinks it's special order from Meriden CT......check it out at online catalog under Sporting Shotguns & Rifles.
That Serial # does not appear in my Parker Serialization book, and I don't know darn thing about Parker guns.

I know that if I were doing the buying I would want a 28-gauge Parker on a 00-frame. A 28-ga. gun on an 0-frame would weigh more than a 20-ga. 0-frame gun and would feel sluggish compared to the Parker Repros.

From what I've observed 28-ga. Parkers on 00-frames generally run several thousand dollars more than the 0-frame guns in like condition---and worth it as they'll remain in demand and pay dividends on the back end.

I have a few, and held several other 0 frame 28's and they are nothing but a joy. I didn't get out my postage scale to weigh each one down to the tenth of an ounce but 'sluggish' doesn't come to mind in the least. I can tell you that whatever Parker did, they did it - the 28's weigh less than the 20's.

My Repro...I'll say what I've always said...is a nice gun but doesn't have the feel of a real Parker, 00 frame or not.

I have a very good friend that owned and traded the VH-28ga that the Boise store has listed. I know a little of the history of it and can assure you it is a very nice example of a restored original parker VH-28ga. As GregSY stated about the handling characteristics of the O-framed 28's what ever Parker did they did it right. I've owned a few Repro-28ga and none of them had the feel this one in Boise has. The case color work was done by Case Color Company in Ohio, the barrel blue by Art's gun shop in Missori, and the engraving touched up by Angelo Bee.

I suggest if your interested in this gun to call Jack Dudley at the Boise fine gun room and talk to him about it.

I have owned a fair amount of Parker Repro's over the years. Both 20's and 28's. I have sold all but one of the 20's(kept 28's) because they carried very differently than the 28's. I find the 28's to be a joy to carry and to shoot. For this reason I have been browsing for an original to use as comparison.
We don't see many of this type of gun locally, so it is quite hard to look around. I have been looking and keeping notes on them(and prices), this is nothing of course that I need, but would be fun to compare and hope not to lose money on in the long run.
I will try Chuck's advice and try to see a few in Las Vegas. I'll call the Boise Cabelas as well. The Dundee store said they were willing to transfer that gun to the Lehi(Utah) store for me to check out.

Fred,

The color on the restoration looks like Turnbull (sorry - I'm late to this party ). If I was in the market for a nice VH/E (with fluid steel bbls) - I'd expect to pay about $12K-$13K for a non-restored "good" condition VH in 28 gauge. The one on the site is restored - and so I'd offer $9-$9.5K but only IF IT IS IN THE BOOK and/or if it letters from PGCA.

Yes - original small bore Parkers are going for silly money. For example - a non-skeet .410 went for just a tad over $16K with the auction premium in the past month. It was a great $15K (out the door) Parker small bore - but not at $16K plus...

If the Cabela's in Hamburg, Pa. VH Parker 28 is ORIGINAL at $12.5K - I'd be all over that rather than a restoration at $11K+...

Just my $0.000002

John Dunkle