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LOT 508
Scarce Factory Engraved Parker Brothers 20 Gauge
DHE Grade Double Barrel Shotgun with Desirable Single
Trigger - Serial no. 231485, 20 gauge, 26 inch vent rib bbl.,
blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1929. There were only
469 guns built in this configuration of grade, gauge, barrel steel, and barrel length
according to Gunther, Mullins, Parker, Price, and Cote on page 291 of “The Parker Story” fewer still, only 3
percent, were equipped with ventilated ribs as well as 3 percent with a single trigger making them a rare and highly desirable feature.
Built with blued steel barrels featuring a dual bead sights (front absent) on the added matted flat vent rib which is marked “PARKER BROS. MAKERS. MERIDEN. CT. U.S.A. TITANIC STEEL”,
light engraving at the breech, and chambers measured 2 3/4 inches with automatic ejectors. The barrels are fitted to a casehardened boxlock action which displays standard DH Grade engraving
consisting of floral scrollwork surrounding a trio of game scenes showing of a setter in a field on the right, a quartet of pheasant cocks on the underside, and a pointer in a field on the left. The gun
features a Miller single trigger and a tang mounted manual safety. The gun is fitted with an attractively figured and multi-point checkered splinter forend with engraved fittings and a pistol grip
stock with carved flats, factory hard rubber grip cap, blank silver inscription oval, and an engraved skeleton buttplate around a checkered butt. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter
nine inches from the breech .621/.624 inches; choke constriction .000/.014 inches; minimum wall thickness .027/.028 inches; 1 1/2 inch drop at comb; 2 3/8 inch drop at heel; 13 5/8 inch length of pull; weight 6 lbs. 6 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 95% reblued finish with much of the loss on the lower tang, 50% original case colors with the balance a fine grey patina, some scattered spotting, and patches of thinning on the barrels. The
refinished wood is also very fine with some minor scratches and sharp checkering. Mechanically fine, the action is slightly off face.
Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000
LOT 507
Engraved and Gold Inlaid Del Grego Upgraded
Parker Brothers”AAHE”
Upgraded Double
Barrel Shotgun - Serial
no. 236593, 12 gauge,
30 inch vent rib bbl.,
blue/casehardened/gold
finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in the post
1934 Remington period as a standard VH Grade gun with a single trigger
according to page 590 of Price and Fjestad’s “Parker Gun Identification &
Serialization”, and subsequently upgraded to the current highly attractive
AAHE configuration possibly by Remington and/or Del Grego. The gun has blued steel barrels with dual white bead sights on the matted vent rib,
AA Grade markings on the flats, beautiful 2 3/4 inch wedges of floral scroll engraving at either breech, chambers marked 2 3/4 inches with ejectors, chokes marked
“MOD”/”FULL”, and two Remington repair codes possibly signifying that the upgrade was done at the factory at least partially. The barrels are fitted to the casehardened
boxlock action which displays sculpted fences and gorgeous floral scroll engraving with tasteful use of the negative space which surrounds “PARKER” inlaid in gold
on the underside before flowing onto the toplever, triggerguard, and both tangs. The gun features a single selective gold trigger, gold inlaid serial number on the lower tang, and a tang mounted manual safety with gold inlaid
“S” indicator. The gun is fitted with a beautifully figured and fancy fleur-de-lis checkered walnut beavertail forend with Deeley latch release and engraved fittings as well as a pistol grip stock with checkered fleur-de-lis carved
drop points, light engraved blank gold inscription oval, and engraved skeleton buttplate over the checkered bare butt. The stock is stamped in the triggerguard groove “LDG/236593/12.12.77” for Larry Del Grego. This date is later
than both Remington repair codes, so either Del Grego did the entirity of the upgrade at this time, or restocked the already Remington upgraded gun. Either way, as an employee of Remington, or through his family’s shop, Larry
Del Grego undoubtedly had his hand in the upgrading of this wonderful Parker. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameters nine inches from the breech measure .735/.735 inches; choke constriction .010/.032 inches;
minimum wall thickness .030/.032 inches; 1 1/2 inch drop at comb; 2 1/8 inch drop at heel; 14 1/2 inch length of pull; weight 8 lbs. 3 oz.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine as professionally upgraded to current configuration, retaining 99% blue/casehardened, and gold finishes with minor handling evidence, a few tiny scratches, and sharp checkering on the stock and
forend. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
According to "The Parker Story" by Gunther, Mullins,
Parker, Price and Cote, only 469 Parker Bros. DHE
shotguns were produced in this configuration