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LOT 3517
Rare Factory Engraved Parker Brothers 28 Gauge
DHE Grade Double Barrel Shotgun - Serial no. 235918,
28 gauge, 26 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1931 as one of just
85 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” with fewer still, 64 percent, having automatic
ejectors like this example, making this a very rare gun.
The gun was built with blued steel barrels featuring a
single nickel bead sight on the matted concave solid
rib 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 size 00
frame boxlock action which displays DH Grade engraving
consisting of floral scroll work surrounding a trio of
game scenes showing a pointer in a field on the right,
a quartet of pheasants on the underside, and a setter
in a field on the left. The gun features a double triggers
and a tang mounted automatic safety. The gun is fitted
with an attractively figured and multi-point checkered
splinter forend with engraved fittings and a straight
grip stock with carved drop points, “ASI” in the silver
inscription oval, and an engraved skeleton buttplate
around a checkered butt. The above configuration of
grade, barrel length, barrel steel, stock type, and gauge
is confirmed on page 588 of “Parker Gun Identification
& Serialization” by Price and Fjestad. Barrel and stock
measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the
breech .554/.553 inches; choke constriction .014/.021
inches; minimum wall thickness .024/.027 inches; 1 11/16
inch drop at comb; 2 5/8 inch drop at heel; 13 15/16 inch
length of pull; weight 5 lbs. 9 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 98% professionally
reapplied blue, flashes of the original case colors on the
otherwise silvered action, some minor spotting, and a
few tiny patches of subsurface pitting on the barrels.
The wood is also very fine with some light dings and
scratches, some slight gaps in the wood to metal fit
at the lower tang, small crack in stock behind top and
bottom tangs, and mostly crisp checkering. Mechanically
excellent. A great chance to own this rare
American small bore shotgun!
Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000
According to "The Parker Story" by Gunther, Mullins,
Parker, Price and Cote, only 85 Parker Bros. DHE
Grade shotguns were produced in this configuration.