GUN SPRING 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/21/2018
RARE HIGH ORIGINAL CONDITION PARKER BHE 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN WITH FACTORY LETTER.PARKERBHE24043816GAMODERN; C&RCal. 16 ga. 28" Acme steel bbls with full length tapered matted top rib and steel front bead. No. 1 frame. 2-5/8" chambers. Nickel plated double triggers, automatic ejectors, automatic safety. Straight grip buttstock is checkered in BHE pattern with finely checkered side panels ending in fleur de lis and flowing wave pattern through the wrist. 14-1/8" LOP over original engraved skeleton buttplate and with gold oval near toe engraved with initials "CLP" (?). Splinter forearm is nearly fully checkered with scroll engraved Deeley release and engraved steel tip. Action is fabulously engraved with scroll on sides and 2 quail in grass on right and 2 landing ducks in marsh scene on left surrounded by floral border pattern and scroll. Bottom of action with 2 pointers on trigger plate in field scene with scroll and crosshatch border pattern. Bottom front of action marked "PARKER" surrounded by well-cut scroll engraving. Trigger guard with bursts of floral scroll on bow and SN on tang surrounded by light scroll around tang screws. Chiseled and engraved top lever. Top tang is scroll engraved and marked "SAFE" in front of safety. Beaded fences. All visible SNs match. Bore diameter: left -.664, right – .665. Bore restrictions: left – .025 (Imod) right – .016 (mod). Wall thickness: left –.017, right – 024. Drop at heel: 2-3/8", drop at comb: 1-1/2". Weight: 6 lbs 14 ozs. Accompanied by Parker Brothers letter confirming this gun in its current configuration. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbls retain 95% original blued finish, engraving is crisp. Action retains approx. 75% beautiful original case color, particularly strong on sides starting to tone at front of action on bottom but still quite strong towards trigger plate. Some case color remains on fences. Top tang shows original brilliant case color. Trigger guard retains approx. 60% of its original blued finish, strong on bow, toned at grip. Forend iron has toned to a pleasing gray. Buttstock and forearm are extremely fine and retain nearly all of their original finish with some very minor finish added for preservation. Skeleton butt retains approx 70% original blued finish, toned at heel, particularly strong at toe. Mechanics are crisp. Bores are bright and shiny. According to the Parker story this is one of 34 16 gauge BHE grades with orig 28" Acme steel bbls. This is a spectacular all original Parker which would be suitable for any collection and is easily the finest steel bbl BHE steel bbl 16 ga that has been offered publicly in the last 15 years. 52920-2 JSL (27,500-40,000)