My First Parker!

[Mark Landskov]

Greetings and Salutations!
I just purchased my first Parker Bros. shotgun. It is a Hammer/Lifter model in 12 gauge. It is a rather plain gun with straight grip, no checkering, and no engraving. The plain twist barrels are 32" with the following markings: the right flat has a 0 ('Zero' Grade?) and 4 12. Forward of the right flat is 13. On the bottom of the lug is o 2. The serial number is 10250. All visible numbers match. Overall, the gun looks great! Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the bores. The exterior of the barrels has been taken care of and they are a light tan color. The trigger guard retains some bluing, but the rest of the metal has turned brown. I hope to learn a lot from all of you here! Cheers!

[Jack Cronkhite]

Mark: Welcome. Lots of knowledgeable folks here. Your gun appears to match the factory specs for 10250; namely, 0 grade, plain twist, underlifter hammer gun, straight grip stock, 12 gauge, 32 inch barrels No extras out of the factory. The lug stamp indicates a 2 frame gun. 4 12 appears to be the unstruck barrel weight being 4 pounds 12 ounces. The 12 should be a superscipt slightly above the 4. I leave it to others to comment on the 13.

Are the bores "pitted" or just dirty?

We enjoy pictures and would like to see your gun.

I note you understand what you have gotten into when you call it your "first" Parker.

Cheers,
Jack

[Mark Landskov]

Thanks for the Welcome and good info, Jack. I have been scrubbing the bores this morning. Yes, they are pitted and not so pretty! The majority of the pits are just beyond the chambers. There was something on the outside of the barrels that caused Hoppe's solvent to bead up on the surface. Maybe some sort of shellac? Was that a common practice years ago? I will work on some photos. Do I have to put them in Photo Bucket first?

[John Dallas]

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[Mark Landskov]

Okay, here are some photos. I hope this works!

[Mark Landskov]

That was easy! I also found a tiny J.S. stamped on the center lug. Is this an inspector?

[Dave Suponski]

Yes,I stands for John Stokes a Parker Bros. barrel contractor.

[Bob Roberts]

Mark, With an eye to the possible meaning of the 13 and/or the o stampings, have you measured the bore diameters yet?

[Mark Landskov]

I do not have the capability to measure the bores. I kinda wondered if the 13 had something to do with bore diameter. There is a 0 on the lug and the right barrel flat. I don't know if one, or both, of them refer to the grade.

[Mark Landskov]

I finally have everything disassembled. There was quite a bit of rusty dirt/dried up oil/sweat deposited in every nook and cranny! The hammer and tumbler assemblies rock back and forth in the sideplates, ever so slightly. When measured with a digital caliper, I could find only .0005" difference between the hole and the shaft! I thought they would be all tuckered out. There is an awful lot of steel in this gun! Very well built. The original order tag is available for it, too. I just mailed off my dues for the PGCA and will be looking forward to the newsletters. Cheers!

[Mark Landskov]

I spoke with Brad Bachelder yesterday about my barrels. I should be receiving a call this coming week when they are finished. He told me that he puts a coating on them and the best thing I can do for them is apply Johnson's Paste Wax. Just in time for the Ruffed Grouse opener next Saturday!

[Austin W Hogan]

There is some wiggle to be expected between lock and hammer in the locks of grades 0,1, and 2. Grades 3 and above have a fourth pin/screw in the lock plate, and very little wiggle.

Best, Austin

[Mark Landskov]

Good to know, Austin. I was surprised to find very little wear when I measured with a caliper. I figured, with as much force required to cock the hammer and actually firing the gun, that the holes would be all boogered out! As for the number 13 on the right barrel, 'The Parker Story' mentions that many early barrel(s) were marked with the bore size before final boring and honing. So, 13 actually makes sense now! Cheers!

[Mark Landskov]

I just received my barrels from Bachelders. They are gorgeous! There are some neat anomolies in the patterns. The bores are now .755" with .027" (IM) for the right choke and .033" (F) for the left choke. The wall thicknesses at 14" from the breech are .102" and .104".

[Jack Cronkhite]

Well now, those are pretty barrels. Nicely done. With .102 walls at 14" they are pretty hefty as well. What ammo will you be taking those grouse with??
Cheers,
Jack

[Pat Dugan]

Wow, makes me want to get my Underlifter #16,316 O Grade redone

PDD

[Mark Landskov]

Jack, I use Polywad Vintagers with 7-1/2 shot. These work nicely in my Damascus LeFever. They should perform admirably in the Lifter. Cheers!

[Harry Collins]

Mark,

Brad does nice work. He just did a set of barrels for me after he had fitted them to a frame I had lying about. I could not have been happier. I'll post pictures when the gun comes back from the stocker.

Harry

[Mark Landskov]

Here is what it looks like. I really don't have a proper set-up for good photos, so I have to rely on sunlight, flash or available lamps.

[Mark Landskov]

Here is the other side. I wrapped a .004" shim around the hinge pin to bring the barrels back 'on-face'. I also greased the hinge and forend iron with some Gunslick Gun Grease. Pert near as good as new! I will try her out tomorrow morning. Cheers!

[Mark Landskov]

I ran a box of Polywads through the Lifter this morning. What a blast! She's a 'keeper'!