First offering, first Parker

[Ron Mueller]

Greetings all,

It's taken me a while to get around to attempting to photo my first Parker. Purchased at the 'Big Reno' gun show, now near two years ago. My mentor, Deadeye Dick SASS #702 always picked out the Parkers as he puroosed (sp?) the gun shows. So when I saw this Parker hammer double, with near perfect bores for it's age I couldn't pass it by.

I then started to research the Parker Club for info, can't tell you all how pleased i was for the insight offered on all the different forums. At the acquisition of my second (more on that one later) I joined the Club and sent the info in for whatever history might be offered.

This double was born in 1883, 10 gauge, Quality 2, Damascus steel 32" barrels. Full chokes, 9 lb 8 oz shot gun for $85. Dare I say I paid a bit more for it!! Ordered through Read & Sons, Boston, for a Dr. Hopwood. Aren't web searches grand! Found the family, Civil War history and all. I believe a surviving family member may live in Florida. Wasn't until I took the photos, that I noticed 'GBH' etched in the stock by the trigger guard.

Thank you all for your time and efforts to keep the Parker history alive and documented.

Sincerely,
Dutch Dalton
SASS 44089
aka Ron Mueller

[David Yeatts]

Dutch
Nice looking gun should be right at home on the stage or the trap range (what is yours choked). My lifter is also a grade 2 32" lt F-ex F, so on the poppers it makes dust and lots of smoke. Understand you also have a lifter, what are the specs on that gun? It great to know the history behind these old gun and I envy you knowing so much about yours.
Shoot'em clean
Turnin Fool
Aka Dave

[Ron Mueller]

Turnin' Fool,

Thanks for the come back. The 10 is F & F for chokes. One of our local clubs tends to shoot the older SASS style, so the style points roll in for anything of larger caliber (that's where I use it, on their annual). They do still tend to set the KD's a little close though. Can't see through the smoke to see the dust. Haven't figured out the aim point for a field gun for the poppers/birds.

Now the other, which I still have to take pics of, is also a top lever.

Umm, 'tis an 8. Also born 1883. What luck!! Have you seen the movie Appaloosa? Bought the 10, figured that was luck, saw the movie and said why not. So I did a web search and found one in Boise. It was still there when I went to the Idaho State champ. six weeks later, August 2010. F & F chokes, 34" barrels for a 13 lb gun.

Loaded up some BP and set the popper out 20 yards to test it, nooo problamo, still need to work on the P of A for the bird!

Yeehaaaa,
DD

[Bill Murphy]

What is the provenance on your second gun?

[Ron Mueller]

Bill,

If I understand 'provenance', that would be history?

Ordered 12/1882, shipped 5/1883 by/to E.C. Meachum Arms, St. Louis, MO.
8 gauge, Quality 1 hammer, Laminated steel (not marked), 34". F X F chokes. To achieve the 13 lb. specification, 'tis a 7 frame. Ended up a few ozs. over
13 lbs. Ordered w/rubber butt. No specs on stock length.

Appears to have had a faire amount of field use, bores were neglected. Acid hands at two places on the barrels. Stock appears to have been shortened, now has steel butt plate. Deadeye Dick mentioned the shortening was sometimes done to facilitate heavy winter clothing.

Checked with Brad Bachelder last Fall, about restoration, the acid marks and all. Haven't decided to let loose of it yet.

All in all, if I look that good after 128 years, I'd have a $ million marketing tactic.

Best,
DD

[Ron Mueller]

Hey Gents,

A few added pics of the 10. Note the difference between a 3 frame 10 gauge and a 7 frame 8 gauge.

Best,
DD

[charlie cleveland]

dutch thats a fine looking old 8...i too shoot the old 8s they really are neat guns..i kinda like showin mine off..how bout you..what chamber lenth is your gun..my old lifter guna parker is 3 1/4 i have and old fa loomis that has3 1/2 inch chabers..my dream gun is a 4 ga but a 4 inch chambered 8 would do... charlie

[Ron Mueller]

Charlie,
Chambers are 3.3" and use Remington industrials (with the extra rib milled and slipped off). My compatriots have teased me about taking the next step up. Could only find a single barrel muzzle stuffer. Had a hard enough time finding 8 hulls (after the fact) let alone 4's.

After my test rounds, I loaded up 40 + -. Offered to any takers to experience, only three of us shot the popper and birds (throws them vertical). The other 25 (all loaded with the One True Powder), went to our trap club so Deadeye Dick could scratch an item off his bucket list.

Style points all,
DD

[charlie cleveland]

dutch you may already know this but if you dont a fellow by the name of tom armbrust has lots of loading info on the 8 ga plus the big 4 ga also...hes the authority on the big bores here in the states... charlie

[Ron Mueller]

Thanks Charlie,
I've heard the name, and Keith at Precision Reloading had offered the same pertaining to possible resizing presses and the like, for the 8. Have yet to make contact.

Let me know if you find your 4 gauge!!
Best,
DD

[David Yeatts]

Now I have gun envy, one of these day my budget and eight will come together in the same place. Not surprised you only had 3 takers (might had something to do with the ground shaking when you fired it). In my 10 I load 3.5 drams (holy black) and 1 1/4oz of shot. The advantage is on a still day after firing spotters can't is what you did. Enjoy your guns and if you ever get to Virginia give me a shout and we can bust some cap together.

Turnin Fool
Aka Dave

[Ron Mueller]

Dave,
HA! I bow to the BP purist! Frontiersman, eh!?!
Would that I can again visit your state. Have fond memories, a bit dim now with age. I was 11, last time. Have you made your pilgrimage to EOT yet, or how far West have you traveled?

Anyway. I placed my Fate in the hands of the Gods as I worked up my loads. I know there are smiths around here, but none I've worked with yet. After talking with a few compatriots and studying the Forums, I run the conservative following:

The 10 is 1 3/8 square, Federal hull, 1 fiber wad plus the overs and unders, roll crimped. Gives me about 93 grains by weight of 2F Goex. That's about your 3 1/2 dram if I figure it right.

The 8 is 1 5/8 square, Remington industrial, 1 1/2 fiber plus overs and unders. 'Tis a heavy hull, slight roll crimp, wouldn't dare try a star crimp. Gives me about 112 grains by weight of 2F Goex. So its not quite the ground shaker you and my fellow club members imagined. My math figures I could add another 50 grs. to be exciting!! I'm using 7.5's, SASS allows #4's right!!

Chrono'd both, and they are running 1080 FPS. The 8 being a 7 frame, has a side wall thickness of .277. Me thinks that would handle a mild load. No doubt Brad will give me insight. The 10 bores are so clean on a 3 frame (no pitting) I ran with that too. I have lots of room to add powder and shot!! In the Forum info, I should maybe look into patterns and the like. The Full chokes, may be stripping off the wads to avoid any holes.

If the 10 is the 'Mighty 10' what's the '8'??

Burnin' daylight,
DD

[David Yeatts]

dd
The 8 is AwwwwSum!!!!!
Not been to EOD. Have been to Mule Camp and the Northeast regional. Never placed but have a great time.
Your loads look fine, I'm running in the 1100's now. Working on a load for 1 1/8 oz. There is a BP match the Vintagers that has that shot limit. The Vintagers is like EOT for those who love the fine old doubles. Put it on the bucket list, well worth the trip.
Always remember there is nothing like the smell of Black Powder in the morning.
Dave

[todd allen]

Dutch, I noticed you have Nevada as your location. What part of Nevada are you from? I live in Logandale, just an hour North of Las Vegas.

[Ron Mueller]

Todd,
We be an hour south of Reno. Are you SASS shooter, wing shooter or collector?
Or better yet, all of the above.
DD

[todd allen]

I have a modest collection, am a wingshooter, and sporting clays shooter. I have never done SASS, but have all the guns, including an 1898 SAA .45 Colt.
Oh, and two German Shorthairs.

[Ron Mueller]

Well don't let those old guns go idle. But with Two Shorthairs, I don't think idle is a problem. Will be down in your neck of the woo, er, desert, for Eldorado, the NV state championship come Sept. Find the local clubs on SASSnet.com, about us, affiliated clubs - to infill any of that free time. Ha!
Enjoy the dogs.
Best, DD