Help with Stange Finding on Parker
 

I just got in a nice G grade 16 gauge Parker and it has a couple things I'm not sure of. First there is an obvious plugged hole in the breech end of the barrels on the rib (see photos). I've included two photos so you can see it up close and see that the matting was definitely cut after the plug was put into the rib. There is only one plug on the rib.

Second, there is P.S. stamped on the barrel flats. Does anyone know what this stands for?

Third, when measuring the barrels I find both barrels measure .666 for the bores with .020 and .033 constrictions. Minimum barrel wall thickness on one barrel is .021 and the other .025. These are only in one area of the barrel with most of the barrel being well above .025. The thin areas are about 6 inches from the muzzle so I know there is no danger from pressure. Would these figures be unusual from a gun in serial number 193XXX range.

https://i.imgur.com/0555RbD.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4KG2riC.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ORCBaB2.jpg

Thanks in advance for your help!

P.S. is for Parker Special Steel barrels which is correct for a Grade 2 with fluid steel barrels. (a P in a circle is for Parker Steel found on Grade 1 fluid steel barrels)

That plug you see there is the head of the screw which holds the doll's head rib extension in place. that is exactly how Parker Brothers attached it. However, the plug is usually not as visible as yours unless the barrels have been refinished.





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Dean, I knew you would have the answers. Thank you. Would those barrel measurements be fairly normal. I would expect the bores to be around .650. I posted on several of the forums here because I am under time constraints for inspection period so I needed answers as quickly as possible.

.662" is the nominal bore diameter for a 16 gauge so I believe .666" is absolutely within a normal range and quite possibly untouched.





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Dean, have you measured barrel wall thickness on any of your Parkers? If so do you normally find thin spots on the barrels?

I have and I sometimes have found similar thinner areas behind the chokes, just as yours are, on 0-frame 16's and one on a Damascus 20 gauge that I have.... but nothing so thin that I wouldn't shoot it. .021" on a nice set of barrels with no flaws would not scare me away from shooting it - I have seen people shoot Parkers with walls thinner than that, but again, it was in the front 1/3 of the barrels... and No, you may NOT take that to the bank... it's just my personal observation and opinion and in no way would I tell anyone to shoot it with wild abandon. Proceed with caution - use low payload, low pressure loads.





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I'll bet the side with .020 choke is the .021 thickness six inches from the muzzle. If you think a 16 is thin, one finds that the 20 which has more chamber pressure usually is sometimes even thinner, and the 16 and 20 never approach the thickness of 12 gauge guns. Plus the barrels were refinished, right? I am guessing because of the finish being so good. There may have been a little metal removed in the prep for rust bluing, or to remove an external scratch. But in all likelihood, they left the factory that thin.