Lifting a hammer doesn't necessarily mean time to work.
 

When I was younger, I swung a hammer for a living. Now that I'm older, I shoot a hammer for pleasure! As I watched the sun rise this morning, I thought of my days swinging a 2 lb hammer framing a home. This morning I was shooting a little heavier hammer, it was anything but work. As I shot these old guns, I thought of those who shot them in the past. Both guns are 140 + years old, and still doing what they were built to do. Nothing better than a cup of good coffee and the smell of gunpowder at sunrise!
Chris

Love the lifters!

Great photo. Makes me want to get out there. How long are the barrels on those guns?

You would love it Mike! Barrels on both are 30". They shoot like a balanced 28". Both are 12s. The straight stock is a #2 frame. The POW is a #1 frame.

Hammers
 

Chris your picture with doves looks like one I posed in S Tx on one of my dove hunts. I shot a $125 grade Laminated steel barreled lifter this year on doves and had a blast. This gun swings so nice on a #2 frame . Had the please of getting frame a man in Az who had it from his great grandfather. I wrote an article about it last year in Parker Pages. Good hunting with your hammers. I shot many an English hammer in years past and loved them all 20,16, 12 ga.

For sure David, these hammers are a blast! One day I'll find a 16 or 20 I hope. I get a kick out of guys watching me shoot them in the field. A guy asked me once, "what are you shooting, Jed Clampet's gun?" Then chuckles as he fires off 3 shots and misses. After he saw my pile of birds he looked confused with dis-belief. Which issue was your article in, I'll go back and check it out? I would like a small bore hammer for quail, it would really enhance the hunt! Hope your upcoming quail season is a great one!
Chris

Chris,
Please share with us more a bit more about your two lifters - Top and Bottom
in the first picture in that order:
1. Serial Numbers,
2. Are Barrels marked "Plain Twist" or
"Twist,"
3. Are Butt plates steel or rubber,
4. Do lock plates have any line engraving around the outer edge?
Your pictures are great, but my eyes aren't and my computer is almost as old as your Lifters.

Sorry Louis, I've been so busy, I wasn't ignoring you. I'll get back soon with all the information for you.
Chris, AZ

Love seeing your hammer guns. I really like hunting with mine. I have 2 20 ga hammers, both with 30" barrels that I love carrying in the grouse woods. One is Scottish with 2 sets of barrels and the other a Belgian gun. Thats my 16ga Parker hammer on the home page, and I hunt turkeys with a Grade 2 12 ga hammer with 30" F/F.

Okay Louis, here you go...
The straight stock is #21352, a 2 frame, steel butt plate.
The pow stock is #16672, a 1 1/2 frame, steel butt plate.
Both are 30" twist. I shoot light hand loads in both. They are well balanced. Barrels feel like 28". I really enjoy both, as each has something special to offer. Sorry, I reversed the order. The top pic is the pow, #16672, and the bottom is the straight, #21352.