Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums - New member, new to me Parker GHE 2 7/16 chamber

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New member, new to me Parker GHE 2 7/16 chamber

Well I recently purchased my first Parker 16 gauge. I got the research letter and was questioning the 2 7/16 chamber length. That wasn’t a typo. Has anyone heard of this before? The chambers have been lengthened to 2 3/4”. Wish I could’ve measured this before it was lengthened.

Shouldn’t that be 2 9/16” chamber?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Suponski (Post 233239)

Shouldn’t that be 2 9/16” chamber?

That is what I thought also. So I questioned the research letter thinking it was a typo. I was told it was the first time he say a 2 7/16 in the book. And after looking some more found two more entered that way. Including the 16 gauge built just before mine.

I don't ever remember seeing chamber lengths in 1/16" increments until Scott contacted me about a letter I did for him a few months ago. I looked at the stock book again and it sure looks like 2 7/16". Now the 7 could have possibly been a 9 but with the loop in the 9 not closed. Those old records are many times faded or the person who entered it just wasn't careful. The gun 1 S/N above Scott's gun had the same chamber length and was written exactly as Scott's gun, looked like 2 7/16". I decided to look at other pages in that stock book and found what looks like another 2 7/16" chamber. I looked farther and found an entry in which there is no doubt. Attached is the entry for Scott's gun and the other is the one which is clearly 2 7/16". I did find an entry listed as 2 1/2" in that book.

So why would Parker chamber for 2 7/16"? Why would Parker make it 1/16" shorter than 2 1/2" which according to The Parker Story as of May 1920 all guns 12ga. thru 32ga. had 2 1/2" chambers standard? Scott's gun was made in 1926. At some point in time later, Parker seemed to use 2 5/8" chambers as standard unless otherwise asked for.

Looks like a 7 to me

Both look like a 7 to me too. It's a very interesting question.

Lots of 2 1/2"chambered 16 gauge British an continental guns around at that time. It might be as simple as the owner wanting to keep only one length 16 gauge shells around for all his guns. Parker may have recommended 2 7/16" chambers in that case.

Maybe someone on the forum will have one with those measurements.
Welcome to the PGCA Scott.