16ga Lifter Action Hammer

[Bruce Day]

D grade, for those interested.

[John Havard]

Oh baby oh baby oh baby. Very nice!

[Labowner]

What more could you ask for? Bruce what is the Damascus type?

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Bruce - That one is one of my all-time favorites. I echo Bob's question about the barrel steel...

It is not often that we see a dog pointing 'breechward' as is depicted on the right lock plate, instead of the usual 'muzzleward'.

[edgarspencer]

I think it's a shame how some people abuse their equipment. I'd be willing to give it a good home, maybe nurse it back to health

[B. Dudley]

Yeah, I was gonna ask the same question about the barrel steel. The single floating dogs head on the bottom of the receiver is interesting. Surprised it is not bordered out or at least a complete body.

[Bruce Day]

The barrel material is composite steel and iron, not of a damascus type, but of a laminated type. The rib is marked "Laminated".

Doc Drew on his website has an excellent explanation of various composite barrel types and their manufacture, including twist, laminated and damascus, and the many variations within each category. I recommend Drew for detailed damascus knowledge.

As Austin Hogan has pointed out, engraving formats did not standardize until some years after this SN. Then those formats changed subtlely over time. The complexity of the frame sculpting, particularly around the bolsters, the presence of side lock plates, and the quality, detail and variation of the engraving are reasons why some collectors enjoy Parkers from the hammer era.

I identified this as a D grade, properly it is within the dollar grade years, so it is the $135 grade.

There are few small bores within this period because these were black powder guns and small volume hulls allowed limited space. The 10ga was the fowling gun, the 12 the bird gun and 16's and 20's not even listed in the 1876 catalog but in the 1882 catalog. The 1882 catalog says " A fair charge for bird shooting with the 12 gauge guns is 2 1/2 drams powder and 1 ounce of shot." Other sources identify the 16 load as 2 1/4 drams and 7/8 ounce , the 20 as 2 drams and 3/4oz. So the limited early loading limited gun selection far more than it does today.

These matters are interesting to some, and I recommend others such as Dave Noreen for his significant early ammunition literature collection, and at least but but not limited to Gary Carmichael, Robin Lewis, Austin Hogan and Charlie Herzog for hammer guns and their significant collections, and I probably have inadvertantly omitted some talented and knowledgeable people. For those who have not had the pleasure of operating a well kept lifter action gun, the ergonomics of the gun are significant.

So I don't want to say too much, a close friend always reminds me that its the empty barrel that makes the most noise , and I recommend interested viewers to the others mentioned.

[charlie cleveland]

i like every thing about this gun..but espically the way the patent no and the years are arranged.... charlie

[Setter Man]

Spectacular, Bruce. I hate to ask but is the condition original?

[Bruce Day]

Originally Posted by Jay Gardner

Spectacular, Bruce. I hate to ask but is the condition original?

This is the considered and coordinated response to your question:

This gun was purchased about ten years ago from an elderly man who was not a gun dealer, who had owned the gun for many years, and who reluctantly parted with it because of his advancing years. The purchaser never had the gun redone in any way, including any work by the known quality correct refinishers such as Turnbull, Batchelder. The elderly private seller is understood to have kept the gun unused and away.
Many collectors have studied the gun and none have been able to find refinishing indicators such as buffing marks, worn engraving or any other indicator. The standing breech face is unpitted. The barrels are not pitted or striated. Nobody has stated that the case colors are anything but period correct. Hammer gun frames and particularly lock plates are known for long lasting case colors.
Some have speculated that the gun is redone because of its pristine condition. In response to that , others point out the absence of any other refinishing indicators and mention the known existence of documented original condition guns similar in age and of equal degree of pristiness.
So, in answer, nobody knows with certainty, and it is what it is. People will only speculate and nobody has come forward with clear proof either way.