GH 12 32"barrels

[Dean Hanson]

Hello Everyone, I am in the process of helping out a gentleman I met at Pheasant Fest this year. According to TPS, Parker made 1505 GH 12 gauge guns with Damascus barrels with a length of 32". What I found interesting is that the gun is on a 1 frame! Unstruck barrel weight of 4lbs 5oz. Gun was made in 1892. Needs a good cleaning, which yours truly will perform, and hopefully the family Parker will burn some powder soon. Sounds like its been in the family around 100 years... maybe more.
So, how rare is a 1 frame GH 32" barreled Damascus Parker?
Also, does anyone know of a Parker gunsmith in the area of the Twin Cites?
Thank you in advance, Dean

[PML]

The one I had was a GH in 727xx range with fishtail top lever. I think you would find more of these 1 frame 12's in the pre 1900 guns.

PML

[Dean Hanson]

Pre 1900 1 frame 12's seem to be more common than post. Just have never seen a 1 frame 12 with 32" barrels.

[B. Dudley]

I once owned a twist barreled 32” PH on a 1 frame. It was early 1890s and had the parker trap gun buttplate on it.

[6pt-Sika]

I’ve got a GH damascus 12 gauge 32” that I bought from someone here . I’ve not had it in my hands in over a year and for the life of me don’t remember what size frame it’s on !!

[Milton C Starr]

Theres 3 GH 12 ga 32" barreled Parkers on GB right now , 2 of them are on a #2 frame and 1 is a 1 1/2 frame .

[Dean Romig]

The 1 1/2 frame made its appearance in the late 1890’s and probably supplanted the 1 frame in many cases where a lighter gun was preferred over the weight of a 2 frame. Maybe even more so when longer barrels were ordered.

But the introduction of the 1 1/2 frame didn’t entirely replace the 1 frame 12 gauge. We have seen plenty of 1 frame 12 gauge guns of much later production.





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[Garth Gustafson]

Dean,
Pat Laib in Spicer, MN works on Parkers and he can do general repairs, measure wall thickness and perform safety inspections. 320-796-2686. He did some work for me on another double and I would recommend him.
Just an FYI, due to liability issues Pat will tell you his policy is not to recommend shooting modern loads in any gun with Damascus barrels.

[Dean Hanson]

Garth, Awesome!! Thanks for the info.

[Jim Beilke]

Dean I have done business with Pat Laib in Spicer, Mn for 30 years. He is a fine smith, however I agree with Garth in that he will recommend not shooting damascus with any kind of ammunition