Given a choice hammer versus hammerless

[Craig Larter]

If you were given a choice between two equal condition guns a top lever hammer gun versus hammerless gun what would you choose? The hammer guns have beautiful sculptured hammers, a larger area for engraving plus the grade 3's and above have sculptured breech balls. The hammerless guns have lines that are more subdued and free of appendages. What would be you choose??

[John Truitt]

Hammer: both from esthetics and shooters perspective. Hammerguns are much easier to work on if something fails.
IMO there is nothing like a Parker hammergun.

[B. Dudley]

In higher grades, i would take a hammer gun.

That meaning grade 3 or higher. Especially in the higher grades.

But talking about grade 3 guns, i think the hammer guns had a lot more work put into them than the hammerless guns.

[Mills]

Hammerless.

[OH Osthaus]

chose???????

heaven forbid



i have shot more hammer guns lately - my first gun was a single barrel hammer gun-

and I bought a nice back action hammer gun for hunting 30 years ago - before damascus was "safe" again

and i love taking one into woodcock covers - since i am not going to shoot it that much

for looking at - or clays - i'll take hammers

but if you are serious - one gun for all my shooting- hunting included- on cold nasty days or when it gets fast

there is a reason internal hammers won out

[Craig Larter]

I agree hammerless guns are more efficient weapons but what about pure esthetics. I think hammer guns are the pinnacle.

[OH Osthaus]

no argument here on that

[Wild Skies]

Make mine a D-Grade hammer, preferably a 20, but would settle for a 12 w/30" bbls. and a fishtail top lever. I've been searching for one in all-original condition ever since I passed on the one Al Zinn offered a few years back in hopes that one with a tad more condition would surface. But, as of today, if that Parker has been offered, it has eluded me.

[John Davis]

Hammer, Lifter.

[Craig Larter]

The gun buyer of 1900 that was considering a grade 3 picked the hammerless gun 20 to 1. I wonder if we had the same choice today if the selection of hammerless over hammer would be the same ratio?