2011 Lookback

[chris dawe]

Originally Posted by Bruce Day

My only new gun in several years, courtesy of a fine member, and I would not have done it had another fine member not urged me to.

My only hammer gun. 1885 C Bernard top action hammer 12ga. Spent many years at the Charles Parker Salesroom in New York City, and went back and forth several times to Meriden, one of them presumably to have the rib matted when matting came out in 1886.

Forgive my ignorance....the bent top lever, is it factory correct ?

[ch]

Why don't you fellows add pictures. Seeing is better. Got a Trojan 16. calvin's pics 401.jpg

calvin's pics 400.jpg

calvin's pics 404.jpg

[Bruce Day]

Chris, yes the hooked or fishtail top lever is common in the hammer and early hammerless guns. Many have been shown in this forum, the Parker Pages and The Parker Story.
If you are interested in Parkers, I urge you to join the PGCA and to obtain TPS. The PGCA is only $40/year, less than the price of a tank of gas for most people.

[Hammer Gun]

Please post photo's, I can't cause i am not at home, I have a confession to make I also bought another gun at the Southern, hope my wife don't read this! Also bought it from a long time member who had owned it for over 25 years, a 14ga that is shown in several Parker books, 30" Damascus in wonderful shape with some case left, ser# 1147 and of course it's a hammer gun!

[Dean Romig]

There is a very good article in an issue of Double Gun Journal from the late 1990's by Charlie Price addressing the "fishtail" or "hooked" top lever. It is a very enlightening article by one of the authors of The Parker Story. I'll post the issue tonight after I look through my stack.

[Brush Buster]

Calvin,That is a fine looking Trojan 16 Ga. ,I like the early Trojans like yours with the Rib Extensions the best ! My first Parker was an early 16 Ga. Trojan with the Rib Extension ,choked so tight I had to shoot Spreaders out of her to hit anything ! A great gun !!! I added a picture with a pair of Roosters from one of my first hunts with it ! Russ

[Pa SxS]

This 1876 12ga underlifter was advertised in the Parkers for Sale section, didn't get any takers and was then listed on one of the online auction sites, again with no takers. The seller was local so we met and now it's mine.

Stub twist swamped rib 30" barrels and a straight grip stock with perfect dimensions for me.

The gun needed much TLC. The receiver and barrels were caked in dried up oil and grease, the barrels were off face and only slightly pitted, the trigger pulls in excess of 8lbs, the head of the stock was almost black, and worst of all someone decided to try their hand at checkering.

After much cleaning, the receiver and barrels are clean, the stock was soaked in acetone for many days and most of the darkness is gone. A .004 shim put the barrels back on face and Dewey Vicknair adjusted the trigger pulls to 4lbs each. The hardest part was trying to sand out the deep lines from the checkering. Had I sanded down all the way, the shape would have been altered on both the forend and buttstock. There are a few lines still visable but are filled flat with finish. I think I'll wait a few months for the finish to fully cure, then take some of the shine off.

It's fun putting these old guns back in decent shape.

[AmarilloMike]

Well I have already posted about this gun back in April so this is kind of like warmed up leftovers. But it has been awhile. I picked a nice litte 5lb 13 oz Parker AHE 20 gauge made in the mid-twenties. 26" barrels, stock extension with original SSBP. Has recent London proofs. Shooter condition.

[Brush Buster]

Mike ,A beautiful gun ,congrats on a great find ,I especially like the engraved Quail ,my CHE 20 has a pair of Quail on the bottom of the receiver, just thought you may like to see them ! Russ

[Dean Romig]

Rus, you're killin' me... but you know that.

Calvin, that is one beautiful Trojan!!

The DGJ issue with Charlie's article on the "fishtail" top lever is the Winter 1993 issue on page 143.