New to PGCA

[Terry P]

I was just given a beautiful Parker 10 guage DHE by my dad. He inherited it many years ago. Thanks to your website, I learned that it was built in 1890 even though it looks brand new. It is a 3 frame with 30" Titanic barrels. The sides are engraved with a pointer dog and scrolls and the underside has what appears to be ducks. Along with the gun were several boxes of Remingtion 2 7/8 and 3 1/2 shells. Chambers seem to be long enough for the 3 1/2's. Can anybody tell me if they would be safe to fire? Thanks for the terrific web site.

[charlie cleveland]

welcome terry you have fond the greatest bunch of parker lovers youve ever seen....you have inherited a great gun for your first parker...terry it would be adviseable to have a gun smith that is familar with parker guns and have your gun ckecked outespically the barrels to see if it is safe to shoot.... the gun was not chambered for the 3 1/2 inch magnum shells....terry would be best to shoot low pressure 10 ga shells in your gun if it passes inspection...these can be bought from various places but i recommend the rst shells....or load your on low pressure shells....good luck there will be some more fellows to pitch in and give some expert advise...if you can we all would like to see some oictures of your gun.... charlie

[Terry P]

Thanks Charlie, for the quick reply, Already had the gun checked out and it was given a clean bill of health. I just didn't know about using 3.5" shells. The forcing cone begins at 3.75" down the chamber. I think I'll stay with standard length shells. Here are some quick snapshots.. Thanks again for the advice.

[Harry Collins]

Terry,

I dont want to rain on the parade, but I noticed a few things that might be of concern. The barrel flats have a "D" just before the weight of the barrels (5 with a small 2 for five pounds 2 oz). "D" stands for Damascus barrels. I also see lines around the barrels as if they have been mono-blocked (original barrels cut off and new barrels inserted). There were no 3 1/2 inch shells in 1890. I have a 20 gauge Parker that started life as a 16 gauge with Twist Steel barrels that was mono-blocked and I shoot the snot out of it. Have fun.

[OH Osthaus]

isn't "D" the grade

but i do see the line suggesting a sleeving

[Terry P]

Thanks for your acessment. You certainly aren't raining on any parades. I'm delighted with this gun even if it was rebarreled. Infact, I prefer not to have damascus barrels. Since the rib states "Titanic Steel" is it reasonable to think that Parker may have done the work?

[OH Osthaus]

Terry


might i suggest getting the research letter for the gun. That would tell you if it was originally damascus, and might reference if it was returned to Parker for work.

[Harry Collins]

I don't think Parker had Titanic barrels on DH's until about 1897. My 1894 hammered Parker was mono-blocked by LaFever and they changed "TWIST" to "STEEL". I don't think Parker did such things, but I've been wrong about many things Parker. The great thing about your Parker is that it came to you from family and that is more important to me about my family Parker's than all the warts they may have. You've a great old Parker you can try to wear out before you pass it along to the next generation. Good luck and great shooting.

Kindest, Harry

[Researcher]

Neither Parker Bros. nor Remington did that mono bloc sleeving work. Very likely the word Damascus was tig welded in and the rib remarked Titanic when the sleeving job was done.

The gun appears to have selective automatic ejectors that were not offered by Parker Bros. at the time that gun was originally made, so it very likely was back to Parker Bros. for those at some point in its life. Did it get the updated bolt and bolt plate at that time?

FWIW, it doesn't look new. When it was new the receiver, top-lever, forearm iron, and forearm latch lever were color case hardened, not buffed shiney like now.

Was/is that gun in Washington State? I saw one just like that at Chet Paulson's in Tacoma about 45 years ago.

[Dean Romig]

That "D" on the barrel flats represents Damascus.... which is what the breech section of the barrels is, behind the sleeve seam.