10 ga hammer gun

[Jack Kuzepski]

Gentlemen,

I am new to Parkers and have a few questions concerning my 10 ga hammer gun. The serial is 55249, it has a fish tail top lever, 30" twist barrels. I assume it is a R grade as it has 2 small scroll areas on the locks and just some light lines on the hammers and the underside of the action. Was the grade on hammer guns marked on the frame or barrels? I also saw that the barrels were 5 lb 2 oz before being struck and the frame size is 3. The gun weighs in the 10 lb range so am assuming that it is considered a heavy 10 ga.
What is the purpose of the fishtail top lever? When the action is closed there is some slight play (wiggle) in the barrels, what can be done to tighten the action? The wood is in reasonably good shape although the checkering is filled in (with dirt, grime, etc) , what is the proper or best way to have that cleaned without having the stock refinished and recheckered?

Thanks,

Jack Kuzepski

[Austin W Hogan]

The grade may be stamped above and/or below the serial on the water table. 0 and 1 grades may not be marked. The grade may be inferred from barrel steel or engraving pattern but the lowest grades are not consistent.

Clean the barrel mating surfaces and frame thoroughly. Remove the extractor and thoroughly clean the extractor and its recesses and tunnel before attempting any work to tighten the action. This can usually be done with Hoppes, Q tips and patches.

The checking can be cleaned with Murphy's soap, a soft brush, and a soft rag.

Best, Austin

[David Hamilton]

The fish tail lever has something to do with opening the gun when the hammer is cocked? David

[Dean Romig]

That's right David. Generally, a hammer gun with a straight lever cannot be opened when the right hammer is cocked. The "fishtail" lever was designed not only as a convenience to the shooter but also as a safety measure eliminating the necessity of lowering the hammer down on a live chamber in order to open the gun.

[Jack Kuzepski]

Gents,
Thanks for the info. Do the lower grades 0 and 1 you are referring to equate to the PH and VH for a 1 and Trojan for 0 except for hammer guns?

Thanks,
Jack Kuzepski

[David Hamilton]

PH & VH are anachronistic as the VH is a later model than the PH. 0 grade was often called "Twist" and PH (which came as a later designation) would be a grade 1, or there about, nothing firm about the looks of some of the earlier numbered models. The VH had steel barrels and the PH had damascus. Yes, Trojan would be a 0 and VH a 1. David

[Bill Murphy]

Actually, the Trojan was not assigned a grade number designation and the V grade is a zero grade. The V and the P were made during the same period for many years, the V a zero grade, the P a grade 1.

[Jack Kuzepski]

Bill and David,

Thanks for the clarification. Seems that I have a good bit more to learn about the guns.

Jack Kuzepski