Need advice on potential restoration

[Chuck Kostichka]

Hello Parkerites! I am new here and new to Parkers. Not too long ago, I picked up a Parker 0 Grade hammer gun. The serial number links to 1884 manufacture. It's a 12 ga. with 32 twist barrels (as mnarked on rib). Everything appears to be there and the serial numbers all match. I bought it as a wall-hanger, but am not convinced it should be used strictly for viewing pleasure. The lock-up is pretty tight, certainly far tighter than most wall-hangers I have owned. The barrels look good inside and out except for a slight dent near the muzzle on the right one. The hammers cock and hold, the triggers let them fall and the firing pins appear to be intact.

My question is, is there someone in Wisconsin who could do an examination and evaluation to clarify wheather this gun can be fired?

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Bruce Day]

I do not know why it would need to be restored . It looks nice to me as is.

Here is my regular bird gun, an 1881 year on a 1 frame so it is lighter built than yours. You have a stout built shot gun and unless you find that the bores have been bored out excessively , I would load it and fire away. These are not delicate wall hangers.

Here is a Parker recommended load chart contemporaneous with your gun. I have several Parker hammer guns, some older some newer than yours and they get shot regularly . The first photo has black powder loads which which can be converted to drams equivalent .

The second table is from 1910 with DuPont smokeless powder loads .

[Drew Hause]

Welcome Chuck.
Just to clarify, those are black powder load recommendations. Smokeless (Nitro) powder was not in general use until about 1895.

Dennis Potter is in Muskego; a real gentleman and outstanding gunsmith
262-662-9990
He'll likely want to repair the cracks around the R lockplate inlet, and check the head of the stock also.

[Brian Cooler]

Nice gun. I have been told to not touch it. It is good as it is.

[Drew Hause]

Brian: are you referring to your VH? Who was the gunsmith that evaluated the gun? Could you please share the end of chamber, 9" and minimum wall thicknesses and the location? Is there any choke constriction?

[Chuck Kostichka]

Thank you everyone. I am anxious!

[Richard Flanders]

I have the same #2 frame gun with stout 32" bbls, 1883 production. Has a stout stock wrist also. I shoot stouter loads in it than in any of my other Parkers. It's a great long range duck gun. Have someone take a close look at it, inside and out. Take the lock plates off to check for oil soaked wood and treat it if there is much.

[Dean Romig]

I would have a good stock man repair the compromised wood around the lock plates. That issue seems to be allowing the lock plate(s) to move rearward, judging by the slight gap at the front radius of the lock plate where it fits into the frame. But that’s all I would do to that gun. It appears very decent otherwise.





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