Eight bore Parkers

[John Truitt]

Lightest weight one anyone is aware of?

Smallest frame size they were made in?

Any made with chambers smaller than 3 1/4 or was this considered standard chambers for Parker?

For hammer and hammerless guns. Thanks guys.

[charlie cleveland]

the 3 1/4 inch length was the standard chamber for most gunmakers..i would say that 3 1/4 was the standard for parkers as well but some 8 ga were made in length of up to 4 1/4 length i have a old 8 ga with 4 inch chambers...the 8 ga shells were made in several lengths i have a brass hull that is 3 3/4 inches...as for the lightest 8 ga i have ever heard of is owned by a guy here on the parker site maybe he will chime in and tell its weight..also the smallest frame size i ve heard of in a parker was a 5 frame....charlie....

[B. Dudley]

Largest i have seen is the 7 frame. Most common size an 8 will be on is the 6. The heaviest weights i have encountered, in the few i have seen, were in the 16 to 17 lb. range.

[Bill Murphy]

My DH Grade, the only 30" eight in the PGCA research files, weighs just over ten pounds. I would assume it is the lightest original eight out there. Hammerless eights were made on the #6 frame, top lever hammer eights were made on #7 frames. There is the occasional #5 frame, but I think they were all early lifters.

[B. Dudley]

A 10# 8g would be nice!

[John Truitt]

I am aware of one 32" #5 frame d grade top lever gun.

She has great balance and feel.

I assume a #4 frame would be way too small at the breach ball areas to establish a safe OD for an eight.

Thanks for the info guys.

[Autumn Daze]

Never say never Doc. We know of a 1 frame 10 bore.

[Bill Murphy]

Yeah, John, the 30" ten pound eight gauge is a treat, but too short for you. We would establish the #4 frame eight gauge feasibility with calipers and machinist's scales. In my opinion, it can be done. Remember, John, they are hammer guns.

[John Truitt]

Mr Murphy,

It would be interesting to draft it out and see.

IMO a 11 1/2 to 12 lb 34" eight bore would be the ideal combo for me.

Who knows what might be out there.

Your 30" gun sounds like a really interesting piece.

[Fishtail]

Before you guys get off the deep end, don't forget that one of the joys of shooting an 8 ga. Parker is the heft that comes along with it. Just like a 28ga should be light and small, an 8 ga. should make you aware from the moment you pick it up that you are wrapping your arms around Big Bertha.