Show Your Favorite 16ga!

[David Noble]

I worked up a post for this thread but I mistakenly put it in a different 16a thread.

I'm reposting it here.


There's no way I could pick a favorite. They're like children to me. I love them all equally. I'll post a few.

First my Parkers.
GHE Skeet, 1939 gun with 28" barrels. This one sat in Remington's inventory until 1942+. I bought it at a local gun show 25 years ago at a bargain price.

Next set is a group of 3 other Parker 16's.
Top, is a PH that was originally a 12ga that was returned to have 16ga Titanic barrels and D grade wood installed. (bought this from a member)
Below that is a PH with 28" stub twist, Mod and Full chokes. (Got from Ben Loving)
Third gun is a Trojan 16 with 28" Mod and Full chokes. Purchased at a large auction for $450 plus shipping and buyer premium. All in, $600.

Fourth set is a Belgium made Nimrod hammer gun with 27" barrels choked Imp and Full. This gun is tiny, the water table hardly wider than my thumb.
It weighs in at 5lbs, 4 ounces.

Next in line is a French made gun with several reinforcement ribs on the stub twist barrels. It sports interesting silver geometric inlays on the receiver and and an under lever for opening, and a smaller lever under that to remove the barrels.

Then a Winchester Mod 12 16a pump with #5 engraving.

Last set of pics are a Francotte Model BB 16ga from 1899 26" barrels. This gun was also purchased from a member here. It is in like new condition. this gun was consigned to Abercrombie & Fitch by Von Lengerke & Detmold in 1900, then later transfered to Von Lengerke & Antoine in 1902 where it was sold. I was fortunate to purchase the VL&A leg of mutton case that fits it perfectly.

I Just can't pick a favorite, they each have some special meaning about them to me, so I rotate and pick a couple of them out each time I'm hunting with 16ga.

[Frank Good]

I recently purchased my first ever 16 ga., a Grade 1 1/2 Ithaca Flues with 30" Krupp bbls choked IC/F wearing double ivory beads. It's a real sweet little gun. Can't wait to try it this season.

[C.O.B.]

This has been my go to sporting clays gun for years. It's a GHE two barrel set with 28 inch vent rib barrels. One set is skeet/skeet the other M/F. Both sets of barrel have there own BTF. The gun came from Alex Kerr's in Beverly Hills.

[C.O.B.]

Another is this LeFever Optimus with 28 inch barrels choked M/F. These are the only two pictures I have of this one.

[C.O.B.]

Moving right along but with no pictures other than on my phone and I have no clue how to move them to the laptop.

In no specific order as to a favorite as I like them all

Purdey two barrel set 29 inch IC/F and 28 inch IC/M
Grade 3 top lever hammer gun with 30 inch barrels. This is out for a new stock
GH "Sales mans Sample" there are three types of Damascus in the barrels
Stephan Grant Matched pair 30 inch SKT/SKT. The only pair of 16's by Stephan
Grant and Sons
Stephan Grant side lever hammer gun 30 ich barrels IC/M
J. Venebles and Son hammer gun with a Jones under lever
CHE with 30 inch barrels M/F
GHE with 32 inch vent rib barrels F/F

I think thats it but yes I like the 16's

[James L. Martin]

My favorite 16ga happens to be Merkel O/U made in 1926. It has 29 3/16" barrels, weight of 6" 7" and handles as good as any gun I have ever shot. I bought it thur the old Gun List in the mid 1980s. It was a 2 barrel set at one time as the front trigger is a set trigger, it also has very good engraving of birds and big game.

[Reggie B]

Nice guns Rich!

[C.O.B.]

Thanks Reggie

[C.O.B.]

I knew I was forgetting one a straight grip Fox Sterlingworth
Another one is a C.S. Rosson this is a straight grip with 26 inch barrels. It has a unique opening system in that there is what looks like a big safety that you push up to open the gun.

[Gerald McPherson]

16 1937 26 inch.