Stephen Stills I believe. And to be frank the 16 above is pretty much that gun for me, though twin ivories woulda been nice. Pretty simple tastes here :).

Well, I just purchased a nice Vulcan grade 26" beavertail forend, single trigger just sent for the letter, gun is just as he book says see if my wife can get a photo for me Gary

It is a 16ga Gary

16ga Hammer upgrade in progress....
 

currently in progress...

Please tell us about that one James. It appears to be a Grade 7 by the engraving…





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Im not sure what grade but it's got to be close to that. This is the way I bought it. missing barrels and wood. Found a donor gun and awesome blank and its in process.....

The serial number would likely indicate the dollar grade or grade number.





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You don't want much, do you Dean.
Set your goals a little higher.

:biglaugh:





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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.

I do not know how to bring up photos , check out 16ga revisit if someone can bring it up thanks Gary

I cannot truthfully make a decision between my Parker DHE 16/20 and my L C Smith FWE. Both have 32" barrels. I know it may sound crazy that I might favor a Field Grade Smith as much as a DHE Parker. But, the Smith was a first love, and one never forgets their first love. "Sweet sixteen I will never forget." (Talking Heads, "Take Me To The River").

FWE, HOT, 32" barrels. Rare option set for a field grade Smith

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/75712_800x600.jpg

DHE Parker, 32" barrels

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/75713_800x600.jpg

Boston Show 1898:
 

It must be my favorite, since it’s the only 16 I own. Damascus 28” GH #858XX.

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.

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.

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

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 :whistle:

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:eek:

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.

Nice guns Rich!

Thanks Reggie

I knew I was forgetting one a straight grip Fox Sterlingworth:whistle:
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.

This one speaks to me.
 

16 1937 26 inch.

Cheap 16 ga LC Smith Ideal 30"
 

Here's a good buy on a 30" LC Smith Ideal grade with ejectors.
X
X
https://www.gunsinternational.com/gu...n_id=103479016

Don't recall the grade (maybe a 0 or grade 1 ) 28 inch barrels
https://i.postimg.cc/BnHphbNR/IMG-0255.jpg

Randy that 32 inch hammer gun is very familiar even though the perfectly wonderful straight grip stock has been replaced :whistle:

Most of my gun pictures are on my phone and I have no idea how to move them:eek:

Rich,

I’m glad to see you have a few Parker’s that are of the pistol grip configuration, there is hope.:p

How did you never think to show me this 16 gauge Underlifter, have you been cheating behind my back:nono:

I have two, a 1 1/2grade Ithaca Flues and an Ithaca NID4E and I have to say I think my preference actually leans toward the Flues.

I'd never do that to you Stan. That's been gone awhile. IIRC it was in the 13K serial number range.

You have a good eye Rich. A long and winding road with a happy ending for all parties involved. Interesting letter on that one. Stock book shows it as a capped PG while the order book has it as a SG. Can't go wrong :)

Well it's staying in the Parker family. I got it from a member who got it from another member. Two more members later you have it.:rotf:

I don't see it going anywhere for some time now.

The previous owner had two choices, that one that was properly stocked with a straight grip and a Grade 3 with 30 inch barrels. The Grade 3 had been restocked and horribly at that. In retrospect I'm glad he chose that one as according to TPS only a handful of Grade 3 16's with 30 inch barrels were made. IIRC it was 8. That gun is currently awaiting for a suitable stock blank to return her to the proper status she so richly deserves.

One of my favorites, 16 bore Armas Lario Como from Val Trompio built pre-war, 28" "Fiat" steel barrels, Cyl and full chokes. A second tier gun by a local craftsman or craftsmen, but I kind of like it.

1987 Citori, first year for the 16 gauge.
RKLT, feels like a Superposed.

https://i.imgur.com/RvZlYpr.jpg

I have a few favorite sixteens... all Parkers of course.
These are the ones I have found easily - there may be more. In fact, three of these have gone down the road to new homes.
They have all taken birds for me and they have all smashed clays, but a guy can only keep so many 16's, right??

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All gorgeous..

I love your passion for hammer guns, Dean. I have but one in my Parker collection…..

Dave

I would highly recommend a Lifter Dave. They are just so ergonomically perfect… and fun to shoot.





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They were perfect so anyone have any idea why they went to the top lever?

Remington abandoned their lifter for a top-lever, Baker abandoned the trigger-break for the top-lever, Lefever abandoned the Dangerfield "thumb type" opener for a top-lever, etc. The top-lever became what the market wanted.

As Dave says, the top lever quickly became what the market wanted. If you don’t provide what the market demands your sales decline… simple.





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