Totally confused by my new parker

[milotrain]

About a year ago I bought a hammerless Parker 12g with twist barrels from a trusted dealer but only based off pictures. They were not sure what the grade was and thought it was a Trojan which it is not I believe.

• The serial number puts it at 1890
• There are serial number stamps on the trigger guard, side of the barrel lug, and on the water table.
• The letter for the grade stamped on the water table looks like an "r" lowercase, or possibly a "P" uppercase.
• The roll pin is not slotted on either side.
• It is a size 1 12g.
• It has extractors not ejectors.

The link (https://plus.google.com/photos/115970594960359991964/albums/5910641454660442833?authkey=CNH546q4wrKJZg) leads to all the photos I recently took of her.

Additionally I read through as much as I could regarding shooting non black powder loads with this gun and it would seem that while many do so with twist barrels (using RST or similar) there seem like a few who advise against it. I know it's a personal choice but I'd be interested in any recommendations, specifically if someone knows where I could get black powder paper cartridges.

[paul stafford jr]

sounds like a P grade , 1 1/2 frame. with pictures and a serial # I could check the numbers book for more info.

[wayne goerres]

You have a P grade parker that looks to be in pretty good shape. Have the barrel wall thickness checked and if it is OK you should be able to shoot light smokeless shells like RST.If you want black powder you will have to load your own. There several you tube vidios on loading black powder and you wont need any special tools.

[paul stafford jr]

I found the pictures , my bad

[Leighton Stallones]

Just shoot some low pressure smokeless as we all do . You will be happier than loading BP unless you like the smoke and cleaning.

[edgarspencer]

I'm not sure who advises not shooting smokeless loads in Twist Steel barrels, but clearly, they haven't read Sherman Bell's testing of Composite barrels vs steels barrels. That Kool Aid they were handing out a hundred years ago is getting pretty stale by now.
I shoot a 1 frame, twist barrel hammer gun with RST MaxiLites and haven't a concern it the world about the safety of doing it.

[Eldon Goddard]

That is a nice looking PH. I like the look of twist barrels and yours have a lot of figure left.

[milotrain]

Thanks all for the responses, very helpful and quite appreciated.

I have always loved doubles, and especially like thin stocks and double triggers. It was a perfect time of a little excess money and what looked like exactly what I wanted on sale. She wasn't the cheapest (and with California import costs was more than I had expected) but ended up being around $1100 after taxes, shipping and fees. I think she is very pretty and points beautifully. Initially I was debating briley tubes but now I think I'll just shoot it with light RSTs or Spred-R loads. I certainly don't need to add weight to the barrels.

Is there a recommendation of a smith for a basic checkup? I've heard merrington, being spoken of highly. The screws have the obvious rough handling marks and I'm not sure what can be done about that.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Brad Bachelder or Kirk can do what you want and you will be pleased with the results, I am sure there are folks on this board that will agree, Gary

[Brian Dudley]

A nice looking P grade you have there. You should enjoy shooting it for sure. If the bores are good and the wall thickness checks out, shoot them. Do bear in mind that the walls on a 1 frame 12g will be a bit thinner cowards the breech than the heavier frame sizes.
Barrel finish on that gun is very nice.
Kieth Kearcher could also look at your barrels for you, he would be your closest bet, being you are in CA. He is in OR.

[calvin humburg]

Great gun I like twist P's. I think I would leave it alone from what I can see there is good color on the barrels. Edgar is right. If you want to shoot black powder use brass hulls and make your own unless you r not good at... if you have changed your oil over the years and your motor has not locked up you can probably do it. I think everybody should shoot a little black neet stuff.

[Carl Erickson Jr]

Some people like Fords and some people like Chevys. Some people even like Yugos
If you like extra work shoot Black Powder. If you like to shoot use RST rounds or the equivalent. (after you have the gun checked over by a competent side by side gunsmith)
Currently all my older Parkers are used with smokeless loads appropriate to the age of the wood. Recently I have been shooting Damascus or twist shotguns almost exclusively with loads appropriate for the age of the wood.

[Mark Brady]

In my opinion there is no reason not to shoot low pressure loads like RSTs in a good quality Damascus or twist gun. The key is to look for deep pitting or rust on both the inside and outside of the tubes. If the barrels are free of that and wall thickness is up to specks I don't foresee a problem. Keep in mind this is an educated opinion, and it's still an individual decision.

[Bruce Day]

May I suggest that a starting point for understanding what you bought is to read what the manufacturer said about it when the gun was made:

[Mark Brady]

Something I forgot to mention, it's a good idea to "ring" the barrels. Remove the barrels from the receiver and carefully hang them with a strong cord. I usually tie one end of the cord around the extractors and suspend the tubes by holding the free end of the cord. Take a brass hammer and LIGHTLY tap each tube, they should ring like good wind chimes. If on the other hand the sound is dull it might indicate corrosion under the ribs and should be checked by a professional. A customer once brought me a nice Ithaca double that he was unable to clean a spot out of one of the tubes, on checking I found that the barrel had rusted through from under the rib and there was a hole about 6" in front of the chamber and this was on a steel barrel. The gun otherwise looked fine but responded to the hammer tap like a piece of lead.