Parker 16 Guage Model Questions

[Christpher Holcomb]

I inherited my Great Grandfathers 16 GA. Parker Side-By-Side and I'm searching for a Butt Plate. In doing so....I'm trying to identify the year made, model and quality grade. Really.....I want to find out everything I can about this model in addition to finding an original replacement Butt Plate The number on the trigger guard is 160410. The only other markings/stampings on the gun are <OV> ad JG. The gun is in excellent condition, original bluing, stock and typcial of a farmers gun. Well worn and in excellent firing order. Interesting thing about this gun is that when you fire a standard Dove load, the barrels "ring". This gun has never been refinished...just used. I'm also curious about recommendations/warnings regarding refinishing/restoration. Please help me with your expertise......Thanks for your help and Happy New Year!....Chris

[Robert Rambler]

Christpher, You Grandfathers gun is listed as a 1912 Trojan grade 16 gauge with 28in barrels and a pistol grip stock. Post some pictures if you can,so others here can give you an evaluation on its condition. HTH

[Dave Suponski]

In addition...Its a very early Trojan Grade gun. We love pictures..:)

[Christpher Holcomb]

HTH......I got on PGCA (I'm new here and enjoying the great company) and traced the serial number and it showed the date on this gun as 1879. Can you tell me where you got your information. Any ideas about where I can pick-up a butt plate? I'll send pictures later.....Chris

[Christpher Holcomb]

HTH......BTW....thanks for your response, it is greatly appreciated...Happy New Year! We need to all pray that the Lord makes this a better one than last year!

[Robert Rambler]

Christpher, If you gave the correct serial # (160410)? You can go to the PGCA Home page,click on "Manufacturing dates by serial#" input your serial # and the production date will be displayed. I got 1912. However I got my information from the "serialization book", a book that lists most of the Parkers produced and their barrel and stock configuration when they left the factory.
On the PGCA homepage you can also click on "Parker grades" and find the gun grade that matches yours. You'll notice the Trojan had a very uniquely shaped receiver.And as already noted you would have one of the first produced as the Trojan was introduced in 1912.

Source of a reproduction,

http://vintagegungrips.net/ao-p31.html

[Bruce Day]

Barrels ring upon firing?

Two possible causes:

1. Loose top or bottom ribs. Take the barrels off, suspend by your fingers from the lug and tap the barrels and ribs along their length with a pencil. If a rib is loose, Kirk Merrington in Texas can fix it. Loose ribs need to be attended to because the barrels could be rusted underneath.

2. It could be the top lever vibrating. That is common in Parkers, kind of characteristic, particularly in small gauges, and live with it.

[Dave Suponski]

I have a few Parkers that when either dry fired of fired with a shell the barrels ring.At least with my guns the ribs have nothing to do with it.I suspect good strong main springs.Either way I have put a ton of rounds through them with no problems.

[Robin Lewis]

I had a nice 28ga GHE and when I fired the right barrel, I would hear a clear, high pitch ring. I hunted with it and had no problems but one day in the field I noted that the small locking screw on the side of the receiver was lost. I was near my gunsmith's shop so I stopped in and he replaced the screw............ and the ring was gone.

I have no idea why or what may have caused it. It was the only Parker I ever shot that had the ring and when Herb replaced the small screw it was gone.

[E Robert Fabian]

We had this discussion at the New Years day shoot, I have a high condition GHE and both barrels upon firring ring like church bells.

[Christpher Holcomb]

Gentlemen:

Thanks for the comments. We had omitted a digit when looking up the serial number and find that you are all correct. Thanks for your patience. I'll send some pictures later.....the gun is very tight and I have checked it over again following my gunsmith's evaluation, cleaning and correction of a problem with the safety sticking. Everything is exceptionally tight and my gunsmith told me he would hunt with this gun today. The ringing barrels I am hearing more and more is common with many Parker Side-By-Side guns of this vintage. It is much more of a keepsake for me to one day pass down to my son and then his grandson's than one that I want to hunt. Thanks for the great information regarding butt plate replacement. That is invaluable. Happy New Year and Blessings on all of you.....Chris

[Greg Baehman]

The Vintage Gun Grip link for Trojan replacement butt plates may be O.K., but they are a hard plastic. I believe original Parker Trojan butt plates were made from a hard rubber. Galazan lists 2 sizes of hard rubber replacement butt plates for Trojans, 5 1/16" and 5 5/32"--both regularly $48 each on sale for $20 each. Here's a link to the larger size which I believe is the correct size for a 12-ga. gun (not sure if 5 1/16" is correct for a 20 and 16-ga.guns): http://www.csmcspecials.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=PB310&CartID=2

[Dean Romig]

We had this discussion at the New Years day shoot, I have a high condition GHE and both barrels upon firring ring like church bells.

Mine ring like wedding bells . . . wonder what that means?? :shock:

[Rich Anderson]

Dean,

That's your wifes way of getting into your head telling you to come home from the gun club and clean out the garage:rotf:

[Dave Suponski]

Dean,I didn't tell Rich about the garage...Honest.....:dh:

[Francis Morin]

[QUOTE=Robin Lewis;10572]I had a nice 28ga GHE and when I fired the right barrel, I would hear a clear, high pitch ring. I hunted with it and had no problems but one day in the field I noted that the small locking screw on the side of the receiver was lost. I was near my gunsmith's shop so I stopped in and he replaced the screw............ and the ring was gone.

I have no idea why or what may have caused it. It was the only Parker I ever shot that had the ring and when Herb replaced the small screw it was gone.[ The PH 16 with 26" Twist barrels I just bought- the dealer had it as a 16 Trojan, and was an "as is'gun- As soon as I examined it, I knew what the problem may be- a broken flat cocking spring- all the other mechanics are fine-on face, triggers, safety- top lever will return when to press trip- hammers recock from the cocking cam lug in the water table slot-

I don't believe this Parker was ever taken apart- some dried oil crud of course, but all the trigger plate screws came out w/o a hitch, also the rear lower tang screw- but I have tapped the plate, receiver sides and the wooden dowel in the lug slot, as your instructions stated, NaDa- do I need to soak the plate from the bottom three screw mounting holes with CLP or Kroil- with the receiver tipped down and the buttstock elevated about 30 degrees and set in a well padded vise-

This low grade older (1906?) Parker sure has a fine piece of flamed grain walnut-but I believe the Parkers made before WW1 usually do (except perhaps the Trojans) WW1 aircraft props were walnut generally- so guess where alot of walnut went, plus rifle stocks etc--

Thanks for your help- and FYI- I handle and treat my Parkers (and Smiths) the same way I do my vintage Martins- no BF&I--:duck: