For those to whom size matters

[Erick Dorr]

No I'm not speaking of an 8 ga. or 38" bbls.

What I have here is a DH Titanic with 25" factory barrels. The SN is 135105. If I can attach the photo you will see that they are about all that is original to the gun.

I will order a letter as soon as I run out to buy printer toner. It should be interesting to see who might order a gun with a set of 25" and any other specific requests.

According to TPS there were only 5 TI3 guns made with 25" bbls of which 3 are 12 ga. including mine. This gun now weighs in at 6, 12. Don't have other specifics as yet.

Erick

[Ed Blake]

I guess Parker Bros. was competing with Mr. Churchill with that one.

[Josh Loewensteiner]

Eric,

A great and rare gun. I literally pulled it out of the barn from the seller/consignor.

Congrats on the rare find!

[Bill Murphy]

A PGCA letter may show you who ordered such a gun. Please let us know who he was or is.

[Erick Dorr]

Ed, Josh and Bill,

Thanks. Josh I'm glad that you were able help put the gun back in circulation. I need to get the bbls checked asap. Otherwise, all changes are evident and as described.

Bill I will report the results of the letter. You may be able to help determine if the original buyer was a known shooter or sport. You are adept at research far beyond the norm.

PS. I tabulated the 25" guns reported in TPS this morning and it lists a total of 32 guns from Dollar grade on up.

[Russ Jackson]

Erick ,I once owned 106312 ,an O Frame 28 Ga. in D Grade ,the only one known to exist with 25" Barrels ,it will be interesting to see once you get your letter if it happened to be owned and ordered by the same person ! My letter is buried in the safe ,I will look once you make your post ! Congrats .on a great gun ! Russ

[Bill Murphy]

I would be glad to research the name of the original owner of Erick's gun to the extent that I am able.

[Bill Murphy]

By the way, size does matter. Among my "Parker Crap", I have original lettered guns in 24", 26", 27", 28", 29", 30", 32", 33", 34", and 36". I am pursuing a 31" gun and when I buy it, I will be appeased.

[charlie cleveland]

bill then you will be looking for a 37 inch gun... charlie

[David Hamilton]

Yes, you will!!!

[KCordell]

By the way, size does matter. Among my "Parker Crap", I have original lettered guns in 24", 26", 27", 28", 29", 30", 32", 33", 34", and 36". I am pursuing a 31" gun and when I buy it, I will be appeased.


That's quite a collection! Wow how many 24" guns were made?

[Bill Murphy]

Wading through the "Grades" section of TPS will give us the answer to that question.

[KCordell]

Wading through the "Grades" section of TPS will give us the answer to that question.

yes, unfortunately, being just a small collector of Parkers, many of us don't have The Parker Story. That's one of many reasons why we join and support the Parker Gun Club.

[Erick Dorr]

There is a table of short barreled guns in the back of TPS vol. 2.

Drum roll..........

TPS lists:
91 24" guns
9 23"
9 22"
2 21"
8 20".

TPS was the best $ I ever spent even if I thought it was expensive for books at the time. I like to read and reread the sections still. Highly recommend both volumes.

[KCordell]

There is a table of short barreled guns in the back of TPS vol. 2.

Drum roll..........

TPS lists:
91 24" guns
9 23"
9 22"
2 21"
8 20".

TPS was the best $ I ever spent even if I thought it was expensive for books at the time. I like to read and reread the sections still. Highly recommend both volumes.


Erick,

Thanks for sharing that data. I agree on the purchase of TPS and it is on the "get" list but there are so many "gets" but I will for sure "get" it someday soon as the library is always expanding and I like Parkers. Pretty amazing that there were factory 20" as well. Not asking you to list but does the book break down the gauges in each barrel length as well? My curiosity has peaked I think I may have located a short 10 or 12. I will see it in December when I visit an older relative on the West Coast. If he would give me the SN, it would be easy for me as I do have the serial number book but alas, I hear from him "why are you interested in that old gun.... it will blow up in your face".

[Bill Murphy]

The "book" breaks everything down by grade, gauge, type of action, barrel length, you name it. The totals are "extrapolated" because some of the books are missing, but the numbers are somewhat close. I had no idea there were only 91 24" guns. It makes me like my little 16 even more.

[Erick Dorr]

Bill,
Hope this doesn't make you change your mind, but make that 92. I knew of a DH originally D3 that was rebarreled by Remington with 24" Vulcan barrels marked skeet in skeet out. The nice gent that had that gun passed away and now it resides somewhere with a brother-in-law.
Erick

[Bill Zachow]

Something for Bill to search for that will make his collection more complete. At the Syracuse gun about 10 years ago, I examined a 2 barrel set, VH grade that was right as rain with one off the sets being 25". The other was 28", I think. The gun came with a heavy leather shipping case that was covered with shipping labels. Looked like something that went to Africa, by boat, for safari. Always wished I had purchased the set.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

A 25" D grade was offered at Poulins this past week but I think the barrels were shortened, Gary

[Erick Dorr]

Gary, This is the gun you mention. The auction described the barrels as being cut. The serialization book lists it as 25" from the factory. I've ordered a letter. I expect the letter will confirm my observations and the book. Most interested to find out the chokes as originally shipped from PB.
Erick