Are these 2.75 Chamber Parkers???

[Carl Williams]

Hello all:

I have purchased two Parkers with (I am told) 2.75 inch chambers.

First of all I told all of you everything I know about Parker Shotguns when I said hello (I'm a model 12 collector)..I KNOW Model 12's)

...So...I need your sage advice:


1) The Serial numbers on the two parkers I purchased on 11/27/13 are: 185563
Parker Trojan has OV on Watertable below serial # 28" barrel with a 3 with 12 stamped above and to the right of the three (like 3 to the 12 power) It has a Trojan Steel barrel. It has a #2 Frame stamped on barrel lug. 2) The second Parker Serial Number 224276 (PH grade) has a PH above serial # on the watertable and a P below serial # . This gun has a Parker Steel Barrel. On Barrel flats it has a P in a circle and 1 1/2 on barrel lug. It has O B 4 on left flat and a 3 with a little one above and to the rigt of the three (like 3 to the 1st power). It has 1 1/2 frame stamped on barrel lug. I would like to know if they are 2.75 chambers. It also has a straight stock nice wood no checkering on the fore end or stock. But very nice curly walnut. Both guns have steel barrels no damacus or twist barrels. Trojan is a 95 % Gun. parker PH is about a 75% Gun. I paid $2,000 for the two parkers and a very nice Ithaca double serial number on the Ithaca is : 446931...

[Bruce Day]

xxxx

[Rick Losey]

serial number 224276 left the factory wearing an capped pistol grip stock, and would have been checkered - so the stock is likely a replacement. the barrels on that one should be 28".

the numbers you refer to as "power" is the ounces to the unstruck barrel weight, so 3 pounds 12 ounces, and 3 pounds 1 ounce.

the only way to verify the chambers current state is to have them measured

[Bruce Day]

If a person is concerned about cartridge length, they can obtain these special shells:

[Bill Murphy]

Most Parkers in that era have 2 5/8" chambers meant for 2 3/4" or shorter shells.

[paul stafford jr]

I think model 12s are wonder guns to. those parkers should be good shooters. there is an old saying ...before you buy a gun buy a book

[paul stafford jr]

it should read wonderful

[Carl Williams]

Paul:

So...did I get burned on these three doubles: Parker Trojan 85-90%; Parker Ph grade 75% and Ithaca (NID) 85%...I gave $2,000 for the three. I'm a bit worried about what I paid...

Carl Williams posted on 11/27/13 the following:

1) The Serial numbers on the two parkers I purchased on 11/27/13 are: 185563
Parker Trojan has OV on Watertable below serial # 28" barrel with a 3 with 12 stamped above and to the right of the three (like 3 to the 12 power) It has a Trojan Steel barrel. It has a #2 Frame stamped on barrel lug. 2) The second Parker Serial Number 224276 (PH grade) has a PH above serial # on the watertable and a P below serial # . This gun has a Parker Steel Barrel. On Barrel flats it has a P in a circle and 1 1/2 on barrel lug. It has O B 4 on left flat and a 3 with a little one above and to the rigt of the three (like 3 to the 1st power). It has 1 1/2 frame stamped on barrel lug. I would like to know if they are 2.75 chambers. It also has a straight stock nice wood no checkering on the fore end or stock. But very nice curly walnut. Both guns have steel barrels no damacus or twist barrels. Trojan is a 95 % Gun. parker PH is about a 75% Gun. I paid $2,000 for the two parkers and a very nice Ithaca double serial number on the Ithaca is : 446931...


. I think model 12s are wonder guns to. those parkers should be good shooters. there is an old saying ...before you buy a gun buy a book

[Rick Losey]

Carl- giving an accurate value without the guns in hand is difficult, good clear detailed pictures could help with a ball park value. You likely have three good shooters at the minimum.

are they all 12 gauges?

the PH has likely been restocked ( the other option is a pistol-grip-dectomy ) was a long tang trigger guard used? and was Parker style and checkering followed?

the Trojan may be original, but with a 2 frame there is some chance that it may of originally had longer than 28 inch barrels - pictures may help - a letter (there are surviving records for that number) would answer that question in fact.

the only thing I know about NIDs is that they are solid guns built for modern (at the time) shells- very solid often not light, the 12's don't bring a lot but make good shooters, the small bores bring a little more money - and the few NID 10's out there are highly sought.

Chamber length needs to be measured, the NID will be 2 3/4, some Parkers were ordered that way, some have been altered to be that way.

[charlie cleveland]

you did not get burned...anytime a person can but 3 guns as you discribed for 2000 dollars has bought a real bargain in my opinion... charlie

[Carl Williams]

Charlie:

The little Trojan is beautiful...However since the barrels are 26" with Mod. and IC. My guess is that the barrels have been cut. When weighing the barrels... the unstruck barrel weight is very close to the actual weight if I include the forend. I looked at the keels...they look very tight and smooth. barrels almost touch...maybe they do touch... I didn't see a smooth bar at the end of the rib...But then my
Parker PH (28" barrel) doesn't have one either and I know it has not been cut. If the Trojan was cut...it was done by a damn good gunsmith. Both of my parkers are 2 5/8 (2.625) Chambers...The PH grade is a 1927 year with Parker steel barrels ...The Trojan (1919 year) is Trojan steel...Sooo am I safe to shoot 2 3/4 (2.75) loads? ...OR should I get my reamer out and extend the chamber [0.125 (1/8th inch)]...then hone her a bit.

Remember...I told you all everything I know about Parker when I said hello...But...I love these guns....

P.S.-- How much is the valve drop if the trojan has been cut?...% wise I mean...

Carl

[charlie cleveland]

carl if them barrels are ok you can shoot the 2 3/4 inch shells all day..mind most of us shoot low brass shells on account of the wood but an ocasinal high brass will not bother these guns..the 2 2 5/8 inch chambers were made thus to get a better seal on the shell of 2 3/4 inch shells...now mind most folks stay away from steel shot especially if the gun has full chokes..most folks use bismuth or nice shot in the old doubles were required...you have a nice pair of parkers so enjoy them take them shooting or hunting... charlie

[Bill Murphy]

Without someone to measure your bores and chokes with a micrometer, your best bet to determine the originality of your Trojan is a PGCA letter, $40 for PGCA members. If it turns out to be an original 26" gun, it will be worth hundreds more than a cut gun. Some original guns have very little if any blank area at the end of the rib.

[will evans]

P grade guns with modern steel barrels are desired variants by many people. If the stock is original then the police probably ought to be looking for you.

[Dean Romig]

Most Parkers in that era have 2 5/8" chambers meant for 2 3/4" or shorter shells.


The chambers were cut 1/8" shorter than the length of the fired shell to be used, in the belief that with the paper shells and fibre wads of the day, a better gas seal was created.

[Paul Harm]

No you didn't get burned - I think you did very well. Dean explained very well why the chambers were 2 5/8. Sherman Bell did test on short chambers with longer shells and you ain't gonna hurt a thing by using 2 3/4" shells in your guns. Maybe up the pressures by 500psi. That's why many of us reload - to keep pressures down with in reason - or buy low pressure shells from someone like RST. Have fun shooting em.