Help with DH bore diameter please

[Robert Dillon]

Sirs, tomorrow I will have in possession this Parker DH.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=396339420

I was wondering if someone who has a Parker close to the year of mfg. of this one, could measure their bores and tell me what they should be. Nominal 12ga is .729, but could earlier Parker 12's have been bored a little larger than .729 to accommodate for brass shells and BP? I have a verbal inspection period so that I may determine bore diameter and BWT is acceptable.

Also, if it's a keeper a letter will be forthcoming. I wonder who "DHH" was and is this Parker letters on the oval shield or your local jeweler?

thanks, Robert D.

[Brian Dudley]

That early, the bores can be way bigger than the modern nominal measurement of .729
Check the bores and also check wall thickness.
They would have been out of boring for brass shells by that time I would think. And that is more of just a chambering and forcing cone thing.

I had a 32" PH Trap Gun from the same vintage of your new DH and it had bores that measured close to .750! But the wall thickness was still around .040" at minimum. and it was a 1 frame.
Measurements between .730 and .740 are not out of the norm.

[Rick Losey]

That one is about 8k after a DH I have - mine is also larger than .729. I do not remember how much,but more than a couple thous.

According to the letter it was "cleaned up" by Parker when it was about 20 years old and from the looks of it again recently.

But with minimum wall thickness in the low to mid thirties and the weight matches the letter

[Robert Dillon]

Thanks for the info. Brian. It's what I needed. I will also be checking for original chamber length as well. It's kinda rough looking, but I'm buying it as a shooter, not a safe queen. If I can't shoot it, it goes back. The dent doesn't bother me as it is almost at the end of the bbls where there is almost no pressure left to do any harm. It's an easy fix. According to the sellers description it is as it left the factory according to the ID & Serialization book. Seller says it's also a 1 frame, so maybe it won't weigh 8lbs.:)

[Craig Larter]

The Parker Story says the bore size was down sized on 12 (to .729) and 10 gauge guns March 1892 page 517

[Chuck Bishop]

Austin Hogan plotted a sampling of 12ga bore diameters. The size varied from .730 to the high .750's. The over boring stopped at around the 60,000 range. Yours isn't that far above. As long as the wall thickness is OK and you are in that range, it's possible they are factory.

[Dean Romig]

And I really like that unusual scroll engraving!!

[John Campbell]

As others have said, wall thickness is the key. Not bore diameter. But... I would still get that dent raised. It won't cost much, be safer, and will honor the gun.

I would also bet that the stock head is split. The chip behind the top tang is a hint. So is the generous action fit in some spots. This is something to seriously consider fixing. Continued shooting could lead to further, more serious damage. A good 'smith like Bachelder can put it right with reasonable cost.

[Robert Dillon]

Well, the chambers are original 2 5/8", the min. bwt is .045, and the bores are .754 right bbl and .755 left bbl. Chokes appear to be .033 in both barrels. The serial for the wood under the trigger guard matches the gun and grade (3). 1 7/8 dac, 3 dah, and 14 1/8 lop. The shotgun weighs 7lbs 7oz. I couldn't tell in the auction pictures, but the continuation of the "line" from the bbl flats, across the forend iron and to the forend wood under the barrels is visible. I was hoping it had not been sanded down or off completely. I do think someone has put some varnish or clear shellac on it. I'd be really surprised if the wood condition is original. Checkering is still strong. I will now send off for the letter to see if "DHH" ordered it, or if the letters were engraved by a subsequent owner. I'll report back when the letter arrives. Thanks to all who posted.

[Bill Murphy]

The bore diameters are within possible factory dimensions for the date of manufacture.