Parker Bros. Try-Gun Tools Reproduced

[Dean Romig]

Dave Suponski has just completed a 'one-time' labor intensive reproduction of Parker Bros. Try-Gun tools using an original set as the pattern.

Dave's forte as a tool & die maker really shines on this project.


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[Richard Flanders]

Very cool. I assume we'll see pics of his handywork here at some point?

[Brian Dudley]

He should make a Try-Gun Reproduction to go along with them.

[Dean Romig]

Pictures have been added to original post.

Thanks for your patience.

[Dave Suponski]

Dean,Thank you for posting this up for me while I was at work. These tools are being make for a fellow long time member who aquired a trygun minus the tools. The main beam is not in the pictures yet as I have not picked it up from our CNC department. I will show the completed set before I ship them.

[Bill Murphy]

Dave, wonderful work. Maybe you could make a set of tools for my A.P. Curtis Parker try gun. Let me know.

[Dave Suponski]

The finished product ready for shipping.

[Dean Romig]

Very well done Dave!

[Chuck Bishop]

Anyone care to tell us novices how these tools are used:bowdown:

[Dave Suponski]

Chuck, The main beam mounts to the top rib and are used to measure the length of pull, drop at comb, drop at heel and pitch. The stock on try guns are fully adjustable by the use of thumb screws on the comb and length. The t-wrench is used to lock the adjusting screws once everything has been set.

[Chuck Bishop]

Dave, I can understand the T wrenches being needed as a special tool to lock the adjustments in place but they could have just used a yard stick and ruler to get the drops and a protractor for the pitch. I have the R. Louis Co. Shotgun Combo Gauge which does the same thing as your main beam does but is held in place by magnets.

[Dean Romig]

Dave's is still better adapted to the Parker Bros. try gun.

[Dave Suponski]

Chuck, These tools are replicas of tools made by Parker Bros. Not something I dreamed up. And trust me when I tell you the craftsmanship in these tools is just as good as a Parker shotgun. These men were real craftsman.

[Bill Murphy]

Dave, let me know if additional sets are available.

[Josh Loewensteiner]

There were approximately 15 or so ever made, in and around 1915. Apparently these Try Guns were sent to various & select distributors around the country. There is an article on Try Guns in the Double Gun Journal, ( Vol 8- Issue 2 ) that goes into detail about Parker Try Guns.

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[Bruce Day]

Try gun details

[Bill Zachow]

What was the purpose for the 3 holes in the rib? Attaching a beam to set drop? Or just later day desecration? Thanks

[Dave Suponski]

Bill,That is where the main beam mounts to the gun.

[Bruce Day]

The above photos I posted are of a try gun with the tools that Dave is making duplicates of for another try gun that has no tools. How the tools get separated is one of those mysteries, but it happens. So in the interest of Parker knowledge, who knows how the ring sight at the muzzle end is used? We'll provide the answer tomorrow if somebody doesn't come up with it first.

The try gun tools are serial numbered to the gun.

[Bill Murphy]

Bruce, I have no idea how the ring sight is used, all I know is that I want one. Dave, what about my request for a duplicate set of tools for my try gun?

[Dave Suponski]

Bill,At this time I have no intention of making another set Maybe in the future when things slow down a bit because right now I am simply to busy

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Out of curiosity, what kind of money did that set cost?

DLH

[Bill Murphy]

:corn::corn::corn:

[Dave Suponski]

Guy's that is between myself and the buyer. Let's just say they are not Walmart price's.

Seems that I have orders for two set's when/if I can find the time.

[Bruce Day]

So to do this properly, first you need the try gun, the gun trunk case , the complete tool set and then the Parker provided leather case the tools came in. A Sears vinyl case, a Tru Value screwdriver, a Chinese adjustable wrench and a WalMart plastic bag won't do.

The ring on the barrel muzzle. The gun fitter has the shooter rapidly move and mount and point the gun directly at the eye of the fitter and hold position. The fitter then looks through the ring and should see the eye of the shooter.

So I am told, never personally having a gun fitted that way. The only gun fitter I have had is about any gun dealer who tells me that any gun I pick up and mount from his table fits me perfectly and was made for me.

Then others are perfectly content with a saw, cardboard and duct tape.

[Bill Murphy]

I have been using my A. P. Curtis try gun for about 42 years without benefit of tools or trunk case. I bought it when I had little money and the previous owner had less. It has been a pleasure to own and shoot and has been used to fit many shooters to proper dimensions, myself not included. I shoot them all and none of them are fitted to me.

[Major McCollough]

If you haven't yet had time to make additional try gun tool sets, I'd appreciate your adding an order for a set for my try gun. I'll be glad to send the gun or photos, etc., as you need. I have only the T-wrench. Thanks

[Bill Murphy]

Dave, I will renew my request for a set of tools for my A.P. Curtis Parker try gun. The main beam will have a magnet or series of magnets because Curtis didn't drill any holes in the rib.

[Todd Poer]

Obviously the try guns were made to sell more bespoke guns, or maybe did they modify some of the existing guns some after the fact. Anyway, I don't own a copy of Parker Story but does anyone know how many bespoke guns were made for customers.

I am like Bruce, to some extent, there has not been a gun made that did not fit me. Once came across a Grulla that was with cast to fit a left handed shooter. Somehow someone ordered it but did not take delivery so it was a new gun just sitting at the gun shop I frequented for close to a year. I will admit that was a sweet little gun and it fit me well, or at least it felt nice. Agonized a couple of months about it and then decided, heck I will just buy it. Went to shop and it was sold the day before. I said to owner that was a close call because I would of had to probably sell a few of my other guns I really liked to justify that purchase.

[Brian Dudley]

If you were a PGCA member, you would have had the opportunity to purchase The Parker Story just a few days ago in our For Sale section.

[Dean Romig]

Obviously the try guns were made to sell more bespoke guns, or maybe did they modify some of the existing guns some after the fact. Anyway, I don't own a copy of Parker Story but does anyone know how many bespoke guns were made for customers.


Generally speaking, any Parker that wasn't an 'off the rack' hardware store gun was a made to order gun or, in other words, a 'bespoke' gun. Parker Bros. made many thousands of guns 'to order', which included stock dimensions of course.





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[George M. Purtill]

Dave
How long is that Try Gun tool wish list now?
[By the way Happy New Year]

[todd allen]

If you were a PGCA member, you would have had the opportunity to purchase The Parker Story just a few days ago in our For Sale section.

My copies have been read cover to cover. A must have, for any student of the Parker Gun.
Oh, and mine are signed by all of the authors, btw.

[Craig Budgeon]

Perhaps if Dave was willing to sell copies of the prints for those who desired either to reproduce the tools or the try gun too would satisfy SOME requests.

[Major McCollough]

If anyone gets wind of one of the numerous original beams that have gone astray, please let me know. I've seen them in the past - long past. I look forward to more try gun discussion.

[Dave Suponski]

Gents, I have been kicking around the idea of making a few more sets. I have calls for three sets and that is what I may make. There is quite a bit of work making these so I would most likely stop after these three. There are no drawings per say as I just duplicate whats in front of me. This is still in the planning stages so stay tuned.......

[Major McCollough]

Dave, That is great news. Thanks for your support to complete these rare assemblages.