Parker GH

[Tom E Hill]

Hi Ya'll,

I've got several new things going on here. I just received my "new" first Parker a "GH", 1891 vintage, and I'm a new member. In just looking through some of the post and threads, I can tell I'll be in good hands when it comes to information. I do plan to restore my "GH" to some point, but I also intend to do what guns were made for - that be shooting.

Tom

[Erick Dorr]

Welcome Tom
Best
Erick

[Rick Losey]

Welcome Tom

please post some photos when you can

[Jeff Christie]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Parkers. The GH is a great place to start. They are wonderful in the field as well as in a display case. I killed half of my roosters with my G. A fun gun to shoot.

[Tom E Hill]

Rick,

Will do. I may get some made before the weekend is over. I need to document it at receipt, then at stages of restoration. Don't know how far that will go - possibly complete restoration. In my minds eye, I can visualize it as a complete restoration.

Going to start paper work tonight, and apply for letter.

Tom

[Tom E Hill]

Jeff,
I plan to take it to SD this fall and try it on a few roosters. The bores are bright an I didn't notice any pitting can you give a suggestion for a 12g load or are there factory shells you can recommend. Hmmm, the first question probably should have been should I have any concerns with the barrel? Anyway, your thoughts please.
Thanks,
Tom

[charlie cleveland]

welcome tom to the best gun forem on the planet...if you like to talk guns hunting- shooting and what ever you have joined a fine bunch here...charlie

[Brian Dudley]

Welcome. Is your GH a Damascus gun or a fluid steel gun?

[Rick Losey]

Tom - the minimum wall thickness is the major concern with the barrels- the other thing to do is to hang the barrel by the hook from a finger or a loop of string and "ring" them - flick a finger nail against the barrels and you should get a soft clear bell like tone. This lets you know the solder is solid

as for shells, A lot of us like RSTs in the older guns

http://www.rstshells.com/

lower pressure and recoil

[Tom E Hill]

Brian,
It's a Damascus barrel. After some reading on PGCA, and shop lights this morning, I'm 99% sure barrels were cut - measures 27". However, all is not lost for sure. I'll have the barrels checked and if not safe, or I don't feel comfortable with them, I can tube them for 20g or 28g. Worst case, it'll be a nice "wall hanger".

[Tom E Hill]

Rick,
Thanks - I'm a somewhat familiar with RST - have shot them at the Southern side by side. I will try "ringing" the barrels. As you probably have seen from above post - I'm 99% sure barrels were cut so got a lot of testing and measuring to do before I pull the triggers on live shells. If not good, or just don't feel comfortable with what I find out - it's going to be a 20g or 28g via Briley Mfg

[Brian Dudley]

At 27" they are likely cut. And if the matting runs all the way off the end of the rib, then 99% sure they have been cut. What is the serial number? One of us can check the book and confirm the barrel length of it is in there.

Have the bores measured and the wall thickness checked. If no issues arrows based on that, shoot away with some proper loads.

[Tom E Hill]

Brian,

Thanks, s/n is 68488.

Tom

[Jim DiSpagno]

Tom, not in book.

[Tom E Hill]

Jim,
Thanks for looking - I'm sure it was cut, all the indicators of a cut barrel are there. I'll have the wall thickness measured next weekend - will be where I can have a guns smith check it for me.
Tom

[Brian Dudley]

That number may not be in the book. But the homepage search does indicate that the PGCA has order book records on your gun. So you could get a letter on it.

[Tom E Hill]

Brian,
Thanks, I was planning on applying for a letter. My intent is to restore it and shoot it. I 'm not concerned with value, but in having a nice looking Parker that I can shoot and occasionally take hunting. So, anything more that is a bonus.

Started working on cleaning up the barrels yesterday so will be asking question to get through this process - I'm in no hurry, just puttering along working on it.
Tom

[Jeff Christie]

Shoot the gun. The birds won't care or don't know the barrels were cut. If it patterns well at the ranges you shoot- shoot it. Save restoration money for another Parker. The English love 27 inch barrels anyway. They can't all be wrong. Have fun with it.

[Brian Dudley]

That's because they are on the metric system.

[Mills Morrison]

Grade 2 Parkers are underrated, in my opinion, and are great guns

[Tom E Hill]

Thanks, everyone
Jeff I plan to shoot it once I've had the barrels checked, and as I posted earlier, if they aren't deemed safe or I'm not happy with the numbers I see, I'll let Briley make a set of tubes for me - I've shot pheasant with every thing from a .410 to a 12g - obviously more successful with the larger bores, but never "skunked" by the little gauges either

I'm just trying to get the "crud" off it now.

Tom

[Jeff Christie]

That's because they are on the metric system.

I don't want to disagree with a gunsmith but I believe most if not all of the 27" barrels I saw or read about on British shotguns were made long before the Brits adopted the metric system. I might be wrong but I think not.