Barrels

[Brian R Skeoch]

I have a #1 frame, v grade Parker that is in need of a set of barrels. Outside of the gun auctions where might I look for a reasonable priced set?

[Rick Losey]

here, I would guess that Parker barrels show up in our members only for sale forum at least if not more often than the auction sites. You would need to join as a PGCA member to see that and other members only areas, plus- you get a discount on letters and a great magazine

also "reasonable priced" is subjective, there are only so many Parkers that get parted out, its the old supply and demand

[Brian Dudley]

A set of 1 frame barrels will be less common to find than other sizes. The most commonly found frame size is 2 frame in 12g.

Keep in mind that all barrels need to be fitted. And it is a total crap shoot as to how much work is needed. Bring a VH, and if in 12g, it may not be cost effective to put another set of barrels onto it. But do some looking and see what you can come up with.

[edgarspencer]

Steve Barnett had a bunch of barrels, but I can't say whether he still does.

[Brian R Skeoch]

Thank You, will look at Steves.

[allen newell]

Brian, I have an extra set of Frame #1 Damascus barrels that I purchased from Larry F. to complement the 34 inch Damascus barrels on my 1884 Parker GH. The extra barrels fit ok except that I noticed the dolls head is not completely flush with the top of the frame but is maybe 1/16 of an inch above the surface. The barrels do lock up however. Does this mean that the underside of the dolls head needs to be filed down slightly to bring it flush or does this indicate another part of the barreled action requires some fitting?

[edgarspencer]

Is the dolls head preventing a no-gap fit at the watertable, or is the water table fit, as it should be, metal to metal ?

[Dean Romig]

If the gun locks up properly then the doll's head isn't preventing anything at all. For a proper fit the gun needs to be sent to a good smith to file the doll's head (concave) to a perfect fit then re-engrave it and refinish it to match the rest of the rib.

[edgarspencer]

That was kinda my point. The dolls head isn't a true 'third fastener'. What is important is the fit at the breach face and water table, and is the bolt fully engaging.

[allen newell]

Thee is no gap Edgar/Dean at the water table. It locks up tight, it's just that the dolls head is slightly elevated when closed. Right now Brad has the GH and the original barrels for some restoration work. The second barrel set is less important to me right now but may have it worked on down the road. My main thrust is to have the GH cleaned up first, then figure out the rest later.

[Brian Dudley]

What dean said is right.

Sometimes the bottom of the dolls head hits the frame and causes the barrels to not fully seat on the water table. But, not often. If your barrels are fully seated and bolting closed and the rib extention still sits up some, it is because the frame that they came off of was not filed as deep as yours. The rib will need to be taken down, touched up and barrels refinished.

The joy of working on Parkers!

[edgarspencer]

I've never seen a Parker where the bottom surface of the rib extension/dolls head comes close to bottoming out, as the rib extension isn't nearly as thick as the depth of the mating slot in the receiver. There is usually .025 to .030" of clearance between these two surfaces. Otherwise any debris such as dirt, bits of leaves, unburned powder, etc, would prevent the gun from closing. The dolls head has about 5 tapered vertical surfaces which are really the aligning surfaces, and these likely vary from gun to gun. A simple dye test, or smoke test will determine how well these surfaces mate up.
If the rib extension on the new set of barrels are firmly soldered in place, as Dean says, simple filing of the top, and re-engraving is the fix. However, the dolls head may not be going all the way down because of a vertical interference, and forcing it can tear the rib extension solder joint.
Anyway you shake it, it's a job for an experienced gunsmith.

[Dean Romig]

Besides the fit of the barrels to the frame and the need to be a very close-tolerance fit - which is key to preventing premature wear and the resultant 'wiggle' - is the correct and equally close-tolerance fit of the doll's head extension. Not simply as a mechanical thing but for the proper aesthetic appearance. A doll's head that fits improperly is usually a dead giveaway that the barrels or the doll's head may have come from another gun. We have all seen them... doll's heads with .015" or as much as .030" or more gap between it and the recess it fits into.

Below is a doll's head illustrating a perfect factory fit.


.

[Brian Dudley]

Rib extensions are not only soldered on but also screwed as well. That is what the ghosted circle is about 1" from the breech.

[Bill Murphy]

Allen, it would be best for you to send the second set of barrels to Brad for dressing of the doll's head. It will beat shipping it back and forth again.