Parker Pages Research

[Austin W Hogan]

Parker Pages carried an article on barrel dimensions in the Spring 2010 issue. Dave Suponski and Larry Frey are continuing a study of the tooling and methods used in making Parker barrels for upcoming issues.

We have been able to obtain some "new" 10 gauge cases, and 12 gauge wads from the 1890 - 1900 time period to support the barrel studies. We would like to obtain measurements of length, inside diameter, paper thickness, base wad shape, overpowder wad length, and other physical properties of shells of all gauges from the 1880 - 1920 period. If you have the measuring equipment a table of measurements would be of great help. If you have some fired or new unprimed cases, we can measure them and return them in a week. If you have some new primed cases, we can measure them at the Southern.

thanks, Austin

austin.w.hogan@valley.net

[Dean Romig]

Austin, do you believe "new" unfired or unprimed paper cases will not have been subject to swelling caused by ambient moisture/humidity sice the time period you specify?

[Austin W Hogan]

Dean; The "new" 10 gauge cases that I have appear to be well preserved. There is something like thinned tar on one brand, and thin shellac or varnish on the other brand.

Best, Austin

[Dean Romig]

I have only a few examples of early shells however the only unfired paper shells I have are some black Climax in sixteen gauge but also are well preserved.

[Austin W Hogan]

Thank you Dean. Do you have an estimate of date of manufacture?

Best, Austin

[Dean Romig]

I really don't Austin - I could photo them and maybe someone reading this could estimate their year of manufacture. I'll do it tonight.

[Jean Swanson]

Austin : I would suggest you give Mike Methe in Troy ,NH a ring--he is what I would call an authority on antique ammo and I'm sure he may have single shot gun shells he can measure --he is also a life member of the PGCA . cell # is(603) 785-7951-- Allan

[Dean Romig]

As promised. I hope someone can put an approximate date on these.

The black US Climax 16 ga. primed unfired shells have a total length of 2.55"
and a wall thickness of exactly .037"

The Peters Ideal 16 ga. primed unfired shells have a total length of 2.58"
and a wall thickness of exactly .030"
The Peters brass is 1.043" long.




.

[Austin W Hogan]

Francis; If the shells are primed they require special handling and a surcharge by UPS. There are some technicalities, but in general the surcharge will be applied.
If you can measure overall length with a scale or caliper, that will be fine.

I recieved a message from Art today; thanks for the pheasant cape.

Thanks, Austin

[Austin W Hogan]

Here is an easy way to measure shell length and send it on. Lay a piece of cardboard or something straight on the scanner glass. Butt the shell base and ruler against the straight edge. Leave the lid open and scan. It may be necessaryto compress the picture to post it.

You can send them directly to me at

austin.w.hogan@valley.net

Thanks, Austin