HELP!. I cannot remove barrels from receiver!

[Bill Kekatos]

Good evening members. Tonight I received my DH shotgun. I tried removing the barrels from the receiver, but they will not release. I cannot close the gun back either. I read another post here and I can push the cocking hook release pin with a wooden dowel or my finger, but it is stiff and requires pressure. I am not sure if it is wise to dry fire it as it is. I want to disassemble the gun so I can send it to either Kirk or Brad for strip and clean, but i cannot in the position it is now. This is my first Parker and I don't want to force it in fear of damaging anything. Do you have any suggestions? Below are 3 pics of the position it is now with the fern removed.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/billk_album/Parker%20SxS%20No%20111377/IMG_0464.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/billk_album/Parker%20SxS%20No%20111377/IMG_0465.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u142/billk_album/Parker%20SxS%20No%20111377/IMG_0466.jpg

[John Campbell]

Mr. Kekatos:
Try this:
Grasp the barrels and pull them forward as you push the top lever as far right as it will go.
At the same time, try to close the gun.

If the gun closes, pull the triggers to snap down the tumblers (hammers). This will not hurt the gun.

With the tumblers down, try once again to dismount the barrels while keeping the top lever forced far right.

If this doesn't work, phone Kirk or Brad.

[calvin humburg]

nice gun. ch

[Bill Murphy]

Don't be afraid to repeat the procedure that John recommends. The cocking slide is probably the problem and you could inject some thin lubricant into that area. Remember, the forend has to be on the gun to cock and fire. Doing this several times should allow you to remove the barrels.

[Bill Kekatos]

Good morning gentlemen. I put the forend back and dry fired the gun a few times. Then I took the forend off, opened the gun and I was able to take the barrels off. It is a frame 2. Thank you all for your expert assistance.
BillK

[Paul Ehlers]

Bill,

It looks like you have a problem with the un-hooking slide mechanism. Either it's gummed-up with crud or you have a broken spring. Either way the gun needs to be disassembled, cleaned and inspected to find the problem.

This is a fairly common issue with Parkers. I've seen several where you can't remove the barrels with the hammers cocked, but when you drop the hammers the barrels will come right off. The most common problem I've found is an old rusty broken spring in the un-hooking slide. Other times it's just decades of old dried out grease & dirt which has it gummed up.

[Mills Morrison]

What Kensal said. I have had that problem on a few guns.

[Bill Murphy]

Bill, you are the man. Congratulations on getting things straight. This is one great gun.

[Bill Kekatos]

Thank you Bill. I feel very lucky in having it. To think it is 113 years old, (made in 1902)!!! The stories it could tell, the places it has been, the people that have looked after it all those years....
BillK