16 ga Trojan circa 1924

[allen newell]

Today, I looked at a 1924 16 ga Trojan w/28" bbls choked full and full per the sales rep (I didn't have my gauge with me to confirm this). Gun is all original except for barrels having been blued at some point. Wood showed no cracks, dents or chips and would just need cleaning and perhaps refinishing. checkering still pretty crisp. tight as a drum but no colors remaining on the frame. Ser# 210401 - looked in the serialization book but unfortunately not there which seems to be the story of my life with Parkers I acquire or am interested in. Asking price is $850 but probably negotiable. Really would like to know more about this 16. Does full and full on 28 inch barrels seem like something parker would produce?

[Bill Holcombe]

That would sound like a trojan.

Be careful if it has been reblued that it wasn't hot blued, that could mess up the rib.

any pics?

I would think for a reblued one you could get it for less than $850 if you wanted to really hunt, but that isn't a horrible price for a 16

[allen newell]

No pictures Bill. I did look at the rib very closely and saw nothing visually that would've indicated it was anything but sound. I need another Parker like a hole in the head but I am partial to 16's as the classic grouse and woodcock gauge. I am mulling this one over and if I decide to pass on it, I'll post contact info for the gunshop

[John Davis]

I think that is a very good price, assuming you don't have to do anything major to it.

[allen newell]

nothing major john. probably just clean up the wood. case could stand re-casing but that's not an urgent task.

[allen newell]

I have a new S&W M&P 9 mm that I don't shoot (prefer my 1911) and a 1954 Ithaca Model 37 pump clean and all original that I made trade for this Trojan with a little cash if necessary. I do like 16's even if it's a Trojan and not a higher grade. I'm thinking that my oldest grandson can shoot the 16 ga when he steps up from the 20 ga Trojan he's going to inherit in a few years.

[John E. Williams]

My favorite Parker is a 1920 Trojan in 16 gauge with 26" barrels, moderately choked. It's as close to the perfect grouse and woodcock gun as I'm ever likely to get. With all that said, I'd agree that $850 sounds a bit steep for such a gun, but I'm basing that on broad personal perceptions of the current market and no photos of the particular gun. I'm mostly convinced here in late-middle age, that my dad was right when he would say, "the sixteen gauge is just about as close to perfect as you're gonna get."

[Bill Holcombe]

As a dedicated follower of the 12, I don't have a 16 yet. My 12 ga trojan that is all original if a bit worn ran me 650 back in May.

[James J. Roberts]

Allen, I found a 16 ga. Trojan at local gun shop 20 years ago and restored it,it was a really sleeper at $200.Hope your able to purchase that Trojan. Any one ever hear of the 16 Gauge Society? J.J.

[allen newell]

As best I could tell, the gun is all original. The wood is clear of and dents, cracks etc and shows no buildup of oil around the frame. screws are fine, barrels have been re-blued. no case colors remain on frame. barrels un cut at 28 inches. interior of barrels are clean, no pitting that I could discern. just need a good cleaning. Only thing I'd probably do is strip and refinish the stock and fore end. I'd have Brad B. re-case color a few years down the road when my oldest grandson is ready to start shooting and can handle stepping up from the 20 ga Trojan I have been holding for him that Brad lovingly restored for me awhile back. pics are of the 20 ga Trojan awaiting my grandson. But 16's rule or at least they did in William Harden Foster's day!

[John E. Williams]

As a dedicated follower of the 12, I don't have a 16 yet. My 12 ga trojan that is all original if a bit worn ran me 650 back in May.

Bill, you should probably eschew the 16 at all costs. Once you buy the first one and see the light, you'll look at that 12 like it has weevils, or some such. :rotf:

[Bill Holcombe]

I don't know. I grew up shooting a 20ga A5, but those things don't go boom loud enough for me anymore :)

[allen newell]

Next to Parkers, A5's rule. I have one with a buck barrel that enabled me to drop 2 deer in front of me last year out of a pack of 4 deer. Shoots like a rifle! You can't but love that ker bang noise the action makes when shooting. A classic. But 16 doubles rule still.

[todd allen]

That Trojan is a lot of gun for the money!

[Bill Holcombe]

The biggest issue with my dad's 60s Era A5s is for a 20 gauge they kick about like a 10. They are great quail guns.

[Erick Dorr]

Allen,
The catalogs stated 28" barrels were regularly bored M/F "but other borings may be had if desired." Yes it sounds like something Parker would produce but it might check out M/F if measured or patterned.
Erick

[allen newell]

Thanks Eric, I may visit the gun shop tomorrow and will bring my gauge to measure the chokes as well as bores. It just struck me as odd that the 28 inch barrels would be full and full. I would have thought full and full would more likely be on a longer barrel set say 30 inches. The barrels still have the barrel band at the end of the rib so they're not uncut barrels. The gun was owned by a gent on Cape Cod and he may have ordered it this way for ducks. If the serial number is not in the book (I have checked), would a letter be possible still?

[greg conomos]

I dunno....the first 'grownup' shotgun I had was an A5. After I started buying Parkers I sold the A5 as fast as I could. Something about that action cycling - the term 'claptrap' comes to mind - made it something I had no desire to shoot anymore.

[Erick Dorr]

210401 for a research request states there is no info available for a letter.
Information for a letter is sometimes available even if not listed in the Serialization book.
Erick

[Dale Medders]

A bargain in my opinion.

[Dave Noreen]

When the Trojan Grade was introduced it was only offered in 12-gauge with 28- or 30-inch barrels, and the 16- and 20-gauges with 28-inch barrels. By the early 1920s the 26-inch barrels were added to the offerings in all three gauges. According to the tables in The Parker Story, there were 5,577 28-inch barrel 16-gauges and 992 with 26-inch barrels. Even though they were never catalogued, the records show three 30-inch 16-gauges. All the catalogues I have state the 30-inch barrels were normally choked full & full and the 26- and 28-inchers were modified & full.

[allen newell]

Thanks Eric and Dave,

I'm going to take a ride down the Cape tomorrow to take another look at this 16 Trojan. We'll see. If I decide to pass on it, I'll post the shops name and contact info should any of our members wish to pursue this. I'll take my camera for some pics.

[allen newell]

I returned to the gun shop today to take a closer look at this 16 ga Trojan and make my buy or no buy decision. Based on my choke and chamber gauge, it's choked mod and full not full and full as the shop has it listed. Chambers are 2 1/2 inches not 2 3/4 inches as posted. There is a rectangular sight that the previous owner had installed close to the breech end and affixed to the top rib with 2 screws on either side of the rib. I had them back out one of the screws hoping that the previous owner did not drill holes on each side the of the rib for these screws. Wrong. Whomever installed this sight, drilled and threaded holes on each side of the rib. That for me broke the camels back. Although, the wood on the gun was perfect except for normal wear, the gun is tight on face, barrels ring well, etc. no dents, chips etc. I was not planning on putting any more money in the gun to lengthen the chambers and fix the screw holes on the rib, so I have decided to pass on it, but someone else might want to pursue it. The cash price quoted to me today was $775 vs the listed price of $850 so They do want to sell it. I don't want to break any rules here so if anyone wants more details/contact info, pm me. Thanks to all who have commented on this thread.

[charlie cleveland]

you can shoot 2 3/4 inch shells in this gun with 2 1/2 inch chambers with no harm too the gun...sounds like this was used for a slug gun thus the sights....charlie

[allen newell]

I don't know Charlie, but the screw holes drilled into the rib on both sides did it for me. I know any competent gunsmith could find a way to fill those two holes seamlessly and touch up the bluing. It just broke the deal for me. was not looking to pour much $ into it. The chamber length aside, at $775 it is still a great price and good 16 ga shooter for anyone who wants a 'starter' Parker for themselves or son or daughter.