O grade 10ga hammer gun

[Rob Marshall]

I first want to say I've lurked around on this site for last couple years admiring these old guns and I'd been looking to buy one and I finally found one locally. It will not win any beauty pageants, but it all matching and the bores are pretty dang good. It appears to have its original wood front and back and original doghead butt plate that is pretty worn. The action is a little loose and it is missing it extractor(silly me didn't even notice it was missing till I got it home):banghead:, but hopefully those problems can be fixed. The metal has that brown patina and no pitting. It is a 10ga with 30" twist barrels on a number 3 frame with a top lever. The serial# put it in the 1884 range. I probably gave a little to much for it, but I wanted it. I'll try to post a few pictures tonight or tomorrow.

[John E. Williams]

Welcome, Rob! I'm kinda new here myself, but wanted you to know that many of us appreciate the well-loved Parkers, too. Here's a link to the thread about my 10 gauge hammer gun, if you'd like to read it:

http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=17552

As far as that missing extractor goes, I'd contact PGCA member Brian Dudley (username: B. Dudley) for starters. If he doesn't have one, he may be able to direct you to someone who does. Here's a link to his website:

http://bmdgunstocks.com/

I'll be waiting on those pics! :cheers:

[Rob Marshall]

here is a few pic's
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/parker.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/parker.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/parker3.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/parker3.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/parker2.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/parker2.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/parker5.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/parker5.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/parker10.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/parker10.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/parker9.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/parker9.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/parker8.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/parker8.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/parker7.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/parker7.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/parker16.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/parker16.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/parker15.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/parker15.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/parker14.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/parker14.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/parker13.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/parker13.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/parker19.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/parker19.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/parker18.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/parker18.jpg.html)

[Mike Franzen]

She looks pretty good to me. It appears from the photos your gun never had any checkering. There was an interesting thread started a couple months ago about parkers with no checkering. How much pitting is in the barrels?

[Rob Marshall]

Thanks for the reply Mike. To be honest I really need to give the bores a good cleaning, but I do not see any major pitting at all. This is my first Parker and this is the first one I've seen for sale here locally. The pawn shop I do most of my gun buying and trading with bought a collection, mostly Lc Smiths and this one Parker. Double barrels do not sale good in Jonesboro and he had been sitting on them for a while and every time I go in I looked at them, but at pawn shop prices I was not buying them. Then one day Mr. Cliff said he would sell me a all original very clean bore 12ga Lc Smith Quality 2 and this Parker for 1,650 and I passed then he said 1,450 and I said ok. I'm sure he still made his money too so we were both happy. Both guns need to be checked out and to be tightened up some hopefully in the near future.

[Rick Losey]

one thing I notice is that in spite of the amount of honest wear on this gun

the screw slots are nice-

used but not abused - if you are right about the bores, it should clean up well

[Harry Collins]

Extractors? We don't need no stinking extractors!

For the looseness, take a piece of brass shim or a piece of a beer or soda can and cut it the width of the hinge pin and about a half inch long. wrap it around a pencil to put a curve on it and place it on the hinge pin. Put the barrels and forend on and see it this doesn't take the looseness out of it.

[Rob Marshall]

I would like to get it cleaned up and looked over by a good Parker smith and try to find the right ammo for it and shoot some ducks and geese with it this season. I wish I knew of a good gunsmith close to home. I always get nervous shipping a gun somewhere off.

[Mills Morrison]

I share your concern about shipping guns, although that is what I do most all the time now. There just are not any good gunsmiths within driving distance of here.

Buck Hamlin is in Pevely Missouri and that might be driving distance from you. I have not used him, but he has a great reputation.

[Rick Losey]

seems that someone here once recommended a guy in Georgia who did good double guns work

depending on yours and his location- could be over the line or two states away

in any case - dropped of or shipped- getting a gun back from a good smith in time for this season would be a stretch, few of them are sitting around waiting on the next job to come in the door

[Mills Morrison]

That is Bill Schwarz and he is supposed to be good too. He is in Ellijay, which is a long ways from me and also requires me to drive through Atlanta.

[Mike Franzen]

That extractor shouldn't be too big of a problem to replace. I would contact PGCA member Brian Dudley and see if he can help you out there. You can replace that yourself but make sure you also get the retaining screw. Harry's suggestion for tightening up the looseness is a good one but you might want to start with aluminum foil and work up to something thicker. Can you post a pic of the muzzle?
Call rst for 10 gauge ammo or take a walk on the wild side and make black powder loads. From the pics of the outside of the barrels, which look good, and your assessment of the pitting I would think she's fine to shoot. You'll be amazed what these 10 gauge parkers can do

[Rob Marshall]

Here are a few pictures of the muzzle, bores and stock which appears to have had some light checkering.
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/PARKER%20B6.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/PARKER%20B6.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/PARKER%20B5.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/PARKER%20B5.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/PARKER%20S2.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/PARKER%20S2.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/PARKER%20S1.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/PARKER%20S1.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/PARKER%202B.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/PARKER%202B.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/PARKER%201B.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/PARKER%201B.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/PARKER%203B.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/PARKER%203B.jpg.html)
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/PARKER%20B4.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/PARKER%20B4.jpg.html)

[Mills Morrison]

As you can tell, it is rough, but a good cleaning might surprise you. Also, I have found that the old Parkers can take a lot of pitting and still be perfectly safe to shoot (they can also be dangerous, so get it checked).

That is not a gun you would restore and expect to be able to get your money back out of it. It would be for sentimental reasons or for the same reason some people fix up old cars.

[Mike Franzen]

I can see the old checkering. I'm always amazed at these gun with the checking worn smooth. They saw a lot of carry time. It doesn't look like your barrels have been cut. Check the ribs to see if they are tight. See if they ring. If they do I would test fire each barrel with RST ammo using a string. You should have a fine hunter there.

[John E. Williams]

If you just want to try her out, take a short length of brass or copper rod with you. Dropped from the muzzle, that'll knock an empty right out on the ground. May not be very suitable for the duck blind or rabbit hunting when the action's hot, but it will at least let you successfully test fire the old girl until you can get a proper extractor fitted.

[Rob Marshall]

Mike's article in the Parker Pages has me looking at shooting some black powder. It looks like it would be a blast to try. I think I will call Jerry Andrews to see if he has time to look this ole beater over and have it back in time for the second part of our duck season. I have used him before and he has pretty quick turn around and he is a heck of a nice guy. You know my late father always said "boys take care of your guns and they will last a life time" and I never really gave it much thought until I started buying some older shotguns that you know was used for hunting for food to possibly survive. I can picture the guy that owned this gun first going out at daylight and hunting till dark almost daily killing food for his family and for market and I bet the first or second thing he did when he got home from a long day of hunting was clean his gun. Its still hard to believe a working mans shotgun 130years old has survived to hopefully be shot again to put meat on the table. I guess it just goes to show how well built these shotguns are and If you take care of them they will last for more than one lifetime.

[Mills Morrison]

Tell Jerry Mills said hello. He fixed two L C Smiths of mine and did a great job.

[Rob Marshall]

I ordered my letter for this gun and it came in today. It shipped Aug 22nd to Hibbards Spencer Bartlett & Co of Chicago, IL. It is a Quality R, Top Action Hammer Gun, 10ga. It featured Twist steel barrels 30" in length. The price was $60.00. The stock configuration is capped pistol grip and its specs are Lop: 14 1/4", drop at heel 3". Weight 10Lbs 2oz. The choke were patterned RH 195 pellets and LH 195 pellets of size 8 shot in a 24" circle at 45 yards. No repair or changes are recorded.

[Dean Romig]

Wow! That's a pretty tight choke.





.

[Rob Marshall]

That what I was thinking. Should make a good waterfowler.

[Chuck Bishop]

Assuming Parker used #8 Tatham shot (399 pellets per oz.), and used 1 1/4 oz per shell, the total number of pellets per load was 498. That means it put almost 40% of the pellets in the 24" circle.

[Dean Romig]

And at 45 yards too.





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[davidkerns]

Rob
I have a similar gun , Parker o grade 10 gauge top lever hammer gun , 32 inch bbls ,steel butt plate , very high end mine has a broken butt stock so it is a wall hanger , as always if I can find a stock , a well used stock I would be happy , if you know of such an item I would appreciate a reply.
Rob the gun you have is all there , you own it right , it is a gun worth putting back in shooting condition , and it may be now . I don't know if you have any aspirations of shooting it , if you don't is fine , your gun is a nice solid desirable early Parker , one thing about a Parker they shoulder and point nicely.
Rob if you do nothing else Enjoy that old Parker!
Dave Kerns PGCA member 1691

[Mike Franzen]

Rob, let us know what Jerry says. He's a good guy to work with. Also, let us know how she shoots. If you take the time to work up different loads and pattern the gun you can make that 10 gauge do a lot of things. Their killing range is impressive.

[Russ Jackson]

That is not a gun you would restore and expect to be able to get your money back out of it. It would be for sentimental reasons or for the same reason some people fix up old cars.[/QUOTE]

Why is that Mills ,because we are crazy !!!!!!!!!:rotf:

[Mills Morrison]

I have several family members into the old car thing. Also old houses. It's a labor of love

[Russ Jackson]

Yes it is ! I just happened to have the old clunker out yesterday with all of this beautiful November weather and when I read your post ,I couldn't resist putting a picture to it,I sometimes think we are crazy !

[Mills Morrison]

My dad has a fleet of restored Jeeps and tractors. Including my great grandfather's Farmall.

[Rick Losey]

Russ- always love to see pics of your clunker - :rolleyes:


I was headed home from an errand a couple weeks ago and a guy was rolling this one out of the barn to get it ready for inspection- I stopped and we compared the differences between his MKII and the MKIII like yours I had once

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg195/setterw/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsj4epzll4.jpg

i knew the guy had a MG TD and a B - but had not seen this on the road before

[davidkerns]

That Austin Healy must be one of the nicest in the country!
Wouldnt that be nice to drive to you favorite grouse , woodcock , or pheasant area with your nice old Parker aboard!
Dave Kerns PGCA #1691

[Russ Jackson]

David ,If you are speaking of mine , Thank You ! I never gave much thought to taking her hunting but............:)

[Mills Morrison]

Now that we've totally stolen this thread let's give it back. Jerry Andrews is a good guy. I have more experience buying and trading with him, but he fixed two LC Smiths for me. Parker 10 gauges are great guns. I shot a pheasant tower shoot with one of mine yesterday

[Rob Marshall]

This old gun is at Jerry's now to be tightened up and cleaned up. The reason I use him is he has worked on some of my junk before and i've done some trading with him also. He is also a blast to talk to about old Bear Archery stuff. I know their are gentleman on this forum that does outstanding work also that I would love to send something to them one of these day. I'll most likely try to work up some bismuth black powder loads for waterfowl and buy some RST regular load to shoot and start saving the hulls to reload. As far as the hijacking goes I enjoyed the conversation. I when to the fall gun show here Saturday and saw three Parkers. One gentleman had a couple 12ga GH's One was in rough shape and he had the letter for the other. It appeared to be in good shape with 26" factory barrels. I didn't look them over real hard because he wanted 2,800 for the one he had the letter for and 2,000 for the rough one. The other gentleman had a 0 grade early 20,000 serial# 10ga lifter, the stock had a thick coat of shellac on it and the bores looked rough from chambers to muzzle. He only wanted 2500 for it. :nono:

[Russ Jackson]

Since we got this thread back to where it was heading ,I would like to chime in here ,Jerry is a good guy and does nice work !

[Bob Dombeck]

I just bought my first 10ga and my first hammer gun, same gun :)
It also was ordered by Hibbards Spencer Bartlett & Co. on Oct. 28 1901'
Very cool.

I ordered my letter for this gun and it came in today. It shipped Aug 22nd to Hibbards Spencer Bartlett & Co of Chicago, IL. It is a Quality R, Top Action Hammer Gun, 10ga. It featured Twist steel barrels 30" in length. The price was $60.00. The stock configuration is capped pistol grip and its specs are Lop: 14 1/4", drop at heel 3". Weight 10Lbs 2oz. The choke were patterned RH 195 pellets and LH 195 pellets of size 8 shot in a 24" circle at 45 yards. No repair or changes are recorded.

[Rick Losey]

I just bought my first 10ga and my first hammer gun, same gun :)
It also was ordered by Hibbards Spencer Bartlett & Co. on Oct. 28 1901'
Very cool.

and the pictures are where ???? :corn:

[Bob Dombeck]

I just unboxed it about two hours ago. It's just a shooter, nothing special to look at. I posted a research letter question concerning it several weeks ago on the general info forum. Looking forward to using it on turkeys hopefully this Spring. Need to find some suitable loads and do some patterning.

[Rick Losey]

go to the reloading forum and down load Pete's spread sheet-

there is enough there to keep you busy for a while

[Mike Franzen]

I had my 10 gauge out of the safe for awhile today just to visit and wipe down.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Rob you live in a good area for ducks and geese, have spent many days years ago hunting in Jonesboro, I will see if I can remember the guides name you might know him, I always used my PH steel barreled 10 gauge Parker with 3" Chambers used Bismuth with no problems. After you get your gun back hope you will use it to get a few, Gary

[Rob Marshall]

Rob you live in a good area for ducks and geese, have spent many days years ago hunting in Jonesboro, I will see if I can remember the guides name you might know him, I always used my PH steel barreled 10 gauge Parker with 3" Chambers used Bismuth with no problems. After you get your gun back hope you will use it to get a few, Gary
Hey Gary, I know several guides around Jonesboro if you think of his name let me know. I duck hunted 1 day this past duck season. I spent most of my time this winter on some property we bought last summer deer hunting. I took a pretty good deer with a Savage 1899 .300 sav and we are now getting ready for turkey season and I'm hoping to kill a turkey with my 10ga hammer gun using brass and black powder.
http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u455/coondawg007/IMG_6203.jpg (http://s1068.photobucket.com/user/coondawg007/media/IMG_6203.jpg.html)

[Rob Marshall]

I just bought my first 10ga and my first hammer gun, same gun :)
It also was ordered by Hibbards Spencer Bartlett & Co. on Oct. 28 1901'
Very cool.
That cool. I only have 2 Parkers and they are both hammer guns. I can't afford the graded guns so I have to look for the wore out working mans models. lol.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Nice buck and rack! Gary