1891 DH 10 GA

[Mark Ouellette]

I went to a local gun shop to check out a hammerless 10 Gauge of an unknown grade and condition. This is what I found, or maybe it found me? Maybe I owned it in a past life...

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/PARKER%20DH%2010%20GA/DH10GA_003.jpg

Here's the specs:
DH made in 1891 with 32" Damascus barrels on a #3 Frame with a fishtale top lever. Weight is 10 lbs 2 oz. Barrels unstruck weight was 6lbs 6 oz which presently weigh 5 lbs 10 oz. LOP is 14 & 1/8", DAC is 2", DAH is 3", and it has a checkered butt.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/PARKER%20DH%2010%20GA/DH10GA_034.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/PARKER%20DH%2010%20GA/DH10GA_036.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/PARKER%20DH%2010%20GA/DH10GA_101.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/PARKER%20DH%2010%20GA/DH10GA_063.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/PARKER%20DH%2010%20GA/DH10GA_013.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/PARKER%20DH%2010%20GA/DH10GA_011.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/PARKER%20DH%2010%20GA/DH10GA_018.jpg

[Dean Romig]

Mark, I sure hope you're telling us it came home with you. What a wonderful Parker!! That will take about any load you can feed it.










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[Mark Ouellette]

Dean,

Of course it came home with me. It was a deal I could not resist!

PS: It was Kurt Densmore's and Paul Harm's fault. When I watched Kurt shoot his Hammer 10 at the Lapeer MI SxS shoot a few weeks ago I was thinking that I need (okay, "want") a 10! Paul did not help either when he purchased a lifter 10 from Eric at that shoot. I guess I'm going to need a 10 GA loader...

[Harry Collins]

Mark,

My thoughts were the same as Deans. Thank the Good Lord it found its way home with you. I have one near the same as yours and couldn't be happier with it...

I know everyone is tired of seeing this picture, but!

Harry

[Christopher Lien]

Mark,
Outstanding Parker 10! ... I like the slightly turned 45 degree vignette Setter on the right, and that bottom Rooster on the floor plate (on the sneak) is top shelf... Thanks for sharing the images of your new/old Parker ten...

Best, CSL
_______________________________

[Jay Gardner]

Beautiful gun, Mark. I have one from 1894 with 32" damascus barrels - they are great guns. Glad this one found a good home.

Cheers,

Jay

[Mark Ouellette]

Christopher,
I've been looking for a Grade 5 Elsie for the deep relief engraved dogs. I haven't found a Grade 5 that I wanted to buy but one look at the dogs hunting on this old man and they dogs were already hunting with me!
Mark

[Kurt Densmore]

You are truly a lucky man to have such a nice 10 bore. I can't wait to see it. ....I just loaded up some 1 1/2 oz #6 turkey loads.

BTW....my DH10 is almost identical except for the triggerplate engraving.......same year of Mfg....bent top lever...weight, bbl length, although mine wasn't in such nice condition when I got it or in some respects still not as nice. Per TPS there were only about 633 DH10 damascus guns made with about 227 with 32" bbls. Took the DH10 out Turkey hunting tonight without any luck. Snapped a few photos though....

[Richard Flanders]

What a beauty Mark! Sure didn't lead the rough life that many Parker 10's did. Gorgeous.

[Mark Ouellette]

I am sending for a research letter. I hope to discover something interesting about the first owner!

[Bill Murphy]

Wonderful ten, about the best I've seen in D Grade. Share your PGCA letter with us when you get it.

[Dave Suponski]

Mark,Outstanding gun...Congratulations....Keep us informed on what your letter reveal's I am especially fond of 1890's era gun's.

[Mark Ouellette]

Gentlemen,

I will scam the letter and post it as a PDF (Adobe Acrobat) file.

What would you think of a page within the PGCA site devoted to letters? Members could block out their name, scan (Kinkos if not available at home or work), and post. I'd spend hours reading those!!!

Thanks for the compliments on my good luck and willingness to "break the bank" when opportunity knocked!!!

Mark

[Rich Anderson]

Nice gun Mark congrats:bowdown:

[Mark Ouellette]

Hey Rich,

I'll bring it the the UP'er Shoot in June. Oh, I tried to get squaded with the Michigan Parker Brothers but you guys must know that along with Parkers I shoot a few nice Elsies. What can I say but they are like brunettes, blonds, and redheads. I like them all!

Anyone else reading this going to the UP'er Shoot?

Mark

[Fred Preston]

What are the Yooper dates? I can't find it on the calendar.

[Robert Rambler]

June 18th thru 20th 2010

[Rich Anderson]

Robert & Fred are you gentalman coming up? I know a good and reasonable place to stay if you need one.

Mark will you be bringing any of the LaPeer gang along? I look forward to eyeing up the new gun. I hopefully wil have the CHE 20 back by then as well. I just hate it when I don't have something for show and tell:)

[Fred Preston]

Rich, I'd sure like to, schedule permitting. I'm not going to register for the full program, but I think there might be a chance to shoot a round of SC, trap or whatever. I'd like to take 4 or 5 days, put the canoe on top, the new pup in the back and puddle jump and test some of the old sites for bird activity. I'll put the tent in the back, but would be into better accomodations with familiar faces. Thanks, Fred

[Robert Rambler]

Rich, Wish I could, but not this year. :crying:

[Mark Ouellette]

Rich,
I think I will be the only shooter at the Yooper from the Lapeer Sportsmans Club.

[Andrew Thompson]

I just saw this post. What a gun!!!

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Mark,

With a gun like that, if you're not already a duck hunter, you better start. That deserves some marsh activity at the very least, big water gunning much prefered though of course.


Destry

[Mark Ouellette]

Destry,

I am a waterfowler but reletively new to Michigan. If only some Michigander duck hunters would invite me to join them...

Mark

[Paul Harm]

Nice gun Mark- I'll have my 10ga loader put togeather sometime next week- then we can shoot them at the club. The one I bought from Eric, a hammer gun, has the recessed hinge and a wedge on the forearm. Maybe one of the last Parkers with a wedge on the forearm. Nice Damascus barrels, both about .028 choke, on a #2 frame, serial # 13797. See you later today - Paul

[Mark Ouellette]

Paul,
If you like I can photograph your Parker 10 so that you can share it with all...
Mark

[Paul Harm]

I forgot to say - my 10ga has 2 5/8" chambers. There is a ridge about .020 at the end, not a gentle tapper. Was this length chamber very common? It does tapper after the 2 5/8. Mark, thanks for the offer. Paul

[Harry Collins]

Paul,

It's my understanding that your chambers are for brass shells.

Harry

[Paul Harm]

Thanks Harry. I trimmed down an old 10ga hull - it seems to fit just fine. Looks a little short compared to 3 1/2" hull. Paul

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Paul,

There were paper 2 5/8 10 gauge shells produced, you could buy them as short as 2 1/2 inches actually. I have a couple of those shells and Davis has a gun with those chambers.

Mark,

If you want to buy the license you're welcome to join us a day or two over in Canada this upcoming season. My gunning in Michigan usually consists of opening day and maybe one or two other days on invite but that's about it.


Destry

[Paul Harm]

Thanks for the info - must of measured the chambers five or six times. Just got a 150 Remington hulls - I'll cut a couple down and see how they work. Paul

[calvin humburg]

Think my gun has brass chambers. Won't hurt to shoot rts short 10s in it? ch

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Calvin,

The RST shells are actually slightly shorter than 2 7/8, should be fine for your gun. They're great stuff, I just shot a round of skeet with them in my WC Scott Bogardus Club Gun the other day.

Destry

[Mark Ouellette]

Destry,

Thanks and I'll take you up on that!

For me, when conditions are right I do a little sculling on Lake St Clair. Maybe I could return the favor with a painfully slow but exciting ride in the front seat of my sculler?

Mark