Eight bore Parkers

[John Truitt]

Lightest weight one anyone is aware of?

Smallest frame size they were made in?

Any made with chambers smaller than 3 1/4 or was this considered standard chambers for Parker?

For hammer and hammerless guns. Thanks guys.

[charlie cleveland]

the 3 1/4 inch length was the standard chamber for most gunmakers..i would say that 3 1/4 was the standard for parkers as well but some 8 ga were made in length of up to 4 1/4 length i have a old 8 ga with 4 inch chambers...the 8 ga shells were made in several lengths i have a brass hull that is 3 3/4 inches...as for the lightest 8 ga i have ever heard of is owned by a guy here on the parker site maybe he will chime in and tell its weight..also the smallest frame size i ve heard of in a parker was a 5 frame....charlie....

[Brian Dudley]

Largest i have seen is the 7 frame. Most common size an 8 will be on is the 6. The heaviest weights i have encountered, in the few i have seen, were in the 16 to 17 lb. range.

[Bill Murphy]

My DH Grade, the only 30" eight in the PGCA research files, weighs just over ten pounds. I would assume it is the lightest original eight out there. Hammerless eights were made on the #6 frame, top lever hammer eights were made on #7 frames. There is the occasional #5 frame, but I think they were all early lifters.

[Brian Dudley]

A 10# 8g would be nice!

[John Truitt]

I am aware of one 32" #5 frame d grade top lever gun.

She has great balance and feel.

I assume a #4 frame would be way too small at the breach ball areas to establish a safe OD for an eight.

Thanks for the info guys.

[Dave Suponski]

Never say never Doc. We know of a 1 frame 10 bore.

[Bill Murphy]

Yeah, John, the 30" ten pound eight gauge is a treat, but too short for you. We would establish the #4 frame eight gauge feasibility with calipers and machinist's scales. In my opinion, it can be done. Remember, John, they are hammer guns.

[John Truitt]

Mr Murphy,

It would be interesting to draft it out and see.

IMO a 11 1/2 to 12 lb 34" eight bore would be the ideal combo for me.

Who knows what might be out there.

Your 30" gun sounds like a really interesting piece.

[greg conomos]

Before you guys get off the deep end, don't forget that one of the joys of shooting an 8 ga. Parker is the heft that comes along with it. Just like a 28ga should be light and small, an 8 ga. should make you aware from the moment you pick it up that you are wrapping your arms around Big Bertha.

[Bill Zachow]

Earlier in my Parkeritis career, I kept a running track of all 8 gauges I encountered--around 40 guns or about 10 percent of total production. A pretty large statistical sample. These 8s were built on 5, 6, and 7 frames. All the hammerless guns were on 6 frames as were most of the hammer guns. Only a few 7 frames. Only saw one lifter 8 and it was on a 5 frame.

[Bill Murphy]

I never saw a top lever eight that wasn't a #7 frame. Bill Z., can you post a picture of one of the #6 frame top lever guns? Thanks.

[Brian Dudley]

I have never seen a million dollars cash either...

[charlie cleveland]

i also have a top lever hammer gun that is a 6 frame so marked..it is 1 3/8 across center to center of the firing pins...i have a lifter gun serial no 25403 the frame size is not marked but it must be a 7 frame cause the center to center of the firing pins is1 1/2 inches plus a 1/32a much heavier gun than the 6 frame..just checked another 8 ga parker hammer gun the one i got from mills it is a 6 frame top lever hammer gun..it is also 1 3/8 across the fireing pins center to center..

[Jim DiSpagno]

Brian, in C notes, doesn't take up a lot of room. LOL

[Phillip Carr]

Make it to The annual meeting in Vegas and you can go to Binions and get your picture taken with a million dollars. Prefer gold go to the Golden Nugget and see the 62 lb. gold nugget worth a million.

[Bill Zachow]

Bill, I no longer own that 6 framed top lever 8. It was exhibited twice at Parker annual get togthers so you have probavly seen it. It originally went to California with three additional, consecutively numbered 8s. All 34", 6 frames.

[Bill Murphy]

I stand corrected. As you know "I don't get out much."