Quality G Top Action

[Bruce Day]

Sometimes people like to see photos of guns, so to keep interest alive, here are some of an early top Action hammer gun in original condition.

Case by Edgar Spencer. The paper documents details that may be interesting. The gun is a 7lb 28" 12 ga on a number 1 frame. The chamber measurements were surprising. The chokes make this an upland game gun.

Prairie grouse engraving and I have shot them with this gun. Hunters used to come out here in rail Pullman and club cars, get picked up at the station by buckboard and hunt the prairies. Guides and farmers were paid. In some areas such as along the Platte, Kansas and Arkansas Rivers with braided channels, hunters waited for for waterfowl in the morning and pursued upland game in the afternoon.

I use regular light Remington loads and I reload them to Remington factory specs. The gun has original bore diameters and so I do not measure wall thickness. This gun would have been factory patterned with 1 1/8 loads of number 7 shot pushed at just below 1200 fps. This would have been a black powder gun when made but was little used so shows no black powder corrosion.

[Jim DiSpagno]

Really, really exceptional Hammergun in that grade. Beautiful. Edgar's work is just outstanding. A real craftsman. Thanks Bruce

[Rob Marshall]

Very nice. It's good for us newbie's to see what they are suppose to look like. I've been looking at one on GB but it's no where as nice as yours. Thanks for sharing.

[Bruce Day]

I think that many of the nice guns get sold at the Southern or other in person venues, and those left go on Gunbroker and other internet sites. If you are looking for something nice, say what you are looking for, that you are prepared to pay a fair price, and then move quickly if it comes along. This forum is a good place to start.

[chris dawe]

Beautiful gun in a handsome case ,thanks for sharing

[Dean Romig]

My favorite period of Grade 2 engraving! Very nice example Bruce. Thanks for sharing.

Nice box Edgar!





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[edgarspencer]

I almost always ask to have the customer's gun here when I am building their case, but, as luck would have it, I have an identical gun. Identical in configuration, but certainly not in condition. That's a very beautiful gun, Bruce, and as I have learned, also a very usable gun.

[Larry Mason]

Thank you Bruce! Beautiful as always. And what a fine piece of craftmanship Edgar!!

[Bill Jolliff]

Thank you Bruce! Beautiful as always. And what a fine piece of craftmanship Edgar!!

Beautiful indeed.

And did you notice the slotted brass screws in the hinges in Edgar's walnut case are all timed.

Yep, nice Bruce. Yep, nice Edgar.

[Dean Romig]

Yes Bill - Edgar is meticulous in such things. And slotted screws are so much nicer than the Phillips screws we see on some contemporary cases.





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[edgarspencer]

Yes Bill - Edgar is meticulous in such things. And slotted screws are so much nicer than the Phillips screws we see on some contemporary cases.

I learned my lesson after you chastised me on the use of phillips head screws and a piano hinge on a box I made 35 years ago. Nothing escapes your scrutineering eyes.

[Garry L Gordon]

Thanks for posting these pictures! I have several G top lever guns and really like the engraving and finish. None of mine have the woodcock. I'm envious. This looks like an exceptional gun. Glad to see it's serving you well.

[Bruce Day]

I noticed a comment a while back from a member saying that Meridan Parkers had narrow forend noses in contrast to the later Remington Parker which were broader and flatter.

The following photos are of the 1881 G above and address the issue contended. Do readers agree?

[Bruce Day]

Thanks for posting these pictures! I have several G top lever guns and really like the engraving and finish. None of mine have the woodcock. I'm envious. This looks like an exceptional gun. Glad to see it's serving you well.


Thanks. It's springtime at the Lake of the Ozarks and about time for the woodcock and loons to move north. But here is a detail of the woodcock engraved on the 1881 G.

[Garry L Gordon]

But here is a detail of the woodcock engraved on the 1881 G.

Thanks so much for the close-up. I really like the stylization of the Parker engravers. I'd like to find a nice G hammer 16 with that woodcock(!)

I'm curious about the case coloring on your gun. It looks beautiful -- a bit muted and not too intense. Did Edgar do something to mute it a bit, or is that the result of your using it? I really like what I see in those pictures.

Thanks again for sharing. I hope that gun takes game for you for a long time to come.

[edgarspencer]

I noticed a comment a while back from a member saying that Meridan Parkers had narrow forend noses in contrast to the later Remington Parker which were broader and flatter.

The following photos are of the 1881 G above and address the issue contended. Do readers agree?

For Every rule, there is an exception. However, I have yet to see a skinny Remington Fore end.

[Garry L Gordon]

I forgot to mention. We have had woodcock doing their "sky dance" across from our house in North Missouri (not far from the Iowa line) for over a week. They were actually a bit late this year. Odd because we have had a warm late winter/early spring so far. Makes me anxious for October.

[Bruce Day]

Edgar made the case, I had the gun. These are archetypical examples of Meridan Parker case colors that are so difficult to duplicate. They have probably muted with age somewhat but the frame water table shows un muted colors.