Another Old Guy with an Old Gun

[Michael D Cochran]

When my Grandfather died in 1966 his seldom used Parker 16 ga. shotgun from 1924 became my Grandmothers night time protection that lived under her bed. As time went on and a house alarm system was added it found it's way to the family room wall and there it stayed until she passed in 1990.
It then became mine though I had no desire to or experience hunting foul. It remained on the wall for another 20 years before I had the desire to take it out and try it out. It wasn't easy finding 16 ga. ammo at first but I finally did at Bass Pro and after talking to a few people who know more than myself about it I found some upland game shells in the lowest ft/sec I could find. I still don't hunt and I have not taken up skeet or trap shooting but I have taken it to the outdoor range when I go plinking with a mid 1930's Savage Model 29 and my more recent 10/22 TD. I was surprised by how nice this DB 16 fired, snappy but not too hard on the shoulder, light weight and easy to hold. Of course, it always draws attention when friends and strangers see it. Here are some details:
I believe it is a Grade 0. Serial #207685 dated 1924
VH frame
VS barrels 27 15/16"
There are other marks if that would help tell the story of this 'ol gal.

Fell free the educate me and comment if you can help.

[Mike McKinney]

We,d love to see some photos and we will do our best to welcome and give you some thoughts.

[Michael D Cochran]

Don't know why this photo is upside down. Will get some better pics later.

[Russell E. Cleary]

However scant your experience with shotguns is, it sounds like you have the soul of a vintage gun fancier. And, you are fortunate to have a wonderful-sounding legacy side-by-side, enabling you to develop an emergent passion.

If you enjoy plinking at stationary targets with a .22, you surely should try breaking moving targets with that 16-gauge. Take it from me, you can be a pathetic shot and still have a zest for breaking airborne clay targets and downing the occasional live game-bird.

Consider joining the Parker Gun Collectors Association, if you have not already done so -- the knowledge to be gained and helpfulness is inestimable.

[Dean Romig]

Unfortunately Michael, the PGCA has no information on your serial number upon which to base a research letter. From the picture your VH looks to be in "un-messed with" condition and it was most likely made with 28" barrels.





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[Mike Franzen]

That’s a great looking set of guns. I had that same rifle only it had a clip magazine. One thing that works on pics posting correctly is to crop them a little. Take pictures that allow you to crop the sides while enlarging the image. Everyone is thirsty to see more pics of that beautiful Parker.

[Mills Morrison]

Very nice gun! I hope you will consider joining PGCA and enjoy your time here

[Michael D Cochran]

Thank you all. I currently have two recently broken digital cameras so no way to get more pics yet. Hope to fix that soon.

[edgarspencer]

I had that same rifle only it had a clip magazine.
Mike, was your .22 like this one?
This one belongs to a joint-venture partnership. The other partner feeds me missing parts annually. It's almost back together. We need to enlist a certain "machinist" to manufacture a new take-down thumbscrew.

[Dean Romig]

You haven't contracted him yet?





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[edgarspencer]

You haven't contracted him yet?


He's been too busy watching cars go around in circles

[Daryl Corona]

You do know what NASCAR stands for don't you?

[Dean Romig]

What Daryl?






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[Dave Suponski]

Egger, I'm never too busy for you.....:whistle: Ya and what does NASCAR stand for Daryl. I probably shouldn't ask......:rolleyes:

[Daryl Corona]

I'm surprised you guys, especially you OP, have'nt heard this one before. I will preface this by saying that I enjoy those cars going around in a circle and no disrespect meant to anyone who enjoys it as I do. And the answer is;
Non Athletic Sport Centered Around Rednecks :)

[John Dallas]

NASCAR - You can get the same visual effect by pouring M&M's in the toilet and flushing it.

[Michael D Cochran]

edgarspencer,

My .22 is a Savage Model 29 that is a tube fed pump from the mid '30s. I have never seen one like in your picture before. What brand and model is it?
Here is a link to some pics.
http://s821.photobucket.com/user/cochranmbucket/slideshow/Savage%20Model%2029%20%20num%201127XX
Good luck getting all your parts together.

Michael

[G. Wells]

Edgar Spencer
I have one of those screws that might work. It's off a Savage 29B IIRC. Let me know if you still need it.

[Mark Riessen]

Sir, you have a couple pretty darn nice long guns there. I would be proud of either one of them. Just take good care of them and they will take good care of you. JMHO but they are much more fun and enjoyable to take out and use them than to look at hanging on a wall. That VH would work very well on a sporting clays course or a trap range and the 22 Savage would be at home plinking or hunting small game. Hope you have fun and enjoy them. Mark

[Richard Flanders]

Nice guns. I have the same Savage .22 and love it. mine has a target grade aperture sight and shoots very straight. I educated a marauding red squirrel with it just yesterday.

[edgarspencer]

NASCAR - You can get the same visual effect by pouring M&M's in the toilet and flushing it.

John, I almost spit my coffee across the room laughing. I may as well go back to bed, because today won’t get better than that.

[edgarspencer]

edgarspencer,

My .22 is a Savage Model 29 that is a tube fed pump from the mid '30s. I have never seen one like in your picture before. What brand and model is it?
Here is a link to some pics.
http://s821.photobucket.com/user/cochranmbucket/slideshow/Savage%20Model%2029%20%20num%201127XX
Good luck getting all your parts together.

Michael

Michael, That's a very crisp, original Model 29. I was directing my question to Mike Franzen, as the clip fed Savages are pretty scarce. The one I showed is a model 1903, and they are almost never seen. This one wouldn't have been seen again, but the nameless kid who left it leaning against a tree for a whole winter thought to save it. When it came to me, wrapped in a blanket, it was missing more than it had, and was rust from muzzle to butt, but, amazingly, very little of the rust left noticeable pits. Eventually, the original owner, who is becoming somewhat forgetful, found the bolt, then the clip, then a thumbscrew, which begs the question how many guns did he forget, as the thumbscrew is for another gun.
The model 61 Winchester is perhaps the most common of the slide handle repeaters, followed by the Remington model 12, but the 29 Savage, and especially the '03 Savage are rare as they made about 5% of what Winchester made.
A quick review of the last Julia auction will pop your socks as to where the .22 repeater market is going. Straight up like a bottle rocket.

[Dean Romig]

The one I showed is a model 1903, and they are almost never seen. This one wouldn't have been seen again, but the nameless kid who left it leaning against a tree for a whole winter thought to save it. When it came to me, wrapped in a blanket, it was missing more than it had, and was rust from muzzle to butt, but, amazingly, very little of the rust left noticeable pits. Eventually, the original owner, who is becoming somewhat forgetful, found the bolt, then the clip, then a thumbscrew, which begs the question how many guns did he forget, as the thumbscrew is for another gun.
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Edgar, you knew this post would elicit a response from me... and you hoped I would too.

I have no isea how the little Savage came to be as rusty as it did. When it came to me as one of a bunch of guns given to me by the elderly sister of a fellow in Vt who had passed away a few years earlier, there was no thumb screw, no clip, and when I handed it to you it was missing the bolt. I had misplaced it. Some months later I found the bolt and sent it to you but despite both of our endless searching of the Internet and elsewhere, no clip could be found.
At least a year later while I was at grouse camp i was rummaging through an old bucket of odds & ends mixed with dust and mouse turds I discovered a little clip for a .22. I thought it might belong to a little .22 automatic pistol but I put it in my pocket and took it home with me as nobody who comes to grouse camp these days even has a .22. It must have been in that bucket for decades left there by "who knows who"...
And so I sent it to you Edgar, thinking maybe you, being the wizard of all things possible, could somehow make it work in the little Savage.

But I never expected the expletive laden response from you when you called to tell me it was the exact clip for the Savage and the accusations that it was I who inadvertantly and absent-mindedly brought it to Vermont and dropped it into that bucket.

And that, dear readers, is the rest of the story.





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[edgarspencer]

Edgar, you knew this post would elicit a response from me... and you hoped I would too.

I have no isea how the little Savage came to be as rusty as it did. When it came to me as one of a bunch of guns given to me by the elderly sister of a fellow in Vt who had passed away a few years earlier, there was no thumb screw, no clip, and when I handed it to you it was missing the bolt. I had misplaced it. Some months later I found the bolt and sent it to you but despite both of our endless searching of the Internet and elsewhere, no clip could be found.
At least a year later while I was at grouse camp i was rummaging through an old bucket of odds & ends mixed with dust and mouse turds I discovered a little clip for a .22. I thought it might belong to a little .22 automatic pistol but I put it in my pocket and took it home with me as nobody who comes to grouse camp these days even has a .22. It must have been in that bucket for decades left there by "who knows who"...
And so I sent it to you Edgar, thinking maybe you, being the wizard of all things possible, could somehow make it work in the little Savage.

But I never expected the expletive laden response from you when you called to tell me it was the exact clip for the Savage and the accusations that it was I who inadvertantly and absent-mindedly brought it to Vermont and dropped it into that bucket.

And that, dear readers, is the rest of the story.
OK, Dean, now calm down and take your pills. We'll all eventually get this way so there's no reason to get upset.................poor Kathy.:bigbye:

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Dean, Did the dog eat it? Gary

[Dean Romig]

Good one Gary! I remember that day well!





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[Michael D Cochran]

Nice guns. I have the same Savage .22 and love it. mine has a target grade aperture sight and shoots very straight. I educated a marauding red squirrel with it just yesterday.

Richard,
Got some pics? Do you use sub sonic or standard vel. ammo? I have been warned not to use high vel. ammo.
BTW, If you happen to be driving by Ft. Wainwright, (Ladd AFB when I was last there), give a wave toward the hospital. 64 years and 50 weeks ago I was hatched there. :)