Parker Safety

[Joe Graziano]

I was shooting my much beloved VH, 12 gauge, on a #2 frame today. While shooting, I noticed my auto safety (which I don’t care for) was not engaging between shots. I then noticed it was not working at all. I’m bummed as hunting season is upon us and my favorite shotgun is out of commission for hunting. Can anyone recommend a good smith near Northern VA who can repair the safety? I would like to have it repaired and set as a manual safety. Much thanks for your help!

[Dean Romig]

"Was not engaging between shots"?? It wasn't designed to reset after each shot - Only when you move the lever to the right when opening the gun will it reset.





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[Tom Jay]

Northern Virginia Gun Works, Springfield, VA has worked on my top lever Parker with excellent results. Usually quick service in hunting season.

[Joe Graziano]

Thanks! I will call them tomorrow.

[Joe Graziano]

Dean, you’re correct. To clarify, I mean when the gun is opened. I certainly wouldn’t want the safety to engage between shots. That would make skeet rather difficult:)

[Chris Travinski]

Before you send it off...make sure the top tang screw is tight as well as the bottom one found under the trigger guard.

[Jerry Harlow]

Without shells in the gun, push the safety to off, then open and see if the gun opens before the safety resets. Then again push the safety off and make sure to open the lever all the way. If it works the second time you have a gun that opens before the rod in the stock has a chance to push the safety all the way back. If this is the case you just have to remember to push the opening lever all the way to the right. The rod in there just did not disappear or break.

Just an amateur guess.

[Dean Romig]

Before you send it off...make sure the top tang screw is tight as well as the bottom one found under the trigger guard.


But if the bottom tang screw is too tight it can jamb up the safety.





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[Rick Losey]

[QUOTE=Jerry Harlow;255555] The rod in there just did not disappear or break.
[/QUOTE

true

the so called auto safety is simply a short rod that is pushed backwards by a lug on the top lever.

if it suddenly quit engaging - i would be concerned about the wood inside the stock being worn or rotted around that hole letting the rod slip out of place

[Dean Romig]

That or the actuator that blocks the trigger sears has become bent and no longer blocks them.





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[Brian Dudley]

The actual safety assembly in a Parker is pretty stout and not easily damaged. Your description is a little hard to grasp at what exactly is going on and what could be the problem.
It is pretty hard for things to not work unless, as others suggested, your stock head is coming apart. Since the whole deal is housed in wood. Any change to that can create problems.

[keavin nelson]

I agree with Brian, likely a wood problem. But try the screws if you have the correct drivers so as not to bugger them. Tightening them won't likely solve it, but as Dean said if the tang screw is too tight it can bind it up, but usually it won't work in hand then either.

[Joe Graziano]

Thank you for the recommendation of Northern Virginia Gun Works. I dropped it off on Monday afternoon and Sandy had it fixed by Tuesday afternoon. Great job and not bad on price. You were right on the wood being a problem. Surprisingly, it is the original stock and a piece had broken in the stock head holding the bar in place. He added some glass and it works just fine again. I’m ready for hunting season:)

[Brian Dudley]

It may not be a bad idea to get a staple in the head of that stock to prevent farther damage. And also trying to get all that inletting sealed up would be good.

[Joe Graziano]

Brian, much thanks for the good advice. Sandy did such a good job with the Parker, I’m going to have him repair the LC Smith safety, which he said he is able to do, and return the gun to the field on pheasant. Ahhh, I just love fall.