Shooting a damascus double barrel question

[Randy Radmer]

I am new here, having just purchased an 1875 model double barrel, frame size 1, grade 2 barrel weight D 4 (6) the six was a super script, damascus steel, external hammer parker 12 ga. If and when I get around to trying to shoot it (will be awhile, at least will want to clean, oil, have inspected by a gunsmith, etc) are there shells available that would be safe to shoot in this gun? That is, barring any obvious issues identified during the inspection.

thanks,

Charles

[Frank Cronin]

Charles,

Welcome. It has been recommended on this board RST low pressure shells are great for these classic doubles.

http://www.rstshells.com/

Sounds like a nice gun. Do you have pictures?

Frank

[Randy Radmer]

Frank,

Thanks for the quick response. I'll check them out. Currently no pictures as I am on a temporary duty up at Rock Island Arsenal from home in KS. I am going home for the long Veteran's Day weekend (thanks to all vets, past and present for the sacrifices that were and continue to be made.) I'm taking the gun with me and will be posting the pics soon. It has some issues, broken stock with an OLD repair with brass plates on both sides now, and the release lever was broken and repaired sometime in the past.

By the way, I go by Randy, but the board required my "real name."

Randy aka Charles

[lee r moege]

Randy: We are neighbors! I will be leaving to go west Friday A.M. but if you want to get in touch sometime I keep RST's in 2 1/2" 12 gage and I have the equipment to measure the barrel wall thickness and bore /choke I.D. if you need a handfull of shells and want to know what the bores are up to. Happy Parkering!!! Lee.

[Randy Radmer]

Lee,

Definitely not far down the road at all. Amazing that we consider 30 or so miles to be neighbors when city folks think that if someone lives 2 houses away they are strangers. I'll be looking forward to getting together with you sometime. I am home this weekend but come Sunday will be heading back to Illinois. I only have a couple more months there then I'll be home and have a lot more time available. Today in addition to some bow hunting I plan on cleaning the Parker and taking some photos to try to post here. Hopefully they'll come out good.

Thanks for the invite. We'll definitely need to get together.

Randy

[Harry Collins]

Randy,

It sounds as if Lee may be better set up to inspect the "safety" of your Parker than most gunsmiths. Besides he shoots one and knows what to look for. Good luck with your old Parker. I have several from 1881 that I shoot regularly.

Harry

[Randy Radmer]

I'm hoping it will be ok to shoot, but I will wait until someone more knowledgeable than I (like Lee.) I'm thinking I'll have to get with him to coordinate schedules and head over his way to get it checked out.

[Chuck Bishop]

Randy,

FYI, it's not a model 1875 Parker nor was it made in 1875. Your grade 2 hammergun was made in 1887.

By the looks of the pictures in your album, it's quite a bit off face along with other issues. Please be very cautious and carefull if you plan on shooting this Parker.

[Randy Radmer]

Thanks for the information. I was using the initial patent date as the "model" number. I definitely plan on having it thoroughly checked out before I consider shooting, even the light loads. I believe the date is the same one I got when I checked the serial number here. By off face do you mean condition issues, fit of barrels to the gun or what? I'm not familiar with that term.

[Bruce Day]

Off face is when the barrel breech ends do not fit tightly against the standing face of the action frame. The more the gap, the more the barrels will pound against the frame and wear on the hinge pin roll and the locking bite connections. Off face results from wear and can be corrected by spray welding metal to the barrel lug hinge section and recontouring. It is not an amateur repair. Some have inserted a shim as an expedient temporary fix.

I am about 30m east of you guys and shoot regularly at Powder Creek(Lenexa) and Cedar Hill ( Baldwin). Out in Ford County this weekend.

[Randy Radmer]

I thought that might have been what he meant but wasn't sure. It is off face a bit then so will need that addressed, if the barrels are even safe to shoot. I didn't know if there was an adjustment or not. Doesn't sound like it so will have to have that fixed if I plan on shooting it one day.

30 miles east? That puts you somewhere between Topeka and Lawrence if I figured correctly. If you ever get out around Wamego or Westmoreland give a holler. I'm still working up in Rock Island, IL for a couple months but still manage to get home every couple weekends.

Thanks for the education.

Randy

[Bruce Day]

I'm in KC. More than 30, my error.

There is no adjustment on Parkers.

[John Dunkle]

....By the way, I go by Randy, but the board required my "real name."

Randy aka Charles

Hey Randy!

Let me get you set, OK?? As well - just remember - if you need to login again, please use:

Randy Radmer

As your login name, OK??

John
(PS - Sorry for the delayed reply - I was in Haiti for a couple of weeks and still reading the older threads (jeez - you folks post a lot while I'm away..??!!! :) )

[Randy Radmer]

John,

Thanks! I need all the help I can get to simplify things. How was the trip to Haiti? It sounds like things are still pretty rough down there.

Randy

[John Dunkle]

Hi Randy!

My pleasure to assist! I know what you mean about trying to keep things "simple"..! ;)

Anyway - I've been doing projects in Haiti for many years, and frankly, I'm beginning to think that if the Haitians didn't have "bad luck" - they wouldn't have any luck at all..?? As you can imagine, things down there are challenging - to say the least..

But, for all our kids, projects, programs, schools - etc. - all are doing better than most of the Haitian population - and most of that credit goes to them for maximizing the small opportunities we have been able to offer them..?

As well - when I'm there - I try to keep my BLOG updated:

http://rennwish.blogspot.com/

and our main website is here:

http://rennwish

As well - the success of our programs is due to the many private donors we have been privileged to have, who have been silently supporting all we have done with incredible generosity and enthusiasm....

Best to you!

John