parker barrels

[John Bastiani]

On Parker 410's-28 and 20 gauges is the prefered barrel length 26" or 28"? I always liked the 26" myself but it seems that sometimes the longer 28" will bring a premium or does it really make a difference? Keep in mind that I'm thinking in terms of collector value and not in guns that will be used to hunt or shoot competition with.

[Reggie Bishop]

For 20s the longer the barrels the higher the premium. An appraiser has stated that he uses a 50% premium for 30" and 100% premium for 32" on 20 gauges. I think 26" and 28" are a pretty mute point from what I have seen, with the 28" probably bringing a small premium.

For 28 gauge you really pay a premium for 30" and super premium if you could find a 32" 28 gauge. For 26" and 28" again I think it isn't that much of a difference.

Of course one would have to assume the same grade/condition of gun when making comparisons.

I can't speak for the .410 bore as I have never really been interested in them.

[charlie cleveland]

I would say any thing beyond 28 brings a higher premium...and in the 410 a 28 inch barrel will bring a premium over a 26 inch barrel....charlie

[edgarspencer]

Barrel length preference has come full circle in the past 50 years.
Geography played a big part in what barrel was more desirable, But it's important to remember that 50 years ago, The Parker shotgun, while always considered the upper tier by shooters, was not yet considered a collectable.
In those parts of the country where the predominant hunting was 'upland', shorter barrels were preferred over longer, often cumbersome lengths in the woods.
While there are still plenty of owners who will always take their Parkers afield, a large number of the guns are in the hands of collectors. Collectors look at the numbers, rarity being a major driving force. Long barreled small bore guns are much less common, and as a consequence, sought out by those looking to collect, rather than shoot.
Shooting our Parkers at clays has become much more popular than in the past, with the exception of the single barreled trap guns and purpose built guns for the famous shooters of the day.
I find a 28" barreled 20 swings in a more fluid manner, and can't say I've ever caught myself in the woods wishing I'd brought a shorter gun. Having said that, i have a couple 24" guns, one cut, the other original, that, when I was younger, were killers on grouse.
Lately, I just enjoy walking in the woods with a Parker, that bird part is almost a secondary thing.

[John Bastiani]

Thanks gentlemen for your insight. I figured the longer barrels will bring a premium but I personally think a 26" barrel looks better on a small bore gun. Even a 28"barrel looks out of kilder to me on a 410 or a 28 gauge. I know when I got my Winchester model 21 skeet(20 gauge) that I wanted a 26" barrel but I ended up with a 28". My LC Smith (410) is a 26" barrel and I love that gun with the small frame. My browning Diana grade 20 gauge is a 26 1/2 inch barrel as well. I did get a 28" barrel when I bought a Beretta(20ga) to hunt with although my Perazzi MX20 has a 26" barrel.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

When I started shooting vintage sxs in the mid 1980's, 26" barrels were the rage. Probably because upland game like grouse were still plentiful through out the eastern US, especially in the Appalachians. I"ve never hunted waterfowl. Sporting clays was just getting started. Hate to say it, but I turned down some nice guns, cause I didnt want those damn 30' barrels. With the decline of upland opportunities, and the popularity of SC, long barrels became popular. And I've changed my mind also, now I love long barrels, and have found that they are no hindrence at all while grouse hunting. I have 2 20 ga hammer guns, 1 16 hammer, and 1 12 hammer with 30" barrels that I love to carry now( sadly, none are Parkers). I still carry and shoot my 26" DHE 16, VHE and VH 20's, and wont be getting rid of them anytime soon.

[edgarspencer]

I have 2 20 ga hammer guns, 1 16 hammer, and 1 12 hammer with 30" barrels that I love to carry now( sadly, none are Parkers).

It must have been that other Harold Pickens who bought a 16ga 0 frame Parker hammer gun from me.

[Dean Romig]

I don't have any .410 Parkers though I recently tried a set of 000-frame .410 ejector barrels on my 00-frame VHE 28 gauge but they couldn't be made to fit...

But, my preference in 20 gauge and 28 gauge Parkers is 26" or 28" barrels. I do understand that at today's retail market values, the longer barreled guns bring a premium but hey don't turn me on enough to buy one with 30"+ barrel length. I'm done buying Parkers to just sit in the safe or be on display just to collect dust. I use all of my Parkers and there are only two that I never fired... but they no longer live here.

I'll shoot a 26" or 28" gun in 20 or 28 gauge and be very happy doing it and I don't see how longer barrels would help me to kill any more grouse or woodcock.... and I shoot well enough on a sporting clays course or Skeet field to keep me from wishing my barrels were longer.






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[Harold Lee Pickens]

Oh, yes still have that gun Edgar, it has 26" barrels. Got me to thinkin", how common were shorter barrels like mine with 26", seems like most hammer guns had longer barrels

[Dean Romig]

To support that statement Harold, I have the only known Grade-1 16-gauge hammer gun on the 0-frame with 26" Laminated Steel barrels. The other two I owned had 28" Laminated Steel barrels.

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[Harold Lee Pickens]

The quality zero 16 gauge hammer gun that I have has 26 inch twist barrels

[edgarspencer]

The quality zero 16 gauge hammer gun that I have has 26 inch twist barrels

Harold, I've had three 0 frame 16ga. hammer guns with 26" barrels. You have one of them, Eric bought one, and I sold my Grade 2 with Damascus to a mutual friend of ours.