Hammer Gun without Damascus barrels

[David A Parker]

My pursuit of Parker Shotgun information has led me straight to you folks. Quite an amazing resource you have here - congratulations.

I am pretty new to collecting as I've only been a resident of the USA for 3 years now (from Australia). My collection is growing at a rather alarming rate but as my name is David Parker I have started to 'descend down the rabbit hole' of Parker Shotguns.

My research has led to one important question... How difficult (or expensive) is it to find a hammer gun with fluid (or non Damascus) barrels? As I would love to hunt with the piece occasionally.

I'm hoping a knowledgeable member can help answer this for me.

Many thanks, David Parker

[Jay Oliver]

Welcome David, Hopefully someone will chime in with the exact number of steel barreled Parker hammer guns. It is not a big number and many are in the higher grades which makes them extra rare and expensive. I have never seen one in person.

The good news is several of us hunt and shoot damascus and twist guns all the time(both hammer and hammerless). It is all about using the right shells or recipes if you reload. Parker hammer guns are too beautiful and too much fun. You will figure out what shells they need and it is a lot of fun from there. So...you need one!

[todd allen]

The question reminds me of the sweet little 20 ga fluid steel hammer gun that showed up at Beinfeld's some years back. As I recall, the condition was quite good.
I could have afforded it, and should have bought it, in retrospect.
I would bet dollars to donuts someone here owns it.

[Reggie Bishop]

Steve Barnett Fine guns has a grade 5 with steel barrels. You sure don't see many of them.

[Jay Oliver]

Reggie that is a nice one: https://stevebarnettfineguns.com/parker-1-shotguns-for-sale/parker-hammer-grade-5-titanic-steel-12-gauge

I need some time to replenish my "Parker Fund" but that would be a nice one for sure

[Randy G Roberts]

That gun was at the Southern last Spring with the same Seller. Rare configuration indeed that would probably sell immediately if the restock had been even close to what a Parker should look like. Still a beautiful gun but....

[Jay Oliver]

Randy I didn't see it at the Southern, and did even think re-stock until you mentioned it(I need to learn to be more thorough). Now that you mentioned that it is so obvious to me.

Yes that would be so much more desirable if done right...

[David A Parker]

Ah - I see. Thank you all for you replies.

It looks like I have some research into reloading or black powder loads(?) in my future... any tips on this area?

Damascus barrels - I've read that you need to have them checked by a good gunsmith before using them even with specialist loads. I'm assuming they would need to be a specialist in this area ; as it would be outside the knowledge of most?

Thanks again.

[CraigThompson]

Ah - I see. Thank you all for you replies.

It looks like I have some research into reloading or black powder loads(?) in my future... any tips on this area?

Damascus barrels - I've read that you need to have them checked by a good gunsmith before using them even with specialist loads. I'm assuming they would need to be a specialist in this area ; as it would be outside the knowledge of most?

Thanks again.

Don’t take my word for it but I normally shoot eleven or so guns at a SxS shoot all are twist/damascus except five of them . And I shoot smokeless in them all .

[Jay Oliver]

David there was a time before the pandemic, where you could order all the smokeless shells you wanted that were safe in Parker damascus/twist barrels. I hope that we can do that again soon, here is the company: https://www.rstshells.com/

Most people on the forum are shooting smokeless in their damasacus/twist guns. Not all damascus/twist guns are created equal, but Parkers providing the barrel wall thickness is thick enough and the bores are not too pitted are very shootable. You can search this forum and find a lot of info on that.

I do shoot black powder occasionally, which is a lot of fun. I seem to talk more about it than I do it. If you get a hammer gun you should at least try it.

Good luck!

[Wayne Owens]

I am aware of 30+ documented fluid steel Parker hammer guns. I know of one 8 gauge, two 20 gauges and the rest are 12 gauge guns. Nearly all of them are D grades or higher and would be pretty pricey if you find one. Like others have said, many of us use low pressure nitro powder ammo on a regular basis in our Damascus barreled hammer guns with no problems.

[Dean Romig]

Like others have said, many of us use low pressure nitro powder ammo on a regular basis in our Damascus barreled hammer guns with no problems.


And these loads are very effective on both clays as well as live game.





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[Randy G Roberts]

Ah - I see. Thank you all for you replies.

It looks like I have some research into reloading or black powder loads(?) in my future... any tips on this area?

Damascus barrels - I've read that you need to have them checked by a good gunsmith before using them even with specialist loads. I'm assuming they would need to be a specialist in this area ; as it would be outside the knowledge of most?

Thanks again.

David the Hodgdon and Alliant reloading websites will give you plenty of options for low pressure loads. Personally I believe that both Damascus and fluid steel barrels in our double guns should be inspected or measured for proper wall thickness before shooting anything in them. Some of them have been worked on by unknowing hands over the years. There's a lot of information on the subject on the forum. Those Damascus barrels will serve you well if they're solid and you feed them the right fodder. Good luck.

[Brian Dudley]

That gun was at the Southern last Spring with the same Seller. Rare configuration indeed that would probably sell immediately if the restock had been even close to what a Parker should look like. Still a beautiful gun but....

That gun has had a lot of improper/inaccurate work done to it. Yes, the stock work. Add cyanide coloring and barrel rib work to the mix and it leaves nothing untouched.

[Dean Romig]

It was someone’s restored and customized “pride and joy”





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[Don Bock]

That gun has had a lot of improper/inaccurate work done to it. Yes, the stock work. Add cyanide coloring and barrel rib work to the mix and it leaves nothing untouched.
The one thing that stood out to me was the hinge pin was installed backward? But I'm very new and green and short on Parkers. Don

[Dean Romig]

You’re right, it was reinstalled backwards. And the drop points are not in the Parker Bros. style.





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