Orphan 20 ga hammer barrels

[Harold Lee Pickens]

One of the best things about the PGCA is the wonderful people you meet and befriend here. Got a call the other day about a set of 20 ga O frame Twist top lever 28 in hammer gun barrels that might make a nice addition to my Quality O grade 16 ga O frame with its original 26 in barrels. I took a chance and got them today. Very nice condition and bores, and good wall thickness. They come very close to fitting, and I don't think will take alot of work. It should make a great 16/20 ga set. I have also shown it with my set of 34 in O frame 16 ga Twist barrels that are in poor condition but may hopefully may still be salvageable.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Apparently , there were only 60 grade O hammer guns made in 20 ga , and only 14 in 28" length. Sure makes you wonder what happened to the rest of the gun. I would imagine that they have been refinished .
Let me ask this question--what is your opinion of having the serial# restamped to match the original gun.

[Dean Romig]

I’ve done it and may possibly do it again - not to deceive anyone but only because those barrels that have now been professionally fitted to my gun, are now a piece of that one particular gun.





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[John Davis]

I agree with Dean and have done it as well. Great combo you've put together there.

[CraigThompson]

I have a Grade 0 16 on a 1 frame with 30” IM/IM barrels . I’d love to fit a set of 30” M&F or F&F 20 gauge barrels to the gun .

[Randy G Roberts]

That would be a great set Harold. Can't Briley put a set of thin walls in the 34" set ? Make a dandy 410.

[Mike Koneski]

Briley could fit a set of full length tubes specifically for those 16g bbls in 28 or .410 and it will cost approximately $800.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

The 34 in barrels were beat on and filed on the breech end, don't ask me why. It would take a master metal worker/welder alot of effort to make it right. Look at the gap.

[edgarspencer]

My dog is positive I'm wonderful but the truth is, if I thought I could have gotten you to sell me back the gun, I'd never have told you about the barrels. Still, I'm glad, and not too surprised they are as close to fitting as they are. As I told you, I have found that there seems to be a lot less variation in hammer guns as there is in hammerless guns.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Yes, thank you Edgar, the gun came from Edgar in one of his custom cases a few years ago. Too many years of HIPPA compliance kept me from mentioning your name earlier.
Question, did early fore arms come uncheckered as the one in the pictures for the 34" barrels ser#46296.

[Dean Romig]

Question, did early fore arms come uncheckered as the one in the pictures for the 34" barrels ser#46296.


A fore arm would only be uncheckered if it were a Grade-0 or a Grade-1 that originally came with no checkering on the grip, or by special order or request.

edit: I realize that using the word 'only' is akin to using 'always' and 'never' in reference to a Parker... we can't take it as definite.





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[Harold Lee Pickens]

Thanks Dean, it came without a stock, but is #46296--would assume the grip would not have been checkered either.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Dean, it came without a stock, but is #46296--would assume the grip would not have been checkered either.


Right, Grade-0 with Plain Twist barrels so it very likely wasn't checkered at all.





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[Kevin McCormack]

I agree with Dean's earlier post - by all means preserve and record the SN from the barrel set /receiver /etc. In later discussions about what will be done re: a project, the owner of the original gun may surface and want to reunite the parts of the gun before the project is begun, thus preserving another original gun.

[Jay Oliver]

That is going to make a nice set for sure. As long as you are fitting those 20 gauge barrels(which are gorgeous) I would have those 34" barrels fitted as well even though that might be more involved. I like the idea of 28 gauge tubes in those. Then you will have a nice 16/20/28 set :)

If you don't mind sharing, let us know who you are going to use to fit the barrels. Or send me a PM if you that's easier.

This is a great project. Not many 20 gauge hammer guns...

[Arthur Shaffer]

The 34 in barrels were beat on and filed on the breech end, don't ask me why. It would take a master metal worker/welder alot of effort to make it right. Look at the gap.

If 34" barrels are in decent shape besides the breech, I would put any money spent into breech repair. Those have to be a rare duck too. You can have another set fit and restamped, but anyone with any knowledge will look it up and know it isn't original whether you disclose or not. The price will be significantly lowered either way.

Barrels aren't heat treated to a great degree, so I would think any competent welder could slowly lay a solid overlay on the breech and the chamber be recut to the proper depth and everything cleaned up. They may be able to devise a flexible dam clamped around the outside as far as possible to contain the weld as much as possible. Heat sink past and heat sinks could possible be employed to protect the solder joints. Worst case may be a resolder or relay of the ribs. I have never seen this done, but I do have a Brownell 12 gauge tool that can within a few minutes by hand cut a ring inlet recess which allows you to simply silver solder the ring in, then rechamber to cut the new rim. I have done this to several old 12's that had faulty ignition and they all worked out well. No machinery needed. I would ask around and see if this has been done before.



I would also have the new barrels fitted, but really see no point in spending money to restamp. It would have no monetary appeal to a collector that I could see.

[Arthur Shaffer]

I have an older set of 16/28 tubes with the 28 ga extractor. If you get the barrel repaired, contact me and if I still have them I will send them to you to try out. If they fit, you could play with them and see if you would like to order new ones. These are fixed choke. The Briley 28 tubes I have for a 30" 12 gauge really don't shoot at all like a 28 gauge gun, even though the 12 is an English 6# gun. It's really more of a talking stunt because I shoot a lot of 12ga 3/4 oz anyway.

[Mills Morrison]

Very cool! The network among PGCA members is amazing

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Amen to that Brother Mills!!
Art, thanks so much for the offer, am pursuing options for the gun, may take you up on that.