Recoil pad advice

[Loren Tillett]

I've added a couple of Parkers to my little collection of late, and was shooting this past week when I came across a very knowledgeable collector who suggested that I change out the recoil pad on my 20 gauge, as it is not appropriate. It's a 1929 vintage Parker, V grade. Nice all the way around. What's the proper pad for that vintage? And what's a good source? And while I'm at it, can anyone assist with details on the sight beads? This 20 doesn't have them (broken off?) and I would like to get the proper ones installed. This collector also told me that the 20 did not come with a mid-barrel one originally, but there's a hole that I wouldn't mind filling. So I have two beads that need replacing. I assume that a good gunsmith is my best bet. Anyone know one near Richmond, VA? Thanks for all your help.

[Bill Murphy]

The proper and well fitting pad is the Galazan supplied No-Shok pad. Other pads available and proper are too big for a 20 gauge gun. As for beads, you are on your own because of the prohibition on the sale of ivory. However, often our members offer pairs of vintage Lyman beads from their collections. Such offers have been seen as recently as last week.

[Brian Dudley]

A smaller sized heart vent hawkins would also be plenty appropriate for the gun. But you would have to find a new old stock one.

[Dave Noreen]

The Jostam recoil pads were the dominant pads in the U.S. in 1929, the Anti-Flinch --

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Hy-Gun --

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Air Cushion --

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I've long suspected these were used in many instances where Silvers was in the gun makers advertising. Decades ago at a gun show in Richmond, VA, I examined an FE-Grade Ansley H. Fox and I could see the Jostam logo through the leather facing.

Also, the Goodrich was similar to the Silvers --

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[Loren Tillett]

Thanks gents. Yes, I saw the Lyman beads. But don’t know if they are the correct size. And they seemed to have sold. I will begin my searches. If anyone sees or has these items for sale, I’m the buyer!! Please alert me. I’m headed to auction in St Michaels, MD next weekend. Perhaps I will come across someone there who can assist.

[Bill Murphy]

Brian is right. So far, no repro Hawkins heart pads, just expensive originals.

[Dave Noreen]

This collector also told me that the 20 did not come with a mid-barrel one originally, but there's a hole that I wouldn't mind filling.

The only way to know if your gun started life with twin ivory sights would be to get a research letter on it from the PGCA.

[Loren Tillett]

Thanks. Yes research letter coming. But I’ve not seen one with that level of detail. My 12 ga grade 2 Damascus letter simply had date of order and destination, which was a hardware store. Maybe I will get lucky with more info on the 20. But it’s a V grade. So nothing special. Except it can break clays and drop quail and pheasant handily!��

[Loren Tillett]

Researcher: Thank you. You're probably Chuck, who prepares the letters. Alas, I will not know on the 20 gauge. According to the serial number query there are no records for this 20. I pulled the trigger too soon on the last reply. I ordered and received a letter for the 16 gauge I recently bought, not the 20. Thanks, again.

[John Davis]

I don't like bead sights and shoot better without them, so I remove them from any gun I shoot competitively or a lot.

[CraigThompson]

I don't like bead sights and shoot better without them, so I remove them from any gun I shoot competitively or a lot.

You surely don’t mean you shoot trap WITHOUT a front bead ?

[CraigThompson]

I understand the desire for an appropriate pad and would never argue the point . However if it’s a gun I shoot a lot or plan to shoot a lot more than likely I’ll have a KickEez put on the gun . If just for display/looks I’m fine with Silvers Hawkins etc .

[John Davis]

You surely don’t mean you shoot trap WITHOUT a front bead ?

No bead sights on my trap guns. And if I can’t remove them, I black them out with nail polish.

[Loren Tillett]

As for the pad, the collector who told me to "fix the one I have on the 20", I respect his sense of originality. I don't care much for what kind. The 20 is such a mild little thing. And I'm shooting RSTs with low recoil. And I wear padding. So any period piece will work for me. I'm disappointed that someone cut off the butt, but I can't change that. I'm a sucker for making sure my boats and guns and guitars are as original as they can be. As for beads or not, I don't even see them when shooting. It's just a nice ornamentation and if Parker put it them there, they belong there! :) I remember seeing a nice little ivory bead on my wife's grandfather's Ithaca 20 some years back and thought it was the sweetest touch. I just don't know how to size them and/or how they are mounted. I looked at the hole(s) the other day and the front one appears to have been broken off. But for all of the great tools I own, I don't know what to use to extract the base. Is it threaded? And what are the thread sizes? The other one has been filled in, I believe. Sorry for the questions. Just want to get it right. Thanks, gents.

[Frank Srebro]

Personally I'd go with a vintage/NOS Jostam Hy-Gun over a No Shoc. Nominal 1" thick for the Hy-Gun and 7/8" for the No Shoc. I see Hy-Gun pads in FS adverts and on Ebay quite often and every one I ever bought was still soft and cushiony, as compared with NOS Hawkins pads that are often hard as a rock. Here's a Hy-Gun on a 20 bore.

[Scott Smith]

Information on Lyman and Marbles bead options for vintage American guns:

[Brian Dudley]

If you do want a new old stock hy-gun. I have several of them on hand.

[Loren Tillett]

Scott: Thank you!! Superb vintage pieces that sum it up.

[Craig Budgeon]

Dan May in Oswego, NY has come up with a remarkable solution to replace Ivory beads. You can not tell that the material he uses is not Ivory visually.

[Loren Tillett]

Thank you Craig. I will look him up. I may have a solution. Just found a couple of vintage beads online. Now I need to have the nerve to mount them. I will check threads and details when they arrive. Need to determine what the existing tap sizes are in my rib, etc. I'm seeing that in the past you could order tap, small spanner wrench and the beads. That's what's great about this site and the experienced owners who take the time to inform and share information.