Parker 1904 20 gauge

[Ronald L Richardson]

My friend has a Parker 20 gauge manufactured in 1904 according to serial number, Vulcan steel barrels. I can't find any info on Parker 20s. How many were made? What was the usual chambering? Choking? If "Vulcan steel barrels" are equivalent to modern steel, can one safely use modern loads, e.g., 2 3/4" loads?

[Brian Dudley]

The chokes and chambers will have to be measured.

[Dave Noreen]

In 1904, the "standard" 20-gauge shell in North America was a 2 1/2-inch shell with 3/4- and 7/8-ounce loads driven by 2 to 2 1/4-drams of bulk smokeless powder or the equivalent of dense smokeless powder. With Parker Bros. policy of holding chambers 1/8-inch shorter than the intended shell, 2 3/8-inch chambers in Parker Bros. 20-gauges are pretty common. My 1930 VH-Grade 20-gauge has 2 3/8-inch chambers.

Longer 20-gauge NPEs were offered, but the heavier 2 1/2-drams of bulk smokeless powder or 20-grains of dense smokeless powder, such as Infallible or Ballistite, loads pushing the same 7/8-ounce of shot a bit faster, that was only offered in the 2 3/4-inch or longer shells wasn't a catalog item until later. Those loads are not in 1905 listings but are in 1910, and I don't have any catalogs in between.

What may have been done to the chambers, forcing cones and chokes in the 120 years since the gun in question left Meriden is anyone's guess. Chambers, bores and chokes need to be measured by someone with the proper tools and expertise.

[Larry Stauch]

These may help your friend.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/315318540524?itmmeta=01HYZVMQ50ZRABSSWSKQK7M6B5&hash=item496a7318ec:g:YHcAAOSww3tmKQRk&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4HZxGj%2FGSeTiSHPbvwCsKzurGtk 0Cn52azTTgZtOqy0GUn8Srx8l3cD%2BiEQv9xDcNAMiNVKyMfQ XMGvQwgEJc1S21udDhjCJ0EiSxg0Zll4r3L8giW8crkYF2pseP PifXXR12gpLYnJU7QBkSCPOZ7q8L%2B6fKCKlia1d%2BhAdfoo N79vsA5TsMZQmpgkU1tP%2BKZWgYotpxn6xV6Jm5u6qzfbNcOR QQOg2%2FTrWgx6X%2BM1ChOZlDfwq5mRIqDXiVjAo1AHvvl7ZW bvOfPD%2BTdUWCXPth%2BQ6z5t%2BSt6oI3BLCU1P%7Ctkp%3A Bk9SR9Dy0vv3Yw

OR

https://www.ebay.com/itm/326119894856?itmmeta=01HYZVMQ50ZM371ESXGH5182DB&hash=item4bee42af48:g:yqIAAOSwsSNmOqcz&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwBoHesBG6aB1taoc3IDm9uWzaBbq1 6C4%2B3vdkxRmaZjHZjGZxMjB96r4enQACpaTMC2%2BK7pi9o4 J9i9Y12DrcFvOyGUV04cK7xkH99tvhJurJ4JzFQozlO2y75bQ8 IAt3CmhI9LkgVu0TXdCuwHMF3Kf5tVTQoSSKwj2EJHUKMjqL3Z Q8wN06hA6Lu%2BQxzL4Zz0nEz1nFIiIPl%2BQHCAXt5iTDSmsS 4akzfe202swjYCAHN%2Bfy5Rh%2BAP%2BRVM0Ngqmkw%3D%3D% 7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9Dy0vv3Yw