GH 8 Guage

[Jared Valeski]

I had a chance today to examine JD's GH 8 Bore. It's not the highest condition Parker around, but what a piece of machinery. 36" Barrels and a #5 frame. He told me it weighed in around 13 pounds. I think most of you know who JD is.

[charlie cleveland]

that gh sounds like a lot of gun probably a rare piece..most of the 8 ga s were built on 6 and 7 frames...my old lifter 8 ga is built on the 7 frame lots of iron in these old cannons.... i think maybe the 5 frame would be rare but i aint never seen to many 8 ga parker s just read or here about them....im facinated by these old big bores...some body tell us about 5 frame 8 ga s.... charlie

[Dean Romig]

Now who do you suppose John Dunkle borrowed an 8 gauge GH from :corn:

[Bill Murphy]

The eight in question is a pretty nice gun.

[Mark Ouellette]

Jent,

I have no idea what this Parker 8 gauge is but I own a number of EH 10's and at least one GH Parker 10 gauge which was made in 1895.

Mark

[charlie cleveland]

what about the 5 frame is it rare or not... charlie

[Bill Murphy]

If it is a 5 frame, it is rare. I doubt that it is a 5 frame.

[Jared Valeski]

If I recall my conversation with JD correctly on Saturday, I 'm pretty sure he said it was a #5 frame. I could be mistaken and it certainly could be a #6. Barrels are for sure 36" He offered to let me take it down, but as I was not seriously interested as a buyer, I declined. I should have just for the educational benefit. As for it being a GH or EH I do not know which, as these large frame, large bore Parkers are new to me. The engraving certainly resembled G grade. I believe the price is around 15K if anyone is interested. Don't think JD does very much on the internet or forums.
JJV

[Bill Zachow]

I have made it a project over the years of Parker collecting to keep track of most of the 8 gauges I came across. I have only ever seen and handled one 5 framed 8. It is serial #11672 and the last I knew, resided in a New England collection. I would have to say that 5 framed 8s are extremely rare.

[Mark Landskov]

http://www.pugsguns.com/findItem.action?id=2318

Here is an 8 bore at a nice shop down the road from my place. Sigh......!

[Bill Murphy]

If I am not mistaken, the pictures Jent posted show the gun being discussed in this thread. The pictures were taken at the 2011 Vintagers. Mr. Zachow's statement is correct. #5 frames are very rare and the one he cites is not a hammerless gun. I would like to measure known #5 frame guns to see if they actually conform to #5 measurements shown in Parker Brothers drawings. Could they be mismarked? JD, how about investing in a PGCA letter if you want to get your fifteen grand?

[John Havard]

Out of curiosity, what were 8-gauge shotguns used for back in the day? Were they primarily used by market hunters? Can anyone offer a bit of insight into this?

[Don Kaas]

Contrary to the popular myth that breechloading 8 gauge guns were used primarily by "market hunters", most (and certainly virtually all of the relatively rare and expensive Parker guns) were used by well heeled sportsmen for pass shooting waterfowl. They are still used in Britain today for that very purpose. See John Sullivan's recent book on the famous Carroll Island Club, "Big Men and Big Guns" for more references. For some reason, they are often confused with "punt guns" which a shoulder fired 8 gauge Parker certainly is not. While I am sure there were exceptions, when you total the number of 8 gauge guns made by Parker, Smith, Lefever and a handful of other makers they were very, very rare even during the "golden age" of waterfowling of 1880-1920. Even the fairly cheap Shattuck single barrel 8 gauges are rarely seen. Considering their low numbers and cost to buy and feed them statistically not many "market hunters" could have used them. Both Askins and Buckingham decried the symbolic regulatory banning of the 8 gauge in 1918 for waterfowling as illogical. This silly ban remains in effect today when a 3 1/2" 10 or even 12 gauge repeater can legally hold and shoot the equivalent of 3 eight guage loads. I doubt these subsistance types were buying highly tariffed Westley Richards or Tolleys either. During the breech loading era, the market hunters gun of choice was the 10 gauge hammer double and later the A-5/M11 automatic. I have owned six 8 bore guns over the years. I currently have #120227 and #6 frame DH with 36" Damascus barrels and its original skeleton buttplate (the original owner in the Hudson valley must have been a big, hard man himself).

[charlie cleveland]

have you shot the 8 ga very much don...charlie

[Don Kaas]

Charlie, The big DH doesn't get out much. I've shot it here on the farm but it might be used in anger at an undisclosed location on the Atlantic seaboard this winter...:shock:

[Ed Blake]

Read NB's "Are We Shooting Eights Gauges?" I doubt the modern game warden would be able to recognize an 8-gauge even if someone dropped it on his toe.

[charlie cleveland]

what loads do you shoot in the old 8 don....ive shot some 3 ounce loads in destreys old loomis..but most time i stick with 1 3/4 to 2 1/2 ounces ive put a few hundred rounds through the loomis and parker and the old guns have not shown any wear or wood damage even with the pumpkin balls ive loaded up... some of them game wardens no there stuff..but some are young and learning.... charlie

[Bill Murphy]

Ammunition recognition goes down a bit when the headstamp says "10 gauge".

[Don Kaas]

I have some Gamebore BP 2 oz loads and some of Tom Armbrust's 2 1/2 oz loads. Considering how much it cost, I would hate to have the DH confiscated:crying:. Nevertheless, the tiny bit of libertarian in me tells me it would be a victimless crime:nono:. I could kill my limit of ducks, brant and geese a WHOLE lot quicker (and cheaper...) with my Benelli SBE II loaded with 3 rounds of 2 oz. Hevi-shot than I could with a ponderous damascus 8 bore...a Whole lot quicker...:eek:

[Bill Murphy]

Those metallic "10 gauge" stickers for the bases of eight gauge shells are cheaper when you buy more. If I see a game warden with a bore micrometer, I'm out of there.

[Dave Suponski]

Now thats funny.....:rotf: But how do ya explain the lead shot?...:rolleyes:

[George Blair]

:whistle:Now thats funny.....:rotf: But how do ya explain the lead shot?...:rolleyes:

No need to explain, the overshot card is stamped Bismuth!:rotf:

[Dean Romig]

Hmmm... let's see, a warden with a bore micrometer and a degree in metalurgy... what are the chances? :corn:

[Bill Murphy]

My stash of Bismuth eights is up to 130 now. That is more than a lifetime supply for me. Mr. Gary Herman still has some of the factory loaded Eley Bismuth eights available. He isn't real good about shipping them, but he takes a few boxes to gun shows.

[Don Kaas]

Wardens don't need a degree in metallurgy or a bore mic. Many of them carry a small device that passes electrical current through a shell when it is inserted in the device. The device measures the resistance and indicates lead or steel. Niceshot and other "hevi" metal shot can fool it and register "lead". (Ask Destry, he was glad he had his lawyer at his side for that one). I think it takes up to a 10 bore shell. Now if an 8 bore doesn't fit in it, one might be prepared for some questions...Sir, what gauge shotshell is this?

[calvin humburg]

Ok Dean you've did it again surpassed the memory in my grey matter. What in sam hill is metalurgy (study of metals?) Nice shot is safe in extra tight chokes no? ch

[Don Kaas]

Niceshot is safe in tight (Parker) chokes and tighter Fox ones too...

[Mark Ouellette]

And 1 & 3/8 oz #2 Nice Shot in a short ten is known to have put down up at least 5 :whistle: Canada Geese in a single shot from a trusty ol' Parker...

[Don Kaas]

FLOCK SHOOTER!:bowdown:

[Kevin McCormack]

Just returned from the Easton, MD prelude to the Waterfowl Festival ("Decoy Swap & Sell Meet" held in the parking lot of the Talbot County MD Community Center). Just like Woodstock; 3 days of decoys and gunning paraphernalia instead of peace and music; where the big 8's scarcely cause an uproar any more. The big Guyette & Schmidt auction held yesterday and today featured 4 or 5 documented and provenanced punt guns, which went for big bucks. These babies make an 8 ga. look like flavor straws next to large diameter PVC plumbing pipes. The best of the lot was a behemoth 2 1/2 -inch bore gun with a barrel about 6 ft. long and a stock fitting for securing into the stern of the punt that reminded me of the ship cannon's cradle and mount for the standard Royal Navy 12-pound gun (watch "Master and Commander; The Far Side of The World"). Complete with hand-forged hinge loops, turnbuckles and restraining rope harness anchors, it was truly awesome! I've been thinking about building one for years; put me back thinking about the hunt for a 37 or 40MM Bofors or Lhatvi anti aircraft cannon barrel, recommended to me years ago by the late Alfred Gallifent of Warminster PA, who in his apprenticeship began service by cleaning and "tightening" many of the still-legal punt guns in use in Great Britain. Makes me want to smoke a fine imported cigar, just thinking about it.......

[Dean Romig]

This one doesn't look like a Parker but looks to be an 8 bore judging by it's size.


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