Determining gauge of gun

[David Codding]

I just bought a Parker 10 gauge shotgun. I cannot find where on my gun it is stamped that this is a 10 gauge shotgun. Does anyone know where it would be stamped. It is serial number 97692 frame size 6 type of barrel is twist. Parker grade is ph. Made in 1900. Can you find out who originally owned my gun. My pica membership number is 3954. Thanks.

[Bob Jurewicz]

Dave,
The gauge should be stamped on the barrel lug flat (that which goes into the receiver). Your gun was not listed in the resource book so I can't provide and info.
Welcome to "the world of Parkers"!
Bob Jurewicz

[charlie cleveland]

you may have a 8 ga instead of a ten ga with that frame size of 6...but if it turns out to be a ten ga its real good too with that size frame....how bout some pictures of that gun these fellows and i like to look at these new parkers...and with pictures the fellas can about tell you anything you want to know...as you know this is the best place to talk about parkers there is.... charlie

[David Codding]

Thanks, Bob, for your response. However, the only numbers that were stamped on the barrel lug of the receiver were the last three numbers of the serial number which is 692. Bob, its got to be somewhere...what am I to do ? Am I going blind?

Charlie, thank you for your response. I will send pictures as soon as I can. I shot trap on Saturday and with my Parker 10 gauge I was quite the center of attention. I did better than expected and was amazed at how calm and comfortable the recoil was which was lighter then the other 12 gauges there. I guess my 11 pound 13 ounce Parker along with the 2 7/8 RST 1 1/4 ounce shot loads helped out. I love my Parker.

[George Lander]

David: I just checked and there are surviving records on SN 97692 that you can obtain a research letter from PGCA. It may tell you who the gun was originally shipped to.

Best Regards, George

[David Codding]

Thanks, George, I'll definitely obtain a research letter from PGCA. Love to find out who the original owner was. Still trying to find the stamp saying it's a 10 gauge, though.

[Bill Murphy]

A gauge stamp is almost never seen on early Parkers, so you can quit looking. The frame size stamp should be on the bottom of the rear barrel lug. The barrel weight stamp is on the left barrel flat. Are you confusing the weight stamp with the frame size stamp. Of course, at that weight, it is most obviously a large frame. What is your barrel weight stamp?

[Dave Noreen]

People were obviously smarter 100 plus years ago. They knew what their guns were. They didn't need things like gauge, chamber length and chokes stamped on their guns!!

[David Codding]

Thanks, Bill. The barrel weight is 6 lbs 13 ounces and it's 36 inches long. I guess this gun would be called a "flocker". And you a probably right...it's too old too have a gauge stamp.

[Bill Murphy]

Wow, that sounds like some wonderful gun. We can't wait to hear about your PGCA letter. #6 frame tens are quite scarce. My #6 frame PH grade 34" ten weighs more than 13 pounds and the barrels are unstruck eight gauge diameter with .100 inch minimum barrel wall thickness. It was originally an eight gauge, factory rebarrelled to ten gauge when eight gauges were outlawed for migratory fowl.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

A flocker? What does that mean?


Destry

[George Lander]

Destry: I think that he is referring to "flock shooting" which, of course, is illegal in this country now.

Best Regards, George

[Destry L. Hoffard]

If that's the meaning of the phrase, it's far far far off base. The factory load for a 10 gauge in the days this gun was made would have been 1 1/4 ounce. That's a modern 12 gauge heavy field load today which is certainly not a "flocker" type load.

Even with a magnum 10 gauge shooting 2 to 2 1/4 ounce loads they wouldn't be much of a "flocker". I've been shooting one since I was in high school and can remember very very few occasions when more than one bird was taken at a shot.

Just because a gun is old and heavy with a larger than 12 gauge bore doesn't mean it's purpose was to devastate "flocks" of waterfowl. They were long range guns meant for heavy powder charges, the weight of the gun kept down the recoil.


D

[George Lander]

If that's the meaning of the phrase, it's far far far off base. The factory load for a 10 gauge in the days this gun was made would have been 1 1/4 ounce. That's a modern 12 gauge heavy field load today which is certainly not a "flocker" type load.

Even with a magnum 10 gauge shooting 2 to 2 1/4 ounce loads they wouldn't be much of a "flocker". I've been shooting one since I was in high school and can remember very very few occasions when more than one bird was taken at a shot.

Just because a gun is old and heavy with a larger than 12 gauge bore doesn't mean it's purpose was to devastate "flocks" of waterfowl. They were long range guns meant for heavy powder charges, the weight of the gun kept down the recoil.


D

Destry: I totally agree, but I think that's what he was referring to when he used the word "flocking"

Best Regards, George

[Bill Murphy]

Destry, the first time I picked up my #6 frame ten, I made a comment to the owner. "This is a heavy flocker." He replied, "Yup, it's one flockin' hard shooter too."

[David Codding]

Charlie asked that I upload a few photos of my gun. Hopefully, I attached them correctly.

[John Dallas]

"Yeah, but those flockers were flying Messerschmidts"

[charlie cleveland]

this is a interesting gun...and bills gun as gotta be a ducks nitemare... charlie

[Jay Gardner]

Beautiful old gun.

[Pete Lester]

Did I read correctly? This is a NH/PH 10ga on a six frame with 36" barrels?

[Bill Murphy]

Very nice looking gun.

[charlie cleveland]

thats a nice a shooting piece as a man could ask for treat her well...beautiful gun and thanks for the pictures... charlie