Parker GH 16 GA with Briley sleeve work

[Erick Hodge]

I just purchased a Parker 16 gauge GH on a "0" frame at an auction. (MFG date appears to be 1897.) I saw that the gun had steel barrels but after I received it I have noticed that it has been re-sleeved at the monoblock and the Damascus chamber had been re-blued to match the barrels. The 26" barrels also have Briley thin wall choke tubes. The original rib with an ivory mid-bead wasn cut to overlap the monoblock cut and re-installed on the new barrels. The rib reads "Damascus Steel". I contacted Briley and they confirmed that it sounds like their work and the cost of the work would have been very expensive. The gun points nicely. Should I shoot it and how badly has the gun been depreciated by the Briley work? Any ideas on what it is worth? I hope I did not mess up too badly.

Thank you,
Erick

[Bill Murphy]

The gun has lost all of its collector value. A much better buy would have been an original fluid steel 16 in well maintained condition. If you got it at a good price, just shoot it and enjoy it.

[Mark Ouellette]

Hi Erick,

As Bill stated, no collector value but... if you didn't pay too much you have one heck of a shooter!

Welcome to the world of Parkers!

Mark

[Brian Dudley]

Erick,

This topic does come up often. Is your gun in good condition other than the barrel work?

A 16g. on an 0 frame is a desireable configuration over their 1 frame counterpart.

Who knows why the barrels were originally monoblocked. Maybe the bores were in very bad condition, or a tube blew out. Or it was just done back when everyone was convinced that shooting Damascus meant certain disfigurment.

Either way, the gun has lost it's value as a collector with the barrel work, but has gained value with some as a shooter since modern loads could be shot in it with no concern. If the work was done by a reputable firm, such as Briley, then they would have most likely been proofed after the work was done. Are they proof stamped at all? If they are and the bores are in good condition now, then it should be fine to take out and shoot.

[Paul Ehlers]

As far as I know there is not any type of proof house in America.

I've had Briley sleeve a SxS for me and they for sure don't do any proof work. They may shoot the gun for function, but IMO that's probably all they do after a sleeve job.

[Brian Dudley]

You don't think that they would at least overload the shells when they test fire to make sure that they will handle at least 20% or so more than normal?

[greg conomos]

A 16 ga #1 frame is probably the best proportioned Parker ever made, regardless of desirability.

[lee r moege]

I have a DHE 20 gage on a #1 frame that started life as a 16 gage that was monoblocked from the original Titanic steel and choked Icyl/Mod. It's a great clays gun and I don't worry about using it as a shooter. Best part is I only have 2K in it. I can't get that quality for that price anyplace else. Lee.

[Pete Lester]

As far as I know there is not any type of proof house in America.

I've had Briley sleeve a SxS for me and they for sure don't do any proof work. They may shoot the gun for function, but IMO that's probably all they do after a sleeve job.

H.P. White will proof test a firearm for SAAMI specs.

http://www.hpwhite.com/

[Paul Ehlers]

J.B.

Great information on hpwhite.

Thanks!!

[Bill Murphy]

Sorry, I will not send my gun anywhere to attempt a "blowup" as long as I can buy a wall thickness gauge for a hundred bucks. This British proof business is a crock of government busybodyness. When you buy a gun with British proof marks, you have no idea whether the barrels were struck thin after the gun was proofed, even if it was proofed last year. The only thing the marks tell you is the dimensions of the interior, not the exterior or the wall thickness. If anyone has more respect for British proof than I do, let me know.