ODD Barrel lengths

[Phillip Carr]

I would like to know if there has ever been any documented Parker barrel lengths such as 26 1/2, or 36 1/4 for example.

[Bruce Day]

deleted

[Bill Murphy]

I have an order in my fiiles for a 26 1/2" barrel Parker. It is the only one I remember seeing. I have not seen the stock book entry for that order, nor have I seen the gun.

[Brian Dudley]

Wasn't it more common for there to be odd original lengths on earlier (hammer) guns? If I remember correctly, there was a some early processes or equipment that resulted in barrel ends getting damaged from time to time and they would clean them up, thus having them be shorter.

Either way, I do not think that Parker actually recorded the odd lengths, if manufacturing resulted in such. Maybe Mr. Bishop or Mr. Conrad could tell us more if odd lengths are listed.

[Phillip Carr]

I have recently purchased a 10 gauge with 36 1/4" Special steel ejector barrels. I will take some pictures and post the end of the barrels later today.

[Dave Noreen]

I seem to recall a Fred Kimble gun that was ordered with 31- or 33-inch barrels.

[Brian Dudley]

The barrels can touch at the ends for up to several inches, it all depends on how they were constructed.
The rib matting will also tell you more. It will usually terminate before the end of the rib. Though the matting going all the way to the end is not always a sure sign of cut barrels, it is at least an indication of it.
If your matting does terminate before the end of the rib, I would say the length is original.

[Russ Jackson]

I once owned 106312 , It was cataloged as the only 25 " Barreled 28 Ga. D Grade ,A very nice gun and felt nice in hand ,BUT ,I just had to have that 410 ! Also ,I have owned a couple of 29" VH , one DH 16 W/ Vulcan Barrels and two 27" Barreled guns that lettered also ,One D Grade 16, and a VH Grade ! Every one of them had the Blank space at the end of the Matting ,Barrels touched and all still had their Barrel Keels ! Best ; Russ

[Bill Murphy]

I thought we were discussing original fractional inch barrels. There are many odd length Parkers in non fractional lengths. I will try to find the order for the 26 1/2" gun.

[Bill Murphy]

OK, here is the order for the 26 1/2" gun. Order #66312, November 12, 1896, for DH #85,461. Mr. A.B.F. Kinsey or Kinney, Worcester, Mass. ordered a 12 gauge DH with 26 1/2" Damascus "Nice Match" barrels. The gun was ordered at 6 1/2 pounds, 3" drop, 14" length of pull. He asked for a "nice stock" with pistol grip. Do any of us own that unusual little DH? This gun is listed in the Serialization Book as a DH 26" capped pistol grip gun.

[Brian Dudley]

6.5 lbs. Now that is a light 12g.

Odd that the gun was ordered with 26.5" barrels specifically.

[Russ Jackson]

I thought we were discussing original fractional inch barrels. There are many odd length Parkers in non fractional lengths. I will try to find the order for the 26 1/2" gun.

Dave had mentioned the " Fred Kimble " gun at 31 or 33 , I thought I was on the same page with my post ! Sorry:banghead:, Russ

[Bill Murphy]

Russ, it's interesting that Dave mentioned the Fred Kimble B Grade ten gauge, which is, in fact, a 33" gun. There is one other B Grade 33" ten gauge, also made for a Parker shooter, W.F. Wheal. The Wheal gun later got a set of 12 gauge barrels. The only other 33" ten is a C Grade made for W.S. Perry, another Parker shooter. I was lucky to have bought the 33" C and another 33" Perry gun, not a Parker, at a Pennsylvania auction a few years ago. The Wheal gun and the Perry gun are consecutive serial numbers. Apparently, Parker Brothers felt that Fred Kimble's success with the 33" barrels was reason enough to outfit two other of their favorite shooters with 33" guns. All three guns are 11 pound #4 frame pigeon guns. Oddly these shooters only shot them for Parker Brothers for two years, after which Parker made new hammerless guns for their company shooters.

[Bill Murphy]

Brian, yes, 6.5 pounds is light, but Parker built 6 pound 12 gauges also, one 6 pound VH was made with 22" Vulcan Steel barrels. Just another oddball order we found when copying the records.

[Chris Travinski]

I have a GH 16 ga. w/damascus barrels that letter to 26 1/2", unfortunately they're now 25" but still touch at them muzzle.

[Phillip Carr]

Here are a few of my pictures of the gun. 10 Gauge Special Steel ejector barrels 36 1/4". Need some work but shhots well as is. 1920 era gun.


http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/Philcarr/Parker/026.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/Philcarr/Parker/021.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/Philcarr/Parker/019.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/Philcarr/Parker/012.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/Philcarr/Parker/002.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/Philcarr/Parker/007.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/Philcarr/Parker/001.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/Philcarr/Parker/018.jpg

[charlie cleveland]

boys shes a long barrel beauty...what does she weigh..goose gun for sure...is she chambered for the short shells or the 3 1/2... charlie

[John Truitt]

I have handled/ measured/ owned several damascus parkers all of which had none even barrel lengths. Most were within 1/8". (always 1/8 over length).
I do know of one very high grade fluid steel barreled gun that is 1/4" under length. Does not appear cut/ tapered with etc.

But enough of that. Please tell us more about that 36 incher. Way cool. Very nice find. What is the unmarked barrel weight? What does she weight overall?
Enjoy. That is definitely one fine shooting iron.

[Phillip Carr]

I did shoot two quail with it but it is not a gun to carry. After a short hunt it went in the case and back in the truck for the day.Weighs 10 1/2 LBS. 6. 6 is the unstruck barrel weight.

Charlie The chambers are 3 1/2 inches I am guessing they were opened up?