Edgar, no, I hadn't checked and really appreciate OH's reply. I'm not surprised that it came from Meriden as a 28" since I couldn't detect any indication of the bbls having been cut, but I'm no expert. Your comments on the apparent relationship of bbl lenth to the lightening cuts are interesting.

I don't suppose either of you would have any leads on an original pattern right hammer?

Edgar, my 16 hammer gun on an O frame with 28" barrels has the lightening cuts, and weighs about 6 and a half pounds. It's in the same serial range as the subject gun.

My gun weighs 6 lb 11 oz. The scale is old, but appears to be w/in an oz or 2.

Use the gun, if its safe, and since the odd hammers are on opposite sides, few will notice. Good shooting and a Happy New Year to you. David

I have had four 16 ga hammer guns, three with 28" barrels and one with 26" barrels and all with lightening cuts and have seen a bunch more with lightening cuts with various barrel lengths. I have only seen two o-frame 16 ga. hammerguns without lightening cuts and one of them had 26" barrels.

Without going and measuring the lightning cuts in my 0 frame 16(grade 2 with 26" barrels) I'm guessing the cut may be 1/2" wide by 2" long. That would amount to a tiny bit less than 2 ounces removed. (Steel is .284 pounds/cubic inch)
My gun balances just at the hinge pin, so I was wondering if the cuts were left out of the frames of 30" guns in order to keep the balance point at about the hinge pin also.

Imade an error in my math. So edited it, above. works out to 1.78 ounces

Possibly.

Mike: This maybe what your looking for. Thomas

Thomas, That sure looks like a Parker hammer, But all the ones I have seen have some, or all of the serial number on the back side. Also, he needs the right side hammer.

Edgar, he's showing us the outboard side of the right hammer. It is from a 0-Grade Parker.

Respectfully, Dean