Personally I wouldn't spend the extra cash for a 1/2 12. Everyone I have ever seen was listed at $10K +. For my money I'd go with a 16. I have 1 frame 16's that are lighter than some of my 0 frame 16's.

A study of 1/2 frame guns was made quite a few years ago and the results published in the Parker Pages. The weight tables therein disproved the common notion that 1/2 frame guns are lighter. The only truth to the lighter weight theory was that 1/2 frame 26" guns are lighter than 1 1/2 frame guns of the same barrel length. 28's were substantially equal weight. The study compared 1/2 frames to 1 1/2 frames. I don't recall it including 1 frame guns, that would have been interesting. The weight difference was a matter of ounces.

Unfortunately I don't have access to the PP's now, but I would post a scan of the PP table. I'm presently in Huntington WV en route to the BSA Natl Jamboree.

Rich Anderson's comment is a good one, as the light 12's are meant to shoot a 1 ounce load, and a 16 shoots a 7/8 to 1 oz load nicely.

My favorite bird gun is a DHE 12x26 on a one frame that I picked up from a Julia auction a few years ago. That gun letters at 6# 4oz and I doubt a half frame gun would be much lighter. To be honest I don't think I would want a 12 gage any lighter than that.

Pete, that certainly looks original and unmolested to me... and Runge engraved too.

Russ, I answer to your question the 1/2 frame was designed by Parker Bros. but was not put into use until the Remington era. Dealers and owners put a premium on these gun's more out of rarity than light weight as we have documented 1/2 frame gun's that are nominal in weight for a Parker 12 gauge gun. As far as the wood goes Remington era guns are known for their great wood and I don't believe a distinction was made to put better wood on a 1/2 frame gun.

Is this about the right weight for a 12 ga. 1 frame with 30"

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...ParkerGH15.jpg

Generally speaking Mike, that's right in the ballpark with some a few ounces lighter and others several ounces heavier.

There are many variables that make up a gun weight other than frame size such as forarm style spl VS BTF, ejectors, barrel weight and length and probably the biggest is wood density.

I'd put a premium on a 3 frame 12, try finding one of those.

The greatest misnomer in Parker shotguns: "rare 0 frame 16 gauge". The greatest deal in Parker shotguns: the rarer, but for some reason "less desireable", 2 oz heavier 1 frame 16.