As a rule, Parker hammer guns have notoriously heavy hammer springs. I found it just about impossible to cock both hammers with my thumb as I was raising the gun. Like Dean, and because I hunt alone, I walked with both hammers cocked, and the gun opened. I would occasionally drop a shell out of the chamber, so I found that a single strip of Scotch tape, lengthwise on the shell, was all that was necessary to keep them in place.
One of the few times I ever limited on grouse, was with an 0 frame 16ga. lifter, which is now firmly in the grips of another member. I had a grade 2 top lever, 0 frame 16, which was also a joy to carry in the Maine woods. I had Walter Eiserer lighten the hammer springs, by hand filing, and polishing, and that was all that was necessary to be able to cock both hammers with my thumb.

To keep shells from falling out of the chamber, bite lightly on the brass, just enough to put it slightly out of round. Problem solved

its hard enough to get through my woodcock covers with the gun closed and held upright in front of me with one hand while i clear a path with the other, i have tried with an open empty gun after a shot- its somewhat lower than a pain in the neck

i doubt they carried scotch tape in those old canvas coats

but- seriously -safety first and if that works for you - great

i will admit my one 10 gauge has very stiff springs and gets cocked one at a time - but i am not carrying that 10 pounder into alder bottoms

i haven't seen any old pictures of the hunters in the field with their hammer guns open - none of old timers told me as a kid to have the gun open- i was instructed to keep my thumb off the hammer until i was ready to shoot just like the safety now days

I carry a stapler, and Rolodex too. Kinda like a lot of guys I see with three dog collar transmitters, whistles and Lord knows what else.
Or, I'd just put the tape on the shells before I even went out.
If I can't cock both hammers with my thumb while the gun is coming up, then the springs are to stout.

Or yur too old....:rotf:

OK Stosh, I take back every nice thing I ever said about you.

Oh wait, I never did that.

I wanted to say that Dave but I didn't have the 'nads...
Besides, I still haven't got the check from him yet.





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Being the oldest guy in Andover, It's probably a good thing you didn't say anything. And, I only mailed the check yesterday. Jerk:cuss:

Dean, Is Egger sending me a check too?....:whistle: And no Edger I would not have expected you to....

You're just jealous that I used to shoot skeet with Bill Foster...:whistle:






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