Phil, i sent you the rest of the pics of the 8, tried to get the best shots with the time i had. Thanks to all members for your time and info on this big guy. I didnt have time to take one of the bore but it has some mod. Pitting toward breech end thats it. I also measured the chambers they're 3.25 in. long. And LOP is 14.25 from toe to trigger. Well gotta hit the machine shop bye all.

More Pictures.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...609_153146.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...609_152914.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...609_153556.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...609_154203.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...609_153412.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...302_205055.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...609_154023.jpg

Oops now i realized i shouldnt of used a flash. Im just not used to these fandageled gadgets eh! When i have more time to kill i'll take some outside in natural light with closer views of waterline and so forth. :)

Well it just keeps getting better. Aaron sent me two more pictures to post. Included was a picture of the other family gun a Winchester Model 1873 in the 44-40 caliber also made in 1884. Aaron also shared a little bit on his Grandfather. I asked if it was OK to share and he said it was. Here it is.
It belonged to my great grandpa Seanger a German immigrant who started a flour milling business around 1880 in Hanover, MN. All we have is a box full of Bridgeport loading tools and about 10 8 ga high brass paper leader shells but there missing the primers. He died in 1945 and its been locked in a parlor closet ever since. I picked it up when my grandpa Hackenmueller died in 1994.


http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...609_152948.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...601_132048.jpg

boy oh boy..two very desireable guns youre grandpa sure knew his guns... charlie

arron with all that reloading equipment you can be able to load up some new loads for your 8 ga.. i have some hulls in my collection like yours but do not have any reloading equipment like yours.the old reloading equipment in 8 ga is very scarse stuff... charlie

Two wonderful guns to have as family heirlooms. The Parker is really something but the Winchester is icing on the cake. One day Charlie you will find a parker 8 with 4'' chambers.

I only cleaned up those tools with a little oil, hopefully someday I'll have the time to reload and shoot that puppy. Does anyone know how many 8 gauges that have been found and documented?

Of the approximate 400 eights made by Parker (mostly composite barreled), I have seen about 60. Yours is the first one I have seen with the reloading tools. As Charlie said, those are extremely scarce--scarcer than the guns, in my opinion.

We also have the actual 8 ga. Hand loader when i get back from salmon fishing I'll take a picture of that too. Have a good one eh!

Aaron, where are you going for salmon?

The Parker Story lists 378 eight gauges in the extrapolated totals in the Grades section in Volume 1. I didn't count the actual number of eights listed in the Appendix in Volume 2, which only lists the eights found in the existing records. The Appendix total should only be a few fewer than the extrapolated totals. The Grades section lists 90 zero grades, 94 grade 1, 138 grade 2, 48 grade 3, 4 grade 4, and 4 grade 5. At least one eight gauge has been upgraded to A-1 Special. At least one has been converted to a floor lamp. At least one, probably a few more, have been factory rebarrelled to ten gauge or twelve gauge. A few more have probably been lost at sea or in land based storms, or been lost to rust and neglect. At least one and probably a few more are in Great Britain or Western Europe. A few more are probably in the Orient. Parker sold a few as whalers or as other seagoing tools, and no one can predict what became of them.

Lake Michigan, at Port Washington-not much on fishing but weve been catching em here and there.

http://8 ga. Handloader This is the 8 ga. Handloader crimper. Exc. Shape attic cond. Can anyone tell me how to use it? Thanks everyone.

the pictures would not come thru for me..i ve got a super old cumputer maybe be the reason... charlie

Aaron sent me these last night to post, I am running a little behind today.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...614_224557.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...614_224722.jpg
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http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...614_234803.jpg

Sorry pictures came upside down. I think this is why Aaron has some confusion on Model and weight, etc. Letter states what he has been quoting.

that roll crimper in 8 ga gota be one rare bird..this is my first to see even in a picture..sir you have some nice collectibles with that 8 ga.. charlie

Thanks charlie, all tools are in exc. Shape they were found not to long ago in grandmas attic in a shoe box. I just took some old rags and a little oil and wiped them down.

Charlie,

I have a M. Hartley & Co. catalog reprint from 1903 (I think) and it shows all kinds of reloading, cleaning equipment, accessories, shells, components and guns of different makers. They list the gauges and prices of each of these items. The 8 gauges are listed with all of the others just priced higher.

Jack Kuzepski

jack im really glad you posted about the 8 ga stuff...until now ive never seen or heard of the 8 ga roll crimper i honestly thought they must have never made them..what the price of that 8 ga roll crimper in 1903..and how much higher was it than the other gages... thanks jack.... charlie

Where can I find out what these tools are and what there purpose is? I am going to try and reload those 8 ga. Leader shells some day.

There is an 8 gauge reloading press on ebay

I'm sure someone would be interested in. (It's not mine)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-Gauge-Shot...item58a12d93af

Lloyd

Did anyone here buy the ebay reloader? The seller's measurements suggested that it may be a ten gauge loader.

i bid on it and lost but im with you bill i think it was a ten ga ....if it turns out to be a 8 ga i ll be sorry i did not go higher... charlie

Guys I took the plunge. Winning bid was 51.00 dollars. Hope it is an 8ga or I blue 74.00 dollars with shipping. Hope it was worth the risk.

I would to know if it turns out to be an 8 as well I followed it but gave up when it passed 30.00 bucks. Hopefully you will give us an update when it arrives.

The mans discription was all over the place. He was just going by what he was told. If his measurement of .875 across the shell is anywhere near correct than it is an 8ga. At least that is my opion.

wayne hope it turns out to be a 8 ga for you..im the guy that bid up to 50.. charlie

I Bid on the reloader right away then started researching. I sent the seller this web site so he could check the measurements.
http://www.dave-cushman.net/shot/shotshellloads.html

I was sent back this from the seller , and decided to pass.

"According to the conversion charts 7/8 is .775, the press shell holder is 15/16th which converts to .8, 1 inch converts to .85, so I would guess it is a 8 gauge, since a 10 gauge is .775 of an inch"

I too would like to know if the reloader turns out to be for an 8 gauge. If so can you share better pictures.

Im probable getting stuck with a piece of junk. If I had of known you were Bidding I would not have bid.

That's OK, I quit bidding once I thought it was an 10 gauge. I almost bought it thinking I might be able to convert it. Really even if it is a 10 gauge you did not pay to much in my opinion. At the price of 10 gauge shells savings can add up pretty quick.

He referred to the shell holder diameter as 15/16". I emailed him that 15/16" is exactly the dimension of a ten gauge shell base. He replied to me, but didn't mention this in the ad. The dimension of an eight gauge shell base is one inch when it has the industrial base intact. The seller must have gone to "Funny School" where one inch converts to .85 as Phillip posts.

it still a interesting loader whether 8 ga or ten ga..remember the unusal markings seller discribed...you know in tom arbrusts book he talks of a fellow who made 8 ga presses out of the 600 junior loader...i called the man and he said he no longer made them.i for one would be interested in one if price was not too high... a good machinest good make them if he had the tools... charlie

Charlie I am with you. Would love to have a conversion kit for an 8 gauge. I have an extra 600 just waiting to be converted. Also Charlie when you start shooting the Ball loads out of the 8 gauge I would really like to here more about this. I will be able to hunt all big Game in AZ now with the 8 with the exception of Bison. I would like to take a cow elk and a deer with mine.

phil i will let you know before long about the round ball load...boy you talking the good stuff..taking a elk with the 8 ga would be something.... charlie

This person was really messed up. 7/8 in is .875 not .775. He could not possible measure the rim diameter with a tape measurer. I am kind of relieing on the fact that he was told it was an 8ga not any of his measurements. Probable neither one of these fellows new what they are talking about. But it is worth the risk for 51.00.

Wayne, If it turns out to be a 10 and you do not want it, I am sure you can sell it here.

Charlie, I have the 8 gauge bug bad. I will send in next year for a cow permit in AZ as well as New Mexico. I think this would be a great 8 gauge hunt. I have shot a number of elk with a rifle and a Bow under 40 yards. I can not hunt elk with the 8 this year in AZ because I drew an Archery Bull tag for Unit 10 in AZ. One of, the if not the premier units for taking a trophy bull during the rut. I will set up a camp and take the full 2 week season if needed.

the 8 ga bug is a bad bug to have..i ve had it since i heard about the big guns...now you have got me excited about the hunt...you will need to get a note book and keep up with the details...this will make for a great storey..i can see that elk now in the parker pages with all the details...ya know tom armbrust s friend took a big bull buffalo with a big 8 ga double rifle a few years back... i can see that big 8 ga leaned up against that elk rite now.. which gun have you chosen for the big hunt...you will have to measure the muzzle end real good and have amould made for that size..a fellow in england made my mold he makes them out of brass ..quality piece of work andputs your name oin it..think i gave about 55 dollars shipping and all... yep think i still got the fever too... charlie