Jack Cronkite, the Hosford gauge will not measure 30" barrels from the muzzle. It will measure about 16" and consequently will measure 32" barrels at all points if you switch directions. The video is very informative and the tool is a wonderful piece of design. I wish Jon Hosford much luck in the sale of his instrument. I may bite the bullet some day since the ability to measure a 28 gauge barrel may pay for itself in one bad barrel discovered. Everyone should watch the video at least once.

I have Jon's gauge, only wished I had bought six months earlier, bought a t UP shoot last summer and it's a great gauge and I found out that the little DHE damascus 16 ga that I bought from Julia's was not 30 thousands (Bill measure it for me) but 15. When I contacted Julias they told me to pound sand even though Bill manages their gun dept :banghead:. Sorry for the rant... Eric

Thanks Bill: I better watch it twice I thought he spoke of doing the 30" in one pass so appreciate your pointing out that error. I will edit my post to avoid confusion

Francis: I agree with you about a less than quality tool ultimately costing you. I'm understanding that both these tools will give you an accurate measurement, so quality ends up depending on how you want to use it.

I don't see the stars and stripes with the Manson at Brownell's. Here is what Brownell states on their site regarding all their products:

Made In The U.S.A.

Products marked with the Stars and Stripes are proudly made in the U.S.A.

Many customers have asked us to show which products are made in America, and we’ve begun working with our vendors to identify them. This information, however, is not available for all items nor does it imply that foreign merchandise is of lesser quality. We will continue to gather this information to assist our customers in making informed buying decisions, and will keep our website current with the latest information.

I don't have a wall thickness gauge, so can't answer your question about measuring chokes. Leave that to those who have them.


I'm still a student of all this and have learned more about guns since joining the Parker forums than all the years I shot them (hunting only).

Eric: I have only looked at Julia's, as they sell way outside my range. A little surprised to hear their response though. Was wall thickness mentioned at all in the lot info??

Jack and Bill,When I watched the video I thought he mentioned being able to do 32" barrels.I better watch it again....:rolleyes:

Dave, if I remember corectly gauge is downstairs it is 16" long so yes you could do 32" barrels, as you can measure from both the front of the barrel and the chamber area. Also Jon gives you his cell number in case you have any questions and it is made here in Michigan....

Yes Jack I called them to question the wall thinkness that was posted on all three of the 16 ga guns. Bill got back to me the next day and said the catalog was wrong and proceeded to give the wall thickness for all three guns, I hope the buyers of those other two Parker 16 ga's have the wall thickness checked they maybe holding a bomb :eek:

Thanks Eric...:)

Francis: The "back door" discussion is here. I would say it would be not quite the same as "lunch box specials", which, as I understand those, were stolen from companies, armed forces and then had identifying marks removed. As Dean pointed out, a "back door" Parker is not exactly verifiable. Maybe Mr. Parker appointed someone to always be "lookin' out my back door". [CCR]

Hey- another John Fogarty fan and also a "Parkerite"
 

Boy do I remember CCR--what a interesting LSD trip that song was=-almost in league with Bob Dylan's Highway 61 revisited. I would trust Brownell's to tell the truth, if they state their products are all USA made, that works for me. I think I will order their Manson gauge soon- besides the 16 Parker O frame I also acquirred a 12 Smith Grade 4 with Chain Damascus barrels--As it is common for those barrels to develop pits from black powder and older primers of that era- honing them out can indeed reduce wall thickness. Miking the walls of each tube and muzzle and breech is a start, but not a guarantee.

I'm not a big fan of the Brit rock groups, but believe either Pink Floyd or Led Zepplin did a song with the "rear view mirror" tag line inserted-all good, as I always have the boom box on when in the gunroom/workshop in the basement furnace room area-Bob Seger, Bob Dylan, Steve Miller and others from the past work for me!:banghead:

"Oh Mr. Sandman, bring me a ----? Minty Parker"
 

Eric- thanks for the informative post. I only know Wes Dillon at the James D. Operation in Maine, I knew him from earlier days at Cabelas. I do NOT know Bill or Mr. Julia, and I am interpreting your comment about the "sand-pounding" to mean that you are on your own with a possible mis-represented Parker 16 DHE with Damascus barrels you recently purchased there.

If that is the case, and ONLY if those are the facts, then I might suggest that Julia's is not playing smart poker. They must know you are a very active member of the PGCA and very informed about Parkers (and other firearms as well)- and if they won't make this situation right, as indeed they should, your "rant" is very much warranted here.

A friend who specializes in probate has turned over a few good shotguns to Julia's for their "reward" or finder's fee program, and was never compensated. He told me it would cost more to bring suit in Maine, travel, documentation, fair value assessment than he would gain in the end. he now works with another major gun auction house in the Midwest, and has been fairly treated there.

Julia's is supposed to have the fabled Nash Buckingham AH Fox "Bo Whoop" up for sale sometime next month. Your experience with them vis a vis the 16 DHE would make me take pause, if I were a "player" as Jack Puglisis and the "Czar's Parker" of a few years ago.

It is also my understanding that Julia's and other such houses often get a "double dip" on a sale- 15% seller's premium and the same for the buyer- so, for example hypothetically here: a BHE 28 gauge sells for an even 100 thou- I'm the consignor- so I receive t85 thou- you are the buyer so you write Julia's a check for 115 thou-- 30%- that's a hefty "Vig"-- IMO!:eek::duck::eek:

Francis: Not all Brownell's products are made in USA. Those that are are marked with the stars and stripes logo. They are still working with all suppliers to identify US made products, so there can be some in the catalogue/on-line that are US made but not yet known to be so. A work in progress for them. That's my understanding of their statement.

Francis , I forgot to mention Wes, both he and Bill run the gun dept. I talked to Wes at the Vintagers and he went back to talk to Mr Julia and that was the reply that I got, the only offer was they would aution the gun off for me with no commision, my reply was how can you sell a gun that is unsafe.... They didn't even offer to pay back the commision fee that I paid :cuss: To me that was the least that they could have done. As I told Wes, I won't get my money back from Julia's but I will cost them far more then my cost. As of now I have already sent three guns that people asked me where to send to other aution houses or dealers on consignment. So I will get my pound of flesh just a little at a time

Jack, I talked to the people at Manson and they make everything except the screws and the gauge.

Looks OK to me- $100 for a barrel wall thickness gauge--
 

I don't deal in Damascus or twist steel tubes as much as I do Nitro Proof steel tubes- but for a $100- how can you go wrong- order is en route to Brownell's- as they are in Montezuma Iowa, wonder if they give a discount to "Jarheads"- would be nice!!:corn::nono::corn:

The only barrel I ever burst (or will, I hope) was a Vulcan. It was sawed off and probably heavily honed. I never measured it for wall thickness before I ran an ounce and a half mag through it.

Same for me - Vulcan. It was in rough shape when I got it from Dad back in late '70's. Had it all tightened up and dents/bulges removed (I suspect those spots are weakened - any comments?). In the late 90's a crack was noticed at the muzzle. The barrels got a trim. In 2003 left barrel burst with light load. It never saw magnum ammo except possibly Dad's home made "hot loads" for those long shots. So, in 2004 the barrels received more than a trim. It is now a coach gun with 18 3/8 barrels that I never mastered with upland birds, so it rests in the safe. Tried to find replacement barrels. I never did find just a set of barrels. I did get a rough gun with the thinking that the barrels would be used for the family gun. That one got me into trouble. Rather than just take the barrels, I decided it would be a shame not to attempt restoration. So then I had to find another but ended up with a nice shooter and then the "itis" got a firm grip. Then I found a nicer shooter and then I found a Trojan and with the help of this forum, I'm now an addict. Thanks for all the help.

Jack

No problem Jack...We are just tryin to spread the disease. Whats that phrase?"Affliction loves company"....:rolleyes:

We are all in good company then Dave--
 

Hard to shake off that affliction isn't it? Sorta recalls one of the late Gene Hills' articles- "A World Without Shotguns" scary indeed--what a great writer, gunner, dog man- his aforementioned piece also makes me think of another --the title slips my mind, but I sure buy into Gene's thesis- goes along these lines- A bachelor gent who lives for fine small bore doubles and grouse and woodcock- becomes stranded on a deserted island- when he wakes up a very shapely and naked lass says "Welcome to Paradise Mr. Smithers- do you know where you are now?" Some remote island I'd guess, he replied- but why Paradise?" "Oh, come now, you can have ANYTHING you'd like, anything your dreams have ever dictated in the past" "Oh Boy Oh Boy, he said, jumping up and downlike a school boy at summer vacation-- You've got Woodcock shooting here and I hope there's a Woodward 20 bore behind your back for me"--- Yup

Of course, I might go for a BHE 10 std. 32" made in 1922, a great Retriever and a never ending supply of flight birds and shells for pass shooting supreme, but to each man, his own I guess--:cool::duck:

And good company it is. :) After 4 here. Next order of business, a medicinal shot and then off to the creek for the dog hike.