Thanks for the shell Brian! Yes, I started out looking for a fixer up, but this one does not need anything. The stock is brand new.

I have had a 10 double on me a few times and it was not that bad. Hope that does not happen with this one.

My son looked at the trigger and said the gun was missing a trigger.

Congrats Mills on a super nice Parker! You done good.

Mills bring that gun to the Southern, I may know that gun.....

FWIW, here is my 8-gauge UMC/Rem-UMC shotshell offerings info --

I have looked through some of my old Union Metallic Cartridge Co. catalogues, and find their 8-gauge shells were only offered loaded with bulk smokeless powder or black powder. I don't find any 8-gauge loadings with dense smokeless powders.

In 1903, 04 and 05, UMC's 8-gauge shell was the "Trap" shell, green in color. Bulk smokeless powder loads were --

5 drams with 1 1/2 ounces of shot
5 1/2 drams with 1 3/4 ounce of shot
6 drams with 2 ounces of shot.

In black powder loads they offered --

5 drams with 1 1/2 ounces of shot
5 1/2 drams with 1 3/4 ounces of shot
6 drams with 2 ounces of shot
6 1/2 drams with 2 ounces of shot
6 1/2 drams with 2 1/4 ounces of shot
7 drams with 2 ounces of shot
7 drams with 2 1/4 ounces of shot.

None of these catalogues mention the length of the shell these loads are put up in. UMC's primed empty 8-gauge paper shell, equivalent to the "Trap" shell, was head stamped "Expert" and was offered in 3 1/4 inch length for $25 per thousand, and 3 1/2 to 4 inch lengths for $28 per thousand.

By 1910, the "Trap" and "Expert" were gone and the 8-gauge offerings were in the "Arrow" shell, salmon color. Bulk smokeless powder loads offered were listed as being in a 3 1/4 inch case --

5 drams with 1 1/2 ounces of shot
5 1/2 drams with 1 3/4 ounces of shot.

There was no offering of loaded extra length 8-gauge shells.

Black powder loads offered were --

5 drams with 1 1/2 ounces of shot
6 drams with 1 3/4 ounces of shot
7 drams with 2 ounces of shot.

The "Arrow" primed empty 8-gauge shells were stamped HANDLOADED on the side and were offered in 3 1/4 inch length for $25 per thousand and the 3 1/2 to 4 inch lengths for $28 per thousand, and all carried the notation "bulk powder only."

Through the 1915-16 Remington Arms-Union Metallic Cartridge Co. catalogue the 8-gauge offerings remained the same as 1910. By the 1918-19 Rem-UMC catalogue only the 3 ¼ inch empties were being offered and the only bulk smokeless load was 5 ½ drams with 1 ¾ ounce of shot. Black powder loads remained the same.

Beautiful gun, very nice clean engraving, enjoy. And yes heading in the other direction 28 then 410...Congrats

Thanks for all the responses and compliments.

Dave, thank you for that loading info.

Mills, sorry if I am cutting in on your thread, I will delete this if you wish. I love comparison like this, though, and here is a photo I took for my brother some time ago. It's the GH8 Damascus below the GH28 Damascus.

No problem Fishtail. Great photo!

Greg that GH 28 damascuss has to be a rare gun. What are the barrel lengths and chokes? Perhaps you could share more with us as it deserves it's own thread.

It is a 26" barrel gun with 14" LOP. I don't recall the chokes other than 'it has some'. I'll see what I can dig up on it, it's been a while since I pulled it out of the safe. It lettered from 1903.