Extractor Chips
 

I was cleaning my 16ga GH the other night after shooting about 100 shells thru it and I noticed chipping on both sides of the bottom of the extractor lip. The chips are both about 1/16" long. Although this was the first time shooting this gun, I'm fairly certain the chips weren't there before.

I was using a combination of RST spreaders and Polywad doublewides. Both were 7/8oz loads with 2-1/4 DRE.

The shells extracted normally and I didn't notice anything unusual. I don't see any cracks on the extractor and the barrels and receiver appear normal.

Any thoughts on what may have caused this?
Thanks guys, appreciate your insight, Garth

That's from the firing pins. I don't know about Parkers since I only have one and its not in front of me, but a lot of guns have a relief filed there to clear the pins.

Thanks George. The chips align perfectly with the firing pins.
Regards, Garth

Interesting. I just checked a few of my Parker's, and some of them have the cutouts, and others do not. This could be another area of study along the same lines as the K---Kf inquiry.

Garth, notice that the firing pin reliefs have the same discoloration as the rim cutouts which means that is not recent damage. If it were recent it would be a bright silver in color and much different than the rim cutout color.

Thanks Craig, I just looked at it under a magnifying glass and the chips definitely have patina. So the damage on this 1897 GH is older. Thats good news

Most of my Parkers have those relief cuts. They were first introduced on early guns that did not have retracting plungers and were carried through guns with non-rebounding hammers.





.

The small bruises you see are indeed from the firing pin tips. This is caused by the tumblers being out of time and not retracting back into the frame soon enough/quickly enough to clear the extractor as it moves up when the gun is opened.

It might be prudent to inspect the firing pin tips to make sure they are not dangerously deformed from this, which could lead to a pierced primer. If the tips are OK, simply "opening up" the deformed area very slightly for added clearance may be all that's needed.

Thanks John, the pin tips look nice, rounded and straight, no jagged edges. I'll look for a small rattail file and attempt some careful filing on the extractor damage

Oh well, guess this isn't a good time to make an offer on your 16 GH after all. Just another example of the expertise that is available on the forum. Thanks guys.