Light weight Parkers
 

I know the current rage is long barrels, and I like them also, but when I took that fork in the road that led me to SXS's 26" guns were the rage, particularly for grouse hunters like me who walked long and hard thru the steep and the deep.
Was discussing on another site, a GH 16 damascus 26" gun with an unstruck barrel weight of 2lbs 13 ounces--the gun weighed 5lbs 2 oz . Wow, that is lighter than any 20--or 28 ga Parker for that matter Ive ever seen.
I have a DHE 16 and a VH 20 both 26", both cyl/M per factory letter both at 6 lbs. How did they get them 14 oz lighter?
How light did they make them, and what is your lightest Parker?

My 2 6 lb guns

Harold, I agree that the 26" barrels are best for brush busting grouse and woodcock. I have two GH 16's, both O frame, both 26", one at 6lbs 4oz and the other 5lb 15oz if I recall correctly (I'm at work). I do have a 28" VH 16g that I use in very gnarly crap and I use it to push aside thorns and saplings and it shows it, but it's choked C/IC so it's a true brush gun. That one weighs 6lbs 6oz or so on a #1 frame.

I have a CHE 16 (28" Bernard barrels) that weighs a fraction under 6 lbs. The weight is confirmed by the letter.

I'd love to see that one! It must be an amazing gun!





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I am a fan of 26" barrels for upland bird hunting.

Here are 2 20ga guns ,a VH & DH ,both 26" .Vh is 5lb 15.8oz , DH is 6lb 0.7oz

Long or short, each has its place afield. The older I get, and the more scarce the birds, I find lighter guns to be a blessing. If they are beautiful, I have something to engage myself with in the long spans of time between coveys.

BUT, let's not start a craze for short barreled guns just yet...until I have time to acquire a few more at the more reasonable price.

If Mike and Sammy permit, the next Parker Pages will have a photo or two.

Hey Garry, you can always cut them shorter, just can't make em longer.

Hmm...that's an idea, Harold. It would make them lighter, too.:rotf:

5#13oz O frame VH16 26". Lighter than any of my 20s

Keith, that sounds like a wonderful Parker, curious, what is it choked?

6#9oz, DH, 28" Titanic, ordered C in right barrel--.003 measured, light MOD left, earliest #1 frame; same weight as my 20ga Parkers.

IC/MOD, a wonderful little upland gun, "caries like a 20, hits like a 12" someone said of 0 frame 16s. One of my favorite guns. Has put a bunch of quail on the plate.

I omitted the DH above is a 6"9oz, DH, 12ga,

I like my upland gun in the 6-7 lb range.... Lighter than 6, it just feels too light to me.

Maybe when I get old as Gary, I'll like that sub 6lb gun a lot better. :D

I once had a set of 26" 12-gauge, ejector, 1-frame Bernard barrels. Would love to have seen the entire gun.





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It's not how old you are, it's how many miles you have on you. At the end of a 13 mile day, especially when I've found absolutely nothing, I'm 100 years old and 6 lbs. is very heavy...as is my heart.

Pat, you'll get there. We'll talk when you do.:corn:

BTW, I think Dean has noted this also, but all of my lettered cylinder barrels measure out at .003-.004. For the Parker barrel regulators, it was all about how many pellets the barrel would pattern, not how the barrels measured out.

As far as how light they made them... I find myself in my ever handy spring issue of "Parkers Found".

Serial # 50131 16 gauge top action D grade on 0 frame with 28" barrels. 5 pounds even.

I would very much like to hold that gun.

I have a 0 frame 16 with 26" barrels that is 6 pounds even. It is really too light. I have a 1 frame 16 with 26" barrels that is 6 1/2 pounds and it is perfect.

Me, too, Dylan, especially at the end of a long day afield.

Well, it's easy for me to say I don't need a sub-6lb gun, when I don't already have one... :D

My Parker 20 is 6lb 3oz, I'll just take fewer shells with me, and shoot straighter to make up the difference. :D

At that weight, I think we can call it a light game gun.

My 0-frame 16 gauge D Lifter with original 27” Parker-made Laminated steel barrels weighs 6 lbs. 3.75 oz. and it has accounted for a few grouse under my careful curatorship.





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Well, I guess it's time for a little 13 mile walkabout this fall then... :D

Let's try to make that happen. I hope the birds nest well this year.

And maybe if you're nice, you can carry my 30" DHE 20 (6 lbs. 10 oz.) for the last half of the hunt.:whistle: By then, I'll need that lighter gun of yours.:crying: