Had to Have It
 

Something about this gun made me want it. Honest gun VH 32” barrels chocked .685/.685, on a number 3 frame. It only weighs 9 lbs. I have ordered a letter. If I can’t shot it my buddy said I can always use it to lift weights.

Twelve gauge I presume?

If so, those chokes XF.





.

Yes

Pics, or it didn't happen. :corn:

Assuming a .729 bore that's .044 thou in each barrel, purchased in the Mens Department no doubt :)

I'm with Stan, pics :corn:

VH
 

Prefect Cross Training quail gun for you Dave, you will have plenty of time to catch your breath and still make that 50 yard double shot. :)

Boy have I been bit by the had to have it bug many times! Congratulations 3 frame 12's are great guns. Craig

I will post pics when I get the letter. Unfortunately I am still using snail mail so it may be a while.

What are the chamber lengths?





.

I don’t have a gauge. Hoping the letter will provide that information.

You can easily make your own chamber depth gauge.





.

Below as copied from a post by "Researcher", his canned reply with regards to measuring chambers. This is one method, there are others that do not involve the use of a commercially made chamber gauge. One uses a business card. One more thing David, a letter will only tell you what it should be, not what it is now. Sounds like a cool gun, looking forward to some pics.

My canned reply for this topic --

Chamber depth is considered to be the distance between the breech end of the barrels and the joint between the chamber body itself and the forcing cone, which reduces down to bore diameter. This is loosely based on the length of the "Fired" shell. Today, theoretically when the crimp opens on the shell being fired the end would land at the junction of the chamber and cone. Prior to WW-II many companies had the practice of holding the chamber about 1/8 inch shorter than the shell for which it was intended. Fly in the ointment is nominal measurements often differ from actual ones in both chambers and shells. A very good method I have found of measuring chambers without much outlay of cash, and is quite accurate enough for virtually any situation, is a common 6" flexible machinist's scale which you likely have. Hold the barrels with muzzles toward a light source, not necessarily a concentrated one a window is great, while looking into the breech and the cone will be thrown in a shadow. May have to move the barrels around a little until it is distinct. While still looking into the chamber simply slide the scale in until you observe the end coming flush with the shadow line & mark position of breech end with your thumb. Remove and read the scale. I usually repeat this a few times to insure I am getting a consistent reading, but you will be amazed how accurate this can be done. While I own a Galazan chamber gauge, I use this more often than not. The chamber body itself has a taper of about .005" per inch. Sometimes chambers were cut with slightly worn reamers giving a slight undersize chamber. If the chamber is a bit undersize a gauge made to "industry" standards will not go in to the true depth of the chamber. A.H. Fox Gun Co. shotguns are known for having tight chambers. The machinist’s scale method can be more accurate.

I measured the chambers and get 3”.

Looks like the right amount of condition to be proud of, and the right kind of wear to make it perfect to use. Congratulations.

Heck of a duck gun. Congratulations

Three-inch chambers are perfect. You won't be limited at all as to what to shoot in it!!





.

3 Frame
 

oh if that gun could talk....... you will be taking out Tom Turkey with that cannon.

Given the unstruck barrel weight, the overall weight of the gun which I believe you said was 9 lb., and the 3 frame I would suspect that this one has a set of barrels that will measure out in a very robust fashion. Probably makes you grin when you open the action and see the breech end of some very thick muzzles, it would me. Congrats on a nice find David !

Hmmm can't stuff 3 1/2" 12's in it not that I'd want to :rotf:

Congrats Dave! As Randy said, chokes in the men’s department! Looking forward to seeing those pics.

Dave, do I detect a future Parker Pages article? :corn:

Got the letter today. Nothing about frame or chamber size. Everything else matches.

Given Powellton WV is a rather small town this could very well be the grave of the original owner.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...m-hinery-payne

This would make a fantastic Spring gobbler gun!!!

My hope is to get a duck and a gobbler with this gun. What type of loads would be acceptable to shoot in a gun of this type? I know steel shot is out, so what have others used in guns of this type?

I use #6 shot in standard 2 3/4” loads with my 1898 DH twelve gauge that has 2 9/16” chambers choked F/F for turkey hunting.





.

3 frame 12 gauges are great underrated Parkers

I have a very similar gun from 1900 and when I use it for duck and goose I shoot handloads of 1 1/4 ounce of bismuth at 1250 fps. It works well when I do my part. There are lots of recipes on the Hodgdon site using Longshot powder.

My gun was a basket case when I got it 17 years ago and at the time I thought a 3 frame 32" 12ga would be a dandy salt water fowler. I had it Delgrego'd to bring it back to life. My plan to use it as my go to duck gun was derailed less than a year after getting it back when I got my first Short 10 and the 3 frame 12 went to the back of rack. It also weighs 9 pounds and it's choked .036 in both barrels. I should take it hunting again.

3 frame parkers make excellent duck guns. They are very similar in size and weight to Fox HE's but are not overbored. I shoot Boss 1 1/4oz Bismuth in mine without any hesitation.

BOOM BOOM Craig!! 1 1/4. Yowza.



Bobby

Here are the shells for a 1906 3-frame Parker Bros. 12-gauge, 3-inch --

Attachment 127837

3 1/8 dram 1 1/4 ounce of lead. I believe they would be an 1170 fps loading, is that correct?

That would be a fine pigeon load.