[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Bruce Day

Rick, I suggest you refer to the 1882 Parker catalog for top action and lifter hammer guns. Cases are shown including the leather shell top case, low gun case, English style gun case, and black walnut cases. We provided measurements and detailed photos if a person wanted to build his own walnut case instead of spending the $8 that Parker charged in 1882.

The 1882 Parker catalog is interesting and contains much information about the design and building of the Parker shotgun. There is a table of Charges To Be Used providing black powder measurements in drams correlated to gauge, weight and barrel length of the gun. For example, a 12ga with 30" barrels weighing 7 1/2 pounds was intended to use a load of 1 1/8oz shot at 3 3/4 to 4 drams. Recommended loads for gauges 8 through 20 are provided. Of course today, drams equivalent provides an approximation of those black powder dram loads.

There is an entire section showing loading tools, including the one you photographed.

The 1882 catalog also includes a mail order form whereby a person could have Parker build a gun , with various options. I wonder how long I will have to wait after I send that form in.

thanks again Bruce. The DGJ reprint of the 1882 catalog arrived today

there is more reading in there than most the outdoor magazine printed these days