Parker Gun Weight??

[Ken Hill]

I'm looking at a 20gauge DHE on an O frame. The PGCA letter says the gun weighed 6lbs in 1916. A year later, the gun went back to Parker for a restock. There is no mention of the weight after the restock. The restock removed 1/8" on the LOP. Today the gun weighs 6lbs 8oz and balances about 1.5" to the rear of the hinge pin.

The barrels weigh 2lbs 10oz and the unfinished weight marked on the barrels is 3lbs 2oz. The barrels also have a KL3 Remington service code.

How did this gun gain 8oz??

Thanks
Ken

[Bill Murphy]

If your gun balances 1 1/2" to the rear of the hinge pin, it has a bunch of added weight in the buttstock after its original construction.

[terc]

Maybe the first stock was hollowed out.

[Ken Hill]

Bill,

The gun has a skeleton butt plate. The checkering doesn't show any holes being hidden. If it has weight added I don't where they put it.

Do you think the gun should balance at the hinge pin?

Ken

[Ken Hill]

Originally Posted by Dave Tercek

Maybe the first stock was hollowed out.

Dave,

Would Parker restock a gun without regards to original weight and balance?

Ken

[Ken Hill]

Attached are some pictures of the stock. The wood has nice figure, but I don't know if this is an 8 oz difference.

Thanks,
Ken

[Dean Romig]

Probably just a denser piece of walnut than the piece that was originally on the gun.

It is surprising that Parker Bros. didn't take steps to make sure the gun balanced the same as when they received it.






.

[B. Dudley]

Yes, the density of the wood can make a big difference in the weight. The stock with an SSBP can be drilled out to remove weight. The hole would have just been plugged afterwards and checkered over. Some guns can be seen with two plugs in the butt.

The butt of your gun does not appear to have any plugs in it now.

Was the letter information stating 6lbs from the order book or stock book? If from the order book, that would mean that the gun was ordered as a 6 lb gun. But it dos not mean the gun was made that way. But the stock book stating the weight would mean the gun was made that way. Just a thought.

[Ken Hill]

Brian,

The "requested" specifications are from order book 96. Maybe it was heavier, but the gun is butt heavy.

Thanks,
Ken

[Bob Brown]

Did you look under the trigger guard? My VHE 20 straight grip with 30" barrels has a drilled hole filled with lead under the trigger guard. It goes at angle back into the butt from near the end of the guard. The weight matches the letter, so I assumed it was factory. It gives it a nice balance.