Parker pattern tests as recorded in the stock book?

[Bill Murphy]

As an example, two twelve gauge guns in the 216,000 range, 210 numbers apart, one patterned with 1 1/8 ounces, one patterned with 1 1/4 ounces.

[Pa SxS]

I went through the stock books looking for the time period that different patterning specs were used. The earliest patterning was in the 1500 to 4200 S/N range. They used 45 yards and a 18 x 24" target with size 7 or 8 shot being the most common. The pellet counts are listed however it's not known what the weight of the shot was or the brand of powder used. There were also some that were 45 yards in a 24" circle and a few that were 40 yards in a 24" circle however these were the exception to the 18 x 24" specs.

Next, between 4500 and 86000 we see the 45 yards, 24" circle.

Last, starting at 8600 they switched to the now standard 30" circle at 40 yards. These specs were from 10 to 28 gauge. I've heard that for some of the small gauge guns, they may have used shorter distances but I haven't seen examples of this. This is the time frame of the introduction of the hammerless gun.

If we know the pellet count for each barrel, the weight of the shot, and the brand of shot (not all manufacturers had the same pellet count per 1 oz), you could figure out the percent of shot in the circle to figure out the choke.

Parker used Tatham shot quite a bit but did they use other manufacturers shot? Tatham #8 shot had 399 pellets per 1oz, Merchants Shot Tower had 365, and .Thos Sparks Co had 426. These differences may have been due to there being no standard for shot sizes at that time or may be due to the amount of antimony contained in the shot.

[Bill Murphy]

If we could locate one old thread on this subject, we can examine several different hang tags. We also computed the conversion equation to compare 45 yards in a 24" circle with 40 yards in a 30" circle. I have never seen an eight gauge stock book entry, but Chuck could find a few without too much trouble. I have also never seen a buckshot pattern count in a stock book entry, although some order book entries specify a buckshot pattern. #86988 is one gun that had a buckshot pattern requested. I wonder what that stock book entry looks like.

[Drew Hause]

Chuck: Is that 86000 as in c. 1896? Thank you.

[Bill Murphy]

Our resident historian doesn't seem to be interested in helping with the recent (2014) research on patterns. I provided a serial number for a gun patterned with buckshot with interest in providing research information (86988), but the request resulted in the killing of this thread for nine years.

[Pa SxS]

Drew, yes that was 86000. Better late than never.

Bill, 86988 is a CH with 2 sets of Bernard barrels. One is 32" and put 5 pellets of 0 size shot in the pattern. The other set of barrels were 28" and put 125 pellets of size 7 in the pattern. The size and distance was cut off.

I looked up some other 8 ga. guns. Too bad they didn't pay more attention to how the ledger was placed on the copier.

20845 100 pellets of size 4 shot at 45 yards. Probably a 24" circle.
80647 120 pellets of size 4 shot at 45 yards
80646 same
172527 60 and 75 pellets of size 00 shot probably at 40 yards
173590 90 pellets of size 2 shot and 9 pellets of size BB shot.
174013 125 pellets of size 2 shot.

[Pa SxS]

Gee Bill, what a coincidence, 86988 is your gun! Now that I've answered your question how about ordering a letter???