Parker from 1911

[Greg Kitchens]

Folks,
Howdy, I'm new to the forum and have never owned a Parker. A widow friend of my mother's has some of her husband's guns and asked me to take a look at them and perhaps later sell them for her if she does not want to hand them down to her grandkids. One is a 16 Ga on an 0 frame that dates to 1911, serial number 156253. Unfortunately, it has been severly neglected in its 99 year history as they outside of the Vulcan steel bbls are in poor shape. Since the bbls measure 24 inches they have likely been cut. Locks up OK though, with a slight left of center lever. The factory butt plate has also been replaced with a Pachmayer. I plan to test fire it and am hoping for some advice as to what shells to use? Are standard light 16 Ga shells OK or might it take a specialty length? Please look at the pics and the markings and tell me anything interesting that comes to mind.
Also, there are three questions I have about this gun that I am hoping someone can answer with the pictures (I'll post the pics in my next entry to this thread):
1. Is the bbl actually cut?
2. What is the color-case hardened metal piece that cuts into the stock behind the frame? I have not seen any pictures of any other Parkers with such a feature?
3. The pistol-grip stock is rounded at the bottom and has no Parker cap like all the pictures of the other Parkers I've seen. What can one tell us about this feature?
Thanks everybody!
-Greg

[Dean Romig]

Greg, we're glad to help if we can.... where are the pictures?

[Greg Kitchens]

[Greg Kitchens]

[Greg Kitchens]

[Dean Romig]

First time I've ever seen a split stock head repair like that - very ingenius.
The top rib keels are in place so it's tough to tell if the barrels are original length - someone who has the "book" close at hand can look it up for you.
The round knob grip could be original but we'd need to see a picture from each side and the book may say what king of grip treatment it was made with.

[D. Shane Burton]

Hmm... in the same area as the repair, I have what looks like a brass rod through the stock of my beat-up 12 gauge. I don't have plate, though, just a pin through the stock. Maybe a similar repair? Possibly this was common practice back in the day?

I would have a gunsmith look over it before I'd shoot it, but you should at least make sure there's no looseness at the barrel/receiver. Use a feeler gauge at the barrel/receiver junction. If it's out, check in the threads I have about my two Parkers, as one of the guys put up a procedure, with pics, on how to shim this out.

I have a 1901 16 gauge the guys couldn't find in the book and it has 24 inch barrels, as well. Yours look similar to mine, head-on. Using an internal mic of the barrels, they landed at a reading which equaled Improved Cylinder choke. I can't remember the values offhand; they're written down at home.

Shane

[Greg Kitchens]

The round knob grip has some worn checkering, worn more on the left side than the right. The shield is in place in the lower stock, so I suspect the only stock modification was the addition of the Pachmayer pad....and of course the repair. Must have been SOME repairman gunsmith as he put some work into that one.
I'm going hunting for the weekend, so will not have time to add any more pics for several days.
I'm encouraged the bbls might be original. Would have loved to have seen this gun in its day. It was obviously loved and used with pride long before it became a neglected family piece...this is why I sometimes encourage others to sell their good guns to those who will APPRECIATE them, rather than pass them down to unworthy ancestors. Of course, I'm also personally hoping that my daughters and their yet-to-be-born children are worthy of inheriting some of my favorites. The daughters shoot and hunt with me now...one will be in the stand with me in the morning.

[D. Shane Burton]

I hope someone can find your gun in the book and give you more detail. If it's in the book, they'll be able to tell you the barrel length from the factory so you'll know if they're cut-down or not.

I agree with selling them to someone who'll appreciate them. Unappreciative heirs will just sell them anyway.

Shane

[Greg Kitchens]

Originally Posted by D. Shane Burton

I hope someone can find your gun in the book and give you more detail. If it's in the book, they'll be able to tell you the barrel length from the factory so you'll know if they're cut-down or not.

I agree with selling them to someone who'll appreciate them. Unappreciative heirs will just sell them anyway.

Shane

I was a deputy once and relieved a gentleman of a 1918 Colt that was completely original. He likely had it for personal protection for the drug deal he had recently made as I also put into evidence a quantity of marijuana and a "Crack cookie". I could not help to wonder just how long that 45 had been in his family.