Parker 3 inch guns

[Drew Hause]

Complicating the survey of 3" chambered Parker guns will be the fact that many turn-of-the-century trap shooters ordered 2 7/8", 3" and even 3 1/4" chambers.

October 19, 1895 Sporting Life
Dr. J.L. Williamson, of Milwaukee, Wis., has just purchased a new gun of more than ordinary proportions. The Doctor was quite taken with Carver's Cashmore gun, having long barrels and shooting a big load in a 3 1/4 inch shell; but desiring to give the American gunmakers a chance he ordered a gun from the Lefever Arms Company, of Syracuse, N. Y. but at the same time rather doubted their ability to make such a weapon as he desired. However, the gun was furnished and Dr. Williamson killed 79 out of 80 live birds on one trial, and 74 out of 75 targets, part being doubles.
The gun is a Lefever, 12-gauge, weighing 8 1/4 pounds, 32-inch barrels, and chambered for a 3 1/4 inch shell (possibly with a 3" chamber), and guaranteed to stand 4 1/2 Drams of “E.C.” powder, which is the amount of powder which he uses.

In Feb. 1898, C.W. Budd received on consignment a Parker $400 AAH Pigeon Gun SN 87449 with 30” Whitworth barrels F/F and 2 7/8” chambers (likely for 3" shells).

A Cashmore Pigeon Gun 3 1/4" cases. I don't know the chamber length.



Interestingly, the 1894-95 Montgomery Ward catalog listed "The Parker Long Range"

[Drew Hause]

Smith LRWF marketing verbiage touted "special boring" -

"A distinctive L.C. Smith method of choking adds 15 to 20 yards to ordinary shotgun range...specially bored to a longer, tapering choke..."



But LRWF bores are usually .730 without tapering to the choke constriction of about 3 inches.

Despite the "clean kills at 80 yds." claims, this is pattern testing by David Williamson with .042" choke 32" LRWF at a measured 80 yards using 3 inch Winchester (plastic) hull with 38.35 grains of Blue Dot, Winchester 209 primer, Winchester AASL wad, and 1 3/8 ounces of #5 nickel plated shot. The average number of pellets was 246 and measured weight 1.353 ounce. Number of pellets in duck for 3 shots: 5,6 & 6. Pattern % in 30" circle: 5.3 = 13 pellets, 8.1 = 20 pellets & 8.5 = 21 pellets.