20 gauge weight range

[John Davis]

Letter from Parker Bros. to H. G. Lipscomb & Co., Nashville, Tennessee, October 8th, 1912:

“We are in receipt of your order of the 1st for a gun to be shipped to Bennett & Campbell, Franklin, Tenn., and note that you have ordered a 20 gauge, 26 in. barrels, V. H. grade gun, to weigh 5 lbs., and this is lighter than we can possibly make this grade of gun, or in fact any grade of gun. About 5 3/4 lbs. is the lightest weight that we attempt to make any 20 gauge gun, and we could give you a gun now to fill this order, weighing 5 14/16 lbs., with 3 in. drop, if this would answer your purpose, and we would be pleased to ship the same at once.”

[John Davis]

Letter from Parker Bros. to William Meyers, Hampton, Iowa, March 17, 1927:

“We received your order of the 3rd several days ago. It has been entered and the $15.00 credited to your account. Factory, in checking up the specifications, advises us that the weight you have given is somewhat too light for a gun to be used with the 2 3/4" shells. Our light weight limit for this length in a 12/30 is 7 lbs. 10 oz., and the addition of the recoil pad and the 1/4" extra length of stock would increase that weight probably four to six ounces. The fact that you have specified a heavy comb would also tend to make the gun slightly heavier. It is impossible for us to accept an order for a gun lighter than as described above, and we trust it will be satisfactory to you to allow us to increase the weight as stated. A gun as light as you have ordered, would be unsafe in our opinion to handle the 2 3/4" loads, in which as you know, the heavy Super-X and similar powders are loaded. It is quite possible you would never use them, but there is always the chance that if the gun is chambered for them, either you or someone else may use these shells, and we have therefore established what we have found to be proper light weight limits. These weights are controlled by wall thicknesses of course, and these very from the breech toward the muzzle. We have entered the order for a full pistol grip stock, which we trust is satisfactory, and believe we can make up a gun which will please you in every way, even though the weight is greater than you desire, because it will be properly balanced, and will handle most satisfactorily.”