A question of..Safety..

[Setter Man]

Originally Posted by Bill Mullins

Jerry, my thoughts would be if you are going to have the gun restored is to have the safety reinstalled for obvious reasons. Several yesrs ago a large dealer in side by sides told me he never bought or sold a gun without a safety. He said his insurance carrier informed him he could have a liability issue if he sold one and the purchaser accidentally shot himself.

Sounds like malarkey to me. Few semi-auto pistols have safety’s, old lever guns didn’t have safety’s, revolvers don’t have safety's.

JDG

[Jerry VanHorn]

The letter arrived before the gun ! It has no additional info..Just the specs..It is probably best to have the safety installed..It's a keeper..one of 216..

[10 bore]

Look to see if the stock has the cut out where a safety parts would go. If it had no safety the stock wouldnt have a hole for safety parts.
Scott

[Jerry VanHorn]

Never thought of that !. I've had 3 32" guns....GH 16 O frame and a VH 12 ..straight grip. Got talked out of both..I really prefer short barrels..but this one seemed like I should buy it...

[Jerry VanHorn]

I have many pictures. The barrels really do need done. The stock will be decided after I get it home. It has a pad..so a Silvers will be for sure...My last "color only" project took nearly 9 months..so I'm leaning away from that..

[mobirdhunter]

The few Parkers I've seen (not many in person) with no safety AND that were ordered that way according to the research letter did not have the filled slot that yours shows (again, my direct observations are few). I've seen several with the slot filled as with yours, and I always assumed that was an after factory production change. With a gun with barrels that long, it would be a good guess that the owner shot competition and did not want a safety (and lots of hunters disliked safeties -- a notable person was Aldo Leopold). I think the comment to check the stock to see if it was cut out to accommodate a safety is the best answer to the question. If it was not original to the gun, I think relative to its collectable value, there should not be much of an issue since you are planning other restorations.

In any event, what a nice find: a 16 with long barrels like that!

[Jerry VanHorn]

Then that will be the deciding factor..If the stock was made for a safety..then I'll replace it..If not..I'll leave it as found..but still do the barrels at least..