Parker VH 16ga. 0 Frames?

[Opening Day]

Kenny how far are you from Detroit, I have a wall thickness gauge and would be happy to measure it for you. Eric

[Double Play]

Over the last few weeks several of us have been weighting and measuring our 12 gage one frame guns for a Parker Pages article that I believe will be in the spring issue. In doing so one of the things I noticed was that the striking process on average removed almost one pound of steel which surprised me as that my friends is a lot of filing.

[SXS OHIO]

My O frame 16ga. I have a very acurate scale and weighed the 28" barrels in question. The weight stamp on the flates read 3lbs -1oz on the scale they weigh 2lbs-7 3/4 oz 9 1/4 oz missing? The bores have been honed...They measure .663/.665. The letter states cly in the right barrel...it measures .002 or maybe .003 of choke now? the left barrel mod and reads .010 Question...how mutch ligter did the barrels get after stiking/finishing? is 9 1/4 excessive? Thanks all Kenny Graft SXS ohio...(-:

[Double Play]

Kenny,
I have a 6# 26" 16 gage 0 frame at home. Tonight I will check the stamped barrel weight and current weight and post them here for you but my guess would be that the 9 oz's struck from your gun is probably pretty normal. That being said it would be wise to have the barrel wall thickness checked to be sure the gun is safe to shoot.

[AmarilloMike]

As I said previously my O frame sixteen weighs 5-14. The unstruck barrel weight was 3-2 and they now weigh 2-9 so 9 ounces were struck off. I believe it has the original chokes (0.012" and 0.008") as they taper all the way to the muzzle. The bores are .669" and .668". The minimum wall thicknesses are 0.030" and 0.28". Walter King's cartouche is on the barrel flats.

Kenny you had your barrels honed? Looking at those bore diameters I would think they are original.

Best,

Mike

[SXS OHIO]

Your reply has been a great help....This gun is on three day return privlege and its decision time>>>....I will most likely keep the gun after your info...It has a lot going for it!, I should not be so fussy about these realy old ones, its truely a nice,rare and special old gun....I do not have a wall thickness gauge but feel confident the barrels are O.K. and safe. I plan to buy a hosford gauge ASAP...I see one listed on vintage doubles sight....535.00 Thanks all Kenny Graft SXS ohio...(-:

[Double Play]

Kenny,
I agree with Mike, I don't think your barrels were honed either. The typical bore listing for 16 gage guns is .667 so if anything your bores are on the tight side. If the barrels have not been refinished then the wall thickness is likely as it left the factory. I weighted and measured my DHE 16 O frame with 26" barrels and this is what I found. Both bores measure .665 with right choke .004 and left at .030. The unstruck weight was 2# 15oz with an actual weight of 2# 6oz which shows a 9oz reduction similar yours and Mikes gun. Good luck with your new acquisition.

[10ga Hammer]

Larry, My 1903 DH 16ga O frame,26in tubes weighs 6lbs 8oz, Bores measure .664 ,.005 & .015 chokes. unstruck barrel weight 3-3, finished weight 2-10, another 9oz difference.

[SXS OHIO]

Thank you guys for checking your guns...Thats interesting that all the barrels are that exact!. I would not have thought that. Im keeping the VHE set.....With a little TLC it will make a fine Parker to be proud of. I will send the 32" F/F barrel set to have the chambers moved forward for 2 3/4" shells,have one dent raised they will make a perfect set of barrels for sporting clays and wild roosters in Kansas this november. Ill leave the lightweight short chambered 28" barrels alone and only shoot RST light loads with it untill I get the wall thickness mesured. Those will be the grouse barrels with the open chokes. A Parker 16, O frame ejector gun that only weighs 6lbs-2oz makes a fine upland bird hunting gun indeed! Thanks all Kenny Graft SXS ohio...(-:

[Double Play]

Kenny,
Just because the 32" barrels are longer dose not mean that the barrel walls are any thicker than the shorter barrels. If it were me I would wait to open the chambers until after you get your new gage and measure the wall thickness just ahead of the chambers. In fact personally I shoot 2 3/4" shells in my short chambered guns when hunting as I usually am not taking very many shots so any slight increase in recoil is not an issue.