Parker two barrelled two ga. set

[Austin W Hogan]

Two of my first Parkers were two barrel set guns. One was bought by accident; a large southern dealer offered an interesting lifter gun in Gun List; I bought it and it arrived with two barrel sets of matching gauge and weight. I later found out that early live bird shooters often used two barrel sets to prevent burning fingers.
The second was found locally, within a few miles of its original buyer's home. It was a two gauge, two steel, two barrel set. It was very interesting and the subject of an article in Parker Pages before 1999. The 10 gauge barrels were Dam 4 and 26 inches, the 12 ga barrels were B4 and 30 inches. It was a combination light 10 and heavy 12. The serialization indicates it is a 26 inch B4.
I tried collecting two barrel sets for a while; I managed to find grades 1,2,3, and 4, and duplicate the grade 2 in lifter action. I never found a top action two barrel set, and the only zero grade was in condition two grades below the bottom.

To be continued

Best, Austin

[Austin W Hogan]

I tried to complete the first reply by editing but it did not take.

I found two match balance two barrel sets. One was a Dam3 with 30 inch ten and twelve gauge barrels that matched weight within two ounces, and balance within my ability to measure. This gun was returned to Parker several times for repairs, restock and rebrown, but there are no entries that show both barrel sets.

The second is a Dam 2 twelve gauge with 30 inch waterfowl barrels and 26 inch upland barrels. This two frame gun weighs less than 7 pounds with its upland barrels, and more than 8 pounds with the 30 inch barrels. It is thoroughly specified and occupies a quarter page in the order book. Both barrel sets are specified to be chambered 2 7/8 inch.

I really learned a lot about Parker gun fitting from these two barrel sets. It appears that Parkers' fitters could achieve two barrel set balance match with almost any gauge/length combination by adjusting the "swamp" between breech and fore end tip.

To be continued again

Best, Austin

[Austin W Hogan]

Two barrel set gun collecting is a pretty advanced notch (or nich) in Parker collecting. I ceased chasing two barrel set guns because it required one to accept a pretty significant reduction in condition to obtain them. I have found a couple more interesting two barrel sets in decent condition in the last ten years, but they are seldom seen.

Analyzing Charlie Price's Serialization shows these two barrel sets in the 55000 - 70000
serial range ( ie early hammerless plus exposed hammer)
59 Twelve ga hammerless
5 Sixteen ga Hammerless
4 Twelve ga top action
0 Sixteen ga top action
This totals 68 two barrel sets among 15000 serial numbers, or 5 two barrel sets per 1000 guns. Note that the format used in the Serialization does not allow two gauge, two length or two steel two barrel sets to be identified. Also note that the great preponderance of Parker guns are in Grades 0,1,and 2 which are often missing from the serialization. It would seem that considerable knowledge or perhaps a seance with Mr King,is required to identify a two barrel set that left the factory in that form from this era.

Conversely, replacement Parker barrels were not available from an equivalent of NAPA at this time. A set of Parker barrels required a rib cut and roll marked on Parker's tooling, even if barrels from another supplier were used to make the set. Otherwise,a second set of barrels required breaking another Parker.
It is known that Parker and Remington supplied whole guns in unfinished form to custom gunsmiths for finishing. Parker may have sold barrel sets as well. Is it possible to identify file strokes made somewhere other than Meriden in fitting the replacement barrels?

Best, Austin

[Chip Beckford]

Hi Austin, Thanks for the information. I will look at the barrels to see the weights and forward the information. As I mentioned I want to restore it and it probably will need a re-stock. I did talk to Wenigs this morning to get some costs. Any suggestions from any of you on a reasonable priced stocker would be appreciated. Thanks again, Chip

[Chip Beckford]

HI Austin, the barrel weight on the 16 Ga, 28 inch is as marked with a 3, 1 and a 4, for 3 1/4? the 12 Ga 30 inch is marked with a 4 and 7, 4lbs 7 oz? Chip

[Chip Beckford]

HI Again, Thank you to all of you who have answered my questions so far. I will try to get some pictures of this set over the holidays, and am looking forward to getting the research letter back to continue the story. I do want to restore this and am excited about getting more information and thoughts from you all.

Chip Beckford