New Member w/Parker Damascus

[Researcher]

Technically, a Quality 2 hammerless 10-gauge of the 1889 vintage would be an EH-Grade. The 10-gauges cost $5 more in the Quality 1 and 2 guns than the 12-gauge and smaller gauges up into the early 1900s.

Do keep in mind that the factory loaded 10-gauge shells, when your gun was built, maxed out at about 4 1/2 drams of black powder pushing 1 1/4 ounces of shot. Also, 10-gauge shells came in lengths from 2 5/8 inch to 3 1/4 inch. Actually "factory loaded" shells were scarce and most shooters loaded their own in brass cases or got them from local loaders. A couple of years later, factory loaded smokeless powder shells began appearing and the heaviest 10-gauge loads were 4 1/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder pushing 1 1/4 ounces of shot.

The high velocity progressive burning smokeless powder 10-gauge loads of 4 3/4 drams equiv. pushing 1 5/8 ounce of shot didn't come along until the mid-1920s.

[David Macaleer]

Thanx for the warm welcome folks. I appreciate the reassurances about owning & shooting a damascus barrel gun. While I'm not sure I read any of the negative diatribes about shooting dam barrels on this site, my request to spare me from the diatribes was a defensive mechanism due to the widespread mis-information still prevalent in the ether. Obviously I'm amongst friends here!

Already I'm receiving great info from friendly people who know a lot more than I do about Parkers. I'm going to wait to respond to a couple of your questions as the gun is at the gunsmith and not in hand. Having it back and getting his full report with all the vital statistics will allow me to respond better (and accurately).

I am especially curious about the chamber size. I didn't want to assume it has 2-7/8 chambers as the chambers on some vintage guns can be tricky to measure. Especially as I will need to handload shells. Many thanx to the gentleman with the John Wayne avatar for the shorty 10 spreadsheet. Way cool. A bunch of food for thought!

I look forward to corresponding with all of you in the future!

[David Macaleer]

OK, the gun is back from the gunsmith after he disassembled, cleaned, inspected, reassembled, lubed, function checked, and provided a full written evaluation. In short, it is in remarkable condition for being built in 1889 and is generally safe to shoot with appropriate (low pressure) loads. 100% of the original wood finish is there and most of the metal finish as well. The barrel pattern really came up well. He said it was filthy inside with the old lube almost the color & consistency of varnish but it is clean and properly lubed now. There is evidence of previous disassembly with very minor damage to screw slots and the triggerplate.

It is an EH grade 10 ga. Parker with 30" barrels and 2-7/8 in. chambers.
Bore diameter L & R = .800 and L choke = .024, R choke = .026.
Wall thickness measures .074.
DAC = 1-28/32, DAH = 3-2/32 and Pull = 14-1/4.
No cast with 7 deg. down pitch.
Balance point = 5-1/2 with trigger pulls L = 5 lbs. 8 oz., R = 5 lbs. 11 oz.
Gun wieght = 9 lbs. 2 oz.

I don't know if the barrels are dam3 or dam4. I need to study the available online info to make the call. He didn't provide that info & I forgot to ask.

Pix to follow soon when I can get them done & uploaded. Hopefully in the next few days. I can't wait to get or load some appropriate loads and put the geese on notice!