Any info on 16 ga

[Craig Cogar]

Hello guys- I am new to this forum and glad I found it- after 48 years and 100's of guns later I finally have grown up and now know what I like- these old shotguns are it- currently I have an old LC no.2(1901) 16 gauge- did some wheeling and dealing to get it- only thing I don't like about it is that darn trigger guard is reeking havoc on my middle finger when I shoot right barrel- anyway I am now in love with Parkers- have a friend who has and oldie that I want.. maybe depending on what you guys can tell me about it-
please help me identify all the stuff marked on this baby- I do not have the gun in my hands so I am trying to ask him and figure out what this and that mean.
on bottom of barrels big letters "USC Co. 10-5-92 #191." I cannot find what USC is for?? also a "0" on last lug
also a "C"

the serial# is 53938 above that is a 2
he said it is a 16 cause 12 to big 20 to small!
gun works great as far as hammers working etc.. the barrels he claims are smooth and clean- I would only want this gun if I could use it as I really don't want a wall hanger- can you shoot lite RST shells thru- that's what I use on my Elsie?

Thanks for any help you can give me.
FYI what I really want is a Parker 28 gauge single trigger anyone got one for about 5k???
thanks craig

[OH Osthaus]

Craig - 53938 lists as a grade 2 toplever 16 gauge with 30 inch damascus barrels and a capped pistol grip stock.

if you can - post some pictures of the other markings
there should be a pair of numbers - the second offset - that would be the barrel weight

If you can shoot it depends on the condition

[Dean Romig]

Craig, the only decent Parker 28 with a single trigger you'll find for around $5K will be a Parker Reproduction by Winchester.

[Bill Murphy]

USC is United States Cartridge Company. Your gun was probably an ammunition test gun. A book was published years ago about the collection of the USC Company. It is hard to find, but may picture this gun. Actually, not too hard a book to find. Amazon lists paperback reprint and 1950 hardcover for sale, both under ten bucks. A PGCA letter may connect the gun to USC when it was first sold. This would be a great collectors find. Tell us where you're located and maybe we can suggest someone to inspect your new gun.

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

You should look at a PP article I wrote that features USC guns including this one.
Of course you need to join PGCA to get the PP articles. Get going!
Bill must have forgotten.

[Dean Romig]

I have an 0-frame, 26" 16 gauge, Grade-1 Parker hammer gun that was ordered by King Powder Company in Kings Mills, Ohio in 1893 obviously for load testing. There are no King Powder Company markings on mine unfortunately.

[Bill Murphy]

George, what issue of PP was your article in? I seem to remember some time back when a bored but industrious member volunteered to create an author and subject index of PP, somewhat like Dan Cote has for Double Gun Journal. For some unexplained reason, the BOD decided that they didn't want any such index. Maybe they have someone working on that as we speak.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

For some unexplained reason, the BOD decided that they didn't want any such index.

Bill, I think you may be confusing that with the complete DVD library of all of the Parker Pages issues that was quickly stopped by the BOD because ol' EDM threatened litigation if we made any of his articles available in other than their original format.

Maybe they have someone working on that as we speak.

This would be a worthy project for Parker Pages.

...

[Craig Cogar]

Thanks for the info, I just joined the PGCA and will be looking up those PP articles. The gun s in North Carolina- Charlotte area.
thanks craig

[Craig Cogar]

George can you help to locate that article on The USC guns?
thx