Eight Gauge, but not a Parker

[Bill Murphy]

I have been looking to add a Davenport eight gauge to my collection for many years, but I have always been snakebit by price, condition, or unwillingness to sell. Familiar story to Parker collectors. This weekend, an original 36" Davenport eight appeared on a table at a local gun show. I looked at it for a day, and made my decision on the second day, the cracked stock being the item of doubt. I got it home and found some faded case colors, fairly vivid Twist Steel pattern, and original buttplate in nice condition. The bore is spotless and shiny.

[charlie cleveland]

bill i really like those old davenport 8 ga s..i too have been looking at one with goodcase colors and good wire twist color on the barrels.the one i ve been looking at is a single barrel..is your gun a single or double barrel gun..glad you found your gun...charlie

[wayne goerres]

OH MAN. You cant tempt us and not show pictures.

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Originally Posted by wayne goerres

OH MAN. You cant tempt us and not show pictures.

Hey Bill,

Wayne is correct. How about a few photos?

Mark

[Bill Murphy]

Charlie, it's a single barrel, described in the 1903 catalog as "The Davenport Goose Gun". I have an adapter in it and will shoot it as soon as I get a chance. The whole gun was covered in a light coat of rust, but I could see through that. What surprised me was the perfect bore, no doubt original. It's all cleaned up now, showing light colors and very nice twist pattern. At $20 in the catalog, it was two dollars more expensive than the "Elita" model which was available in 12, 16, and 20. The ten gauge "Davenport Goose Gun" was the same price as the "Elita". The eight was catalogued at 11 1/2 pounds. I'll put mine on the scale later today.

[Bill Murphy]

11 pounds, 4 ounces without the 3 1/4" 12 gauge adapter.

[Mike Franzen]

I've never seen a Davenport. How about a few pics Bill

[Bill Murphy]

I've been doing some measurements on the big eight. The bore diameter at the choke, if there is a choke, is about .790". The outside diameter of the barrel at the muzzle is 1.070" The wall thickness at the muzzle is .140". Now I have to develop a system to measure the bore behind the choke. I think the easiest way to do that is to use a wall thickness gauge and some simple arithmetic.

[Big D]

... and make the assumption that the bore is concentric with the OD

[Bill Murphy]

Actually, John, if you measure the wall thickness all the way around the barrel, (possible with a single barrel) and measure the outside diameter of the barrel, there are no "assumptions". Simple arithmetic will tell you the bore diameter. Assumptions involving the concentricity of the barrel only enter into the equation when trying to measure wall thickness without a wall thickness gauge. The measurement I am attempting will involve no assumptions of concentricity.