should I shoot my old Parker or hang it up

[Autumn Daze]

Congrats on a wonderful family gun. Welcome to the PGCA!

[Mills]

Originally Posted by John Yancey

I am now a new PGCA member... in accordance with the "LAW". LOL

Welcome John!

[Gunner]

John welcome.
Now that your legal. I don't think it was mentioned before but your gun came from the factory with 28" barrels. Do they still measure 28"?
Also the book says that it did not come with ejectors or any other additional features.
As the newest member in good standing you can go to the home page click on the "Research Letter" on the left side and order a letter for your gun for only $40. This might give you more info regarding the Lilly connection or not.
Best,
Erick

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Mills Morrison

1 1/2 is a bit strong. IMHO

1 1/2 oz. loads are way too heavy for your gun!

Use a "standard" or better, a light load of 1 oz. of #6 shot for turkeys. Remember - no body shots! Head and neck shots with no feathers to absorb the shot are what you're taking turkeys with... extra velocity and heavier shot charge won't do it for you - but an accurate head shot at under 40 yards with MOD or tighter chokes will put any longbeard on the dinner table for you.

[Richard Flanders]

Jeez. Dean is spot on; please don't E V E R put an 1-1/2oz load into that nice gun! We have members who kill turkeys with Parker .410's. A decent 1oz load will do just fine for turkey.

[edgarspencer]

The best way to fully understand what these guys are saying is to go get some modern, fixed frame shotgun, and fire a few 1 1/2 ounce loads, after firing a few 1 ounce loads. Notice the difference? That recoil you're feeling is being transmitted through the butt stock. In the case of your 112 year old DH, transmitted through a dry, antique piece of wood. There are two screws, going vertically from the bottom tang to the top tang, and the two tangs themselves. They are desperately trying to split that wood like a log splitter. Using the right choke for the application, that extra 33% of the shot load is just going by old Tom like a bunch of skeeters.

[John Yancey]

Originally Posted by John Campbell

Hmmmm.
You might want to do a little digging if it's a DHE. It could be connected to this man and his family:


Here's a start;

The company's founder was Colonel Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical chemist and Union Army veteran of the American Civil War.[4] Col. Lilly served as the company president until his death in 1898.[5] A stylized version of his signature still appears in the company's red logo.[4] After he mustered out of the Union army, Lilly briefly became a cotton planter in Mississippi, but the venture failed and he returned to the Midwest, where he was a partner in a Paris, Illinois, drugstore.[6] Lilly began formulating plans to create a medical wholesale company while working in partnership at the Binford and Lilly drug store in Illinois.

I have exhausted my ability at trying to find the "Lilly" who owned the Parker I inherited from my Grandfather. I am going to order the original factory slip if one exists and hopefully that may shed some light on the matter. Thanks for the info in your remarks it has got me on a treasure hunt to solve the big mystery.

John

[John Yancey]

Not sure where I should say this and don't think it needs a new thread but...

I just got done meeting with Mr. Fred Verry here in Virginia Beach and wanted to thank him in a more public way. He checked out my Parker top to bottom and taught me a great deal about the wonderful firearm I inherited from my Grandfather. He didn't just give me answers; he helped me understand why. His knowledge and patience with a new Parker owner and a person he has never met was heartwarming and I could not be more grateful. His kindness reflects great credit upon himself and this Parker Gun Collectors Association. Bravo Zulu to Mr. Fred Verry.

Very Sincerely,
John Yancey