Why do some 1 frame guns weigh more than others?

[Copper John]

I have been looking at 16 bore 1 frames for a while in different grades all with 28" barrels and most with 14" stocks. I am wondering why some are 6lbs 8 oz and others are closer to 7lbs.

I currently have a VH 16 on a #1 frame and it is about 7.1lbs.. I don't understand why I keep seeing similar guns that are the same frame size weighing in at a half pound less.. ??


Thanks!

[edgarspencer]

Barrel striking was a manual process (by very skilled people), so inevitably, there can be some variation in wall thickness.
Barrels and ribs are assembled with solder, and that,too, was a manual process with some variation.
Guns with lighter barrels may have also had wood removed beneath the butt plate in order to achieve a balance at or around the hinge pin.

[Pa SxS]

A couple of reasons come to mind. The density of the wood, the shaping of the stock, dogs head buttplate vs. a recoil pad, the thickness of the receiver body, the size of the bore and the tapering of the barrels. What does a 1/2 pound difference or less really matter? Find one of the weight you like and buy it.

[Copper John]

Does the quality/grade of steel usually signal a difference such as titanic vs special ect?

[GH-16]

Originally Posted by John Nagel

Does the quality/grade of steel usually signal a difference such as titanic vs special ect?

I would say no, the type of barrel steel won't make much difference in weight. Barrel length and striking will though.

Please keep in mind that the craftsmen at Parker were magicians at making the same gun do so many different things. Frame size is only one factor in the equation. When you look at Parkers over a long period of time you come to realize that you need to evaluate each individual gun on it's own merits. If you are looking for a nice lite weight gun to carry upland hunting or a heavy weight for target/waterfowling you need to look for that particular gun.

I've seen 1-frame 12ga guns as heavy as 8lbs I also have two in my safe that tip the scale at 6 1/2 lbs. It took me a long time to find the lite ones I have. In each individual gauge & frame size it's the same story. Each gun was built individually for a specific need.

[Copper John]

I am looking at a gun that is 7lbs and I cant decide if I would regret that extra half pound in a grouse gun. Albeit I would only use it occasionally.

[Copper John]

Also I quess that the reason they would be lighter in higher grades of steel would be because they would have spent more time striking a DH grade vs a V grade?

[William Davis]

Be a lot easier to find under 7 lbs with a 16 or 20.

My 30 inch GH One frame 12 is about as light as you will see at 7 lbs. Some less not many. From memory my two 28 inch Trojans are 6-8 20 G & 6-10 16 G. Both nice handling guns.

Small frame guns can be fairly heavy I have a 26 inch 1 1/2 frame VHE 12 that's 7-8. While short and open choked the barrels have a lot of metal, no doubt ordered that way.

William

[Copper John]

I am only looking at 16 bore guns

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by John Nagel

Also I quess that the reason they would be lighter in higher grades of steel would be because they would have spent more time striking a DH grade vs a V grade?

Nope, that would be an incorrect assumption. The barrel steels are not significantly different in weight, cubic inch of one vs. cubic inch of the other.
Further, striking of the different steel barrels didn't vary significantly except with the possibility of a finer finish on the 'Titanic' barrels.

If you want a lighter sixteen gauge Parker for upland shooting why not look for one built on the 0-frame size... you could save another half pound.






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