First 20ga. Parker - Damascus GH

[edgarspencer]

I agree with everything John said, Except the 1" Silvers pad with spacer. I first remember when Paul Roberts brought over a sample stock he had a young girl working for him do. One side was original, with a clear and visible piece of walnut glued on. The other side was her handywork; a perfectly blended extension of the original grain. I think this may have been before Larson began doing it.

I wish everyone would stop boosting Jay's pride. I'll never be able to talk him out of it now.

[Jay Oliver]

So there is always something to keep me grounded. First off, I shot 5 boxes of shells through the gun and it shot amazing. I was making long shots and shorts shots, I didn't even open my box of spreader shells.

It shot the RST 2 1/2 Ultra-Lites with 3/4oz. at 1100fps a little too well. Hardly any recoil and breaking targets near and far. It shot the 7/8oz. RST Lites well too, I just didn't need them. Without a doubt one of the nicest guns I have ever shot. I love it!

From a collector point a view I knew what I was getting into with the stock and was okay with that. I do think I missed that the barrels were also slightly trimmed. They measure 27 13/16". When I looked at the gun initially, I noticed that the barrels just touched at the muzzle and I didn't even measure the overall length(even though I had a tape measure in my pocket...).

I also saw what looked like a transition or rectangle at the end of the rib and thought the barrels were original. However...look at the pictures, it looks like someone did a good job either with a repair or wanted to open the chokes. I don't think someone would cut 3/16" off to open chokes, but you never know.

I do have several Parkers with barrels fractionally shorter than the stated length, but this doesn't look like that situation. Do the barrels look like they were cut?

The gun did shoot far too well to complain. And while I know there would be a significant impact on collector value, this will be a go to gun for me.

Please let me know what you think...Thank you,

Jay

[edgarspencer]

The old 'rule of thumb' about barrels touching isn't a 'final rule', as I have seen many guns that have been cut 2", and the barrels are still touching.
I have seen barrels which are clearly uncut by the physical appearance of the termination line, and yet they do not measure "exactly" what either the letter, or serialization book says they are. I guess I'd have to say that 1/8" is perhaps the most I've seen, but generally, a sixteenth or even 3/32" is not at all out of the ordinary.
Your barrels do, indeed, look trimmed. That said, I doubt it will have additional negative impact on value than the fact the chokes are opened. Likewise, a very good faux painting of a lengthened stock will have less of an impact than a pad added to a cut stock.
This all, of course, is just my opinion and may only be worth what it cost you.

[Jay Oliver]

Thinking out loud. I have a late grade 2 lifter with grade 3 Damascus barrels that measure just a touch under 29 7/8" for a lettered 30" barrel gun. I think one of the reasons was to use up the old style barrels before the top action guns came out(thanks Dean for explaining that to me!).

Could this be a similar situation? Using up some old stock? Though I think Parker's last damascus gun was 1926. Drew had mentioned these were higher grade barrels for GH. Just thinking and reaching a bit...

[Dean Romig]

Well, the Serialization book says it left Meriden with 28" barrels so they were obviously 'trimmed' most likely because of damage the muzzles had sustained and it doesn't look like the muzzles were finished like that at the factory, though it was done with some care in 'softening' the edges of the cut metal - it certainly wasn't done to reduce choke constriction as that would require at least a half-inch to be removed.

I like the gun a lot and I'm truly sorry I didn't get to Amoskeag for a preview.




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[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

I like the gun a lot and I'm truly sorry I didn't get to Amoskeag for a preview.

ditto

[Jay Oliver]

Thanks Dean and Edgar,

I have bought enough Parkers by now to have measured those barrels when I saw the gun at the auction preview. That was a big oversight on my part. If I did and noticed they were short, I doubt I would have placed a bid at all. I am glad I have the gun. I did receive a handful of compliments about how nice the gun is walking around the clays course today.

I do want to fix the stock LOP in a tasteful way. It really shoots well. I will definitely bring it to the Parker shoot at Addeiville in April.

I didn't find a small slip on pad, but it shot well enough with the medium sized pad. I really didn't even notice it was there. So no immediate rush on getting it fixed. I might shoot it all winter and send it off in the spring when my mind goes back to fishing and boats.

Thanks again for all the support!

Jay

[TxHuntermn]

I’ve used Mark Larson for an extension, outstanding. I’ll send a pic of my Lindner 20 Daly here in a bit he did for me early this year.

[TxHuntermn]

Here are,a couple photos of Marks work on my Daly,20 Diamond grade...he took off the gross pad and added 3.7”. For some reason the pics look like the new finish is orange peel. He did a nice checked butt, but i would use a correct dhbp.

He is great to work with also.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/161040.../shares/x70xe3

[Jay Oliver]

Thanks for the recommendation and pictures. That may be the way to go. Those are nice before and after pics. I like the idea of getting the gun back to it's original LOP(which I like) with a DHBP.