I have several questions about Parker frame sizes?

[Craig Larter]

In 12ga 30" guns #2 frames normally weigh 7lbs 12oz to 8lbs, #3 12ga 30" 8lbs 6oz+, #1 frame normally weight less than 7lbs 6oz. But there are may exceptions. For upland birds a #1 frame 12ga would be perfect, unless you want to pay up for a Parker small bore. Parker small bores are not real light compared to like a Fox. For ducks over decoys a #2 frame 30" is hard to beat, for long range waterfowl late in the season with heavy loads a #3 frame 12ga is hard to beat.

[John Davis]

Both of my Doubles trap guns are 30 inch 12 gauges on 1 1/2 size frames.

[mobirdhunter]

Weight is one of several factors regarding frame size. The balance of the gun is an important element, as is how the gun “carries.” If I’m in a duck or dove blind I like a gun with a bit more heft, and one that has enough weight to help my swing. Following a bird dog for miles with infrequent shooting (much too infrequent of late), I like a gun that fits my hand, comes up quickly, and has enough inertia to swing (but swing fast when needed). As Craig noted, a 2 frame Parker 12 is ideal for shooting ducks (or dove) from a blind. A lively 0 frame 20 or 16 can be a blessing to shoot when after Bobs and grouse. A woodcock gun is a topic for another thread.

Parkers are generally heavier, but extremely well balanced. The multiple frame sizes available show the maker’s attention to detail.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Dave, the frame sizes used when Parker Bros made guns was not recorded until later years. I can’t tell you the exact year the frame sizes were entered into the order books. There were a lot of guns made prior to the frame size entries so there’s no actual hard data breaking down the numbers and sizes. Maybe The Parker Story has some info, but I don’t remember whether it does or not.

[Bill Murphy]

There is at least one #6 frame 12 gauge hammerless gun.

[B. Dudley]

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski

Dave, the frame sizes used when Parker Bros made guns was not recorded until later years. I can’t tell you the exact year the frame sizes were entered into the order books. There were a lot of guns made prior to the frame size entries so there’s no actual hard data breaking down the numbers and sizes. Maybe The Parker Story has some info, but I don’t remember whether it does or not.

Frame sizes were not recorded in the order books. They were in the factory stock books.

There are references to frame sizes (as measured over the bolsters) in the earlier hammer gun days. But, yes, there being an actual column in the stock books for frame size was not until later on, like 19-teens or early 20s. I cannot recall either.

[Pa SxS]

The first stock book entry with frame sizes is stock book # 75 and is from July 1925.

[6pt-Sika]

I like a 6 frame 8 gauge as well as 3 frame 10’s . But probably the Parker I liked THE most was a 1 1/2 frame VHE 12 gauge 32” vent rib trap gun .

[Mike of the Mountain]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

Frame sizes were not recorded in the order books. They were in the factory stock books.

There are references to frame sizes (as measured over the bolsters) in the earlier hammer gun days. But, yes, there being an actual column in the stock books for frame size was not until later on, like 19-teens or early 20s. I cannot recall either.

It was one of them thar books. I had a 50/50 shot at remembering which one.

[Bill Murphy]

Chuck and Dave, there are two 000 frame 28 gauges out there. They were displayed at the PGCA meeting at the Ohio Gun Collectors show. They were measured to prove their originality. By the way, most if not all of the #6 frame 10 gauges were originally 8 gauges and were rebarrelled to 10 when 8 gauges were outlawed for waterfowl in the early 20th century. The 12 gauge #6 frame gun probably came to life the same way.