8 Guage 1888 Hammer Gun

[Roundsworth]

Has the check hook lug been repaired, or reinforced, with an insert of some sort? Is it something done to extremely heavy barrels to prevent the hook from breaking off?

[Bill Murphy]

Casey, I have looked in every Parker catalog I can find and have not found your exact case. However, the pictures and descriptions of the walnut cases are not very descriptive. Don't let the gun get away from the case, because closer inspection by a Parker expert may turn up some more evidence of originality. I have only seen one original Parker eight gauge case and it is a leather case, not wood like yours. Dave Wolf in Waco, Texas may be your best bet for a good stock repair. If you ship the back end to him, the insurance should be at least five or six grand.

[Autumn Daze]

I wonder if Casey's barrels were machined to add the check hook feature. Either at the factory or possibly later. Very interesting..

[Bill Murphy]

Austin Hogan is one who knows a bit about the transition from round lug to check hook. Maybe he could comment about whether a factory conversion from one to another is a possibility. A picture of the lug on the gun in question would help a lot. A picture from the side and from the bottom would be sufficient.

[Austin W Hogan]

The check hook lifters are made on a longer frame, almost interchangeable with the top action frame.

Best Austin

[Bill Murphy]

Thanks Austin. It looks like we're back to needing pictures to decide what we have here. Apparently, a conversion to "check hook" is not likely since they were two different frames.

[Autumn Daze]

Okay...How about this scenerio...Those heavy weight barrels damaged the check hook pocket in the barrels and it was repaired. Maybe I think to much...ya we need pictures.

[CaseySherlock]

Well I've gotten some more pictures taken. Had no idea I would get things "stirred up". It's great though, I love talking about my gun. As far as I know the gun has never been returned to Parker. If you'll notice the hook in the middle has a piece broken off of it, I never noticed it before.

[Dean Romig]

It makes perfect sense that when those monstrous barrels are stopped short by the pin in the frame with no resistance to their momentum other than the hook... something's gotta give! It sure looks like a factory repair and the method of repair possibly taken from the 1910 replacable locking plate on the barrel lug.

[Bill Murphy]

It is not a fatal flaw. There is at least one gunsmith who knows how to saw the barrel stop (check hook) from the barrel assemby and reattach a newly milled check hook to the barrel assembly. However, it looks like yours is working fine now. PM me if you need to know how to address the problem if it actually becomes a problem.