A&F CHE 20ga

[Bruce Day]

1904 CHE 20 gauge in original Abercrombie & Fitch oak and leather case with A&F New York marked oil bottle and snap caps. The case has shipping and train stickers.

Gun weight is 6lbs 3oz, and although the original patterning hang tags are missing, they would have given the chamber length as 2 1/2" for 2 5/8" shells, and patterning count for 7/8oz at 2 1/4 drams. The chokes are original at .004 and .023 ( near Cyl. and Full), which Parker suggested as an all-around upland choke. The barrel length is 26" on a 0 frame. Barrels are original diameter and not honed.

With the cylinder barrel, Parker stated that the average killing circle would be 29" at 25 yards and 20" with the full choke barrel, also at 25 yards.

Parker recommended three hammerless era 20 gauge loads:
3/4 at 2 1/4
7/8 at 2 1/4
7/8 at 2 1/2

Actual Parker chamber lengths for most 20 gauges are 2 19/32".

Cartridges at 7/8oz 2 1/2 dram loads are available from Remington, Winchester, Federal , RST and others. RST shells measure 2 1/2" when expanded, Remington, Winchester and Federals between 2 5/8 and 2 11/16. The two lighter loads are available from RST or handloading.

By the early 1890's , Parker had designed its guns for smokeless powder, and proofed and patterned with smokeless.