parker gun part swapping

[Vincent Pascucci]

The frame and barrels are SN 119568. The forend is 216041. So if anyone has forend 119568 or needs 216041 and is willing to trade a GH forend for it, so I'd at least have matching grades if not SN's, I'd be interested.

As for 119568, since this is the first time it's come to light in many decades, I'll share what little I know about it. It belonged to my father-in-law. It was sitting in a gun cabinet in his basement for the 25 years I knew him. I never took a look at it until after he died. That's when I realized it was a true damascus barrel and was clearly a cut above the twist steel barrel on an old double barrel my great grandfather used into the 1950's. It was an H&H, I think. I suspect the Parker hasn't actually been used in at least 60 years. My mother-in-law believes it actually came from her side of the family. I assume based on that that it was used around the coal country of Pottsville, PA going back into the 1940's and perhaps earlier, depending on where it was first sold.

As for condition, the only modification is the barrels were cut down a couple inches. The Turnbull folks noted this was pretty common. By the way, if you are ever in Bloomfield, NY, stop by Turnbull's. Not only did they give me a full run down on the gun, they provided a tour through the whole operation. My brother and I were there for about an hour and a half. The gun has a couple of dings in the barrel and needs all the metal refinished. But overall it is in nice shape. It's totally tight fitting. It does have ejectors and they function perfectly. What little rust there is on it is more of a browning in texture. All in all, a great freebie. My brother-in-law naturally had dibs on the gun, since it was his father's. But he didn't want it, preferring instead some nice rifles for deer hunting.

So, now all I have to do is take this "free" gun and start getting restoration work done. Turnbull quoted the barrel refinishing, which is my first desire, at $550 with another 50 to 100 for getting the dings out. Seeing the work on the guns in their shop, I'm sure it would come out fantastic.

[Merv Boyd]

Hi Jerry,
Not related to this tread but I loved the pictures of the forend!!!!!

I really appreciate fine craftmanship. Keep up the good work.

[Jerry Andrews]

Thanks for those kind words Mervyn! Jerry

[TARNATION !!!]

Jent: I'm still learning. Can you explain regulating barrels? What is screwed up when barrels are cut? Is there a length that can be cut with no effect or is even a short length removed problematic? If a barrel set has been cut, can it be re-regulated and what would be involved?
Thanks
Jack

[TARNATION !!!]

Jent multi-tasking at the moment pgca and on phone with mom & daughter. should really say I'm listening while the ladies talk. could take a while if more than another half hour, i won't interrupt your sleep and call tomorrow at a time that works for you
jack

[Old and Reliable]

Welcome to the PGCA Forum Vincent- if you care to join the PGCA, IMO- it will be the best $40 you'll spend this year- the quarterly Parker Pages is well worth that- and as a paid member you can access the swap and also for sale sections of the Forum.

I have read all the posts- all good answers- I can't speak for cut down barrels, as I have never owned any double so altered (at least YET) but a re-assembled Parker 12 bore, whether ejector or extractor gun, is not all that rare.

If we were talking about a very high grade Parker with such "swapped out components", of course that factor would affect the collector value- but on the "meat and potatoes" Parkers- the 12 gauges mainly, VH(E) up through possible DH(E) that you want for either SC or field bird hunting, there is no problem with a mis-matched gun if it functions and fits you, again, IMO.

Mr. Turnbull was a guest at the Vintagers this past Sept (according to the fine write-up in Parker Pages) and he gave seminars on the proper way to field strip a Parker for cleaning, etc. He and the DelGrego family are certainly fine folks to entrust your Parker(s) to, whether a Trojan grade or an AAHE-and all points in between.

I can't speak on barrel regulation, none of my side-by-sides in my "working battery" have ever had choke or chamber re-work- BUT I am mainly a pass shooter, and like my hero the late T. Nash Buckingham, I use 12 gauges 99% of the time- and loner barrels and tighter chokes- works for me, may not for you. I like to see a bird crumple in the air, feathers hanging in the wind-before it drops dead as a graveyard headstone--I get that effect (and save my Lab a lot of cripple chasing I hope) with a snugger choked 12 bore-

I did find that for SC (and fine for quail and grouse I'd guess) 12 LC Smith Ideal with 26" barrels and choked Imp. Cyl. and Mod. (it came with the yellow factory tag matching the serial number- chokes were specified and it was made in 1945--gives me an edge (and I need all of them I can beg, borrow or steal) on sporting clays in the side-by-side events- BUT I am way far more serious about real birds (crows and barn pigeons) than I could ever get about clays- something about "teaching an old dog new tricks" I'd wager-

Anyway, Happy Holidays and please treat yourself to a annual membership in the PGCA- you won't regret it--

[Bill Murphy]

I don't agree with my friend, Jent. Every cut off Parker I have owned, and I have owned a few, shot just fine. A cylinder bored gun is a short range gun anyway and an inch or two off of center is no big deal. The only way to determine whether a cut off gun shoots to point of aim is to shoot it, not to make generalizations.

[Dean Romig]

I will add that the POI will be more affected as more length is cut off. For instance, if the barrels were originally 30" and only one or two inches are cut off the POI will be less affected but if four inches or more are cut off then the gun will most probably shoot high - again, determined by how much is cutt off.

[Vincent Pascucci]

All,

Thanks for the running commentary. On the issue of the barrels no longer being regulated due to shortening, I'm not certain what that means. I'll have to look it up. As noted though, they were cut down about 2 inches. The Turnbull guy I spoke with noted that they were 27 7/8th inches, which just shouldn't be - 30 or 28 I think is what he commented would be expected. Also, he felt there was a little too much separation between them at the muzzle. That said, he told me it was a common mod for trap shooting. In any event, it doesn't really matter as I didn't intend to shoot it. For years I've been told don't shoot damascus with modern loads, though as I said in an earlier post, my great-grandfather shot a hammered twist steel double well into the 1950's. Of course, he also used to cut the livers our of woodchucks right after shooting them and eat some. A tougher bunch back then I guess.

Anyway, my real desire is to just get it looking good. I'd mostly want to just have the barrels redone to bring out the pattern I see on so many restored guns. And since I have no money into it, I figure I can splurge a little.

I think I will go ahead and become an official member. Lot's of good material bouncing around here. Well worth my investment so far - gun, $0; membership, $40; socializing, priceless.

[Autumn Daze]

Welcome Vincent...Glad to have you aboard..