Best Recoil Pad for Parker DHE 12

[PBL3]

Hello,

Im new to the forum and have inherited 3 beautiful parker shotguns from my late father and grandfather. I have a nice original 12 ga DHE w/ a straight stock with a rapidly deteriorating old white line 1 inch recoil pad on it. Not sure when the pad was installed but my guess would be the 60's. I have been looking around online and was curious what you guys recommend for a replacement. I was leaning towards a kick ezz grind to fit but realize that it's not very period correct. The gun is still used regularly enough that I am leaning towards function over form if that makes sense but am open to suggestions. A new one inch pad is critical for LOP. Thanks in advance!

[Dean Romig]

You can never go wrong with a Silvers pad on a vintage Parker. The 1” may be a tough one but a 1/4” black spacer under it may be a problem solved.





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[ahfoxman]

Good Morning,

Although, I like Dean's recommendation about using a black spacer under a currently available Silvers Pad, I am pretty sure I have a NOS 1" pad here somewhere. It is one that G&H sold a few dozen years ago and it is not the nice original orange color that we all like, but the pale red that is found on many currently available Silver's pads. Let me know if I should go rooting around the cellar. Actually, G&H (or CSMC) may still offer the 1" Silvers, not sure? Remember, what I said up above, as 1" pads don't look appropriate to this old fart on a fine old doublegun.

[B. Dudley]

If you want function and comfort. A kick-eez would be your best option overall. They are the best recoil adsorbing pad that also fits/grinds well. Pads like limbsavers and gooey are a pain to cleanly grind and install.

Kick-eez used to offer a darker red color that looked very good on an old gun. If you can find one, it would be a good compromise. I think I may have one or two here. They do make a bright red as well. But it can be a little loud.

If you want truly traditional the best options for comfort would be a heart vent Hawkins or a jostom anti-flinch or hy-gun. These are all ventilated and are period correct depending on your guns year of manufacture.

Solid pads like silvers or noshocs are safe options for a period pad. But they offer the least comfort. Original noshocs are softer than reproductions.

Ultimately, anything will be better than that whiteline. Every one of those should be put right in the garbage.

[PBL3]

Appreciate the replys and ideas for pads. I’m going to see what I can find as far as the red kick ezz. If someone has a line on one please send it my way. I’ll update with some photos when I get it finished.

[B. Dudley]

Here is a photo of the old dark red vs the new bright red kick-eez pads.

IMG_1542.jpeg

I also forgot to mention decelerator old english pads. They are available in red and brown and are also pretty good for recoil and comfort.

[J. Scott Hanes]

What would be the period-correct pad for a SBT made in 1929?

[Bill Murphy]

The Griffin and Howe Silver repro pad is a full inch thick, slightly less in the middle. I don't trim them, but you could trim them to make them a bit thinner. The presently available Silver is a nice pad for a 1929 Parker 12 gauge.

[Joe D.]

I was reading this and remembered that I have a NOS KICK-EEZ pad that I picked up years ago. Went downstairs and found it. I always thought it was brown and was saving it. After seeing Brian's picture, the thicker pad which was called red seems to be like mine?

[J. Scott Hanes]

Are you willing to sell that pad?