First time post... 20ga. GH D... with 28ga.

John McKee · 11-30-2009, 02:50 PM

inserts... and I read you all like pictures... get downright fussy about having them

This is an old family gun I hardly paid any attention to. When my Dad told me it was a 28ga. back about 30 years ago. It was too small to do much with. Then I realized that if it were truly a 28ga.; there were only about 125 of them existent. So I pulled it out to double check. And it is a ca. 1915 20ga. in GH grade.

These inserts, now that I go back in the fog; were probably put in when the general impression was Damascus would blow up. Reading the forum here has been a great help. And clearly the "science" and "sport" of shooting have overtaken the fear of the 70's. That there is plenty of fun in shooting the old guns if done correctly.

Anyway...thanks for being here. My question is: Can I pop these 2-3" inserts out? Here's some pictures of the gun. And, can you tell if the gun has been refinished? It's really clean and in great shape. The 28ga. just didn't get used.

Double Play · 11-30-2009, 03:14 PM

John,
That’s a very nice looking and desirable Parker. It looks as though someone with a lathe made up a set of inserts that allow the extractor to lift the shell similar to the Chamber Mate inserts now available. I would think they are just pressed in as I see no signs of welding. If that’s the case you should be able to carefully tap them out. If you try this go easy and if they don't move easily have a gunsmith remove them. Good luck with that wonderful Parker.

Autumn Daze · 11-30-2009, 03:40 PM

What great gun! As Larry stated if you can CAREFULLY remove the inserts try to do them no harm.After you remove them I would have a competent double gunsmith check the chambers to see that they were not altered to fit the inserts.And have the barrel wall thickness checked also.It looks to me that whomever turned up those inserts knew their stuff..

Bill Murphy · 11-30-2009, 03:49 PM

In my opinion, if those are 28 gauge tubes, the chambers were bored out to larger than 20 gauge chamber dimensions. Have you ever put a 28 gauge shell in the chamber of your gun? I have my doubts that it would fit. If you need more information, send your gun up here for a professional look see.

Dean Romig · 11-30-2009, 04:44 PM

Those inserts look more like 20ga./.410 inserts judging by the width of the lug and doll's head as compared to the ID of the inserts.
The gun does not look like it has been refinished at all, in answer to your question.

Bill Murphy · 11-30-2009, 05:00 PM

I'm with Dean, looks like .410 tubes. 28 gauge tubes in a 20 gauge chamber are so thin as to be fragile. Not these. Be very careful getting those tubes out of there. Your gun is very valuable and not hard to damage. Tell us where you are located and we'll recommend a talented gunsmith. They look like Savage tubes except that the Savage tubes are longer than three inches and the extractors are usually a little smaller than your extractors. Are you sure your tubes are only three inches long?

Harry Collins · 11-30-2009, 09:47 PM

John,

I am holding a set of Savage tubes to shoot 410 in a 20 gauge and they look exactly like what you have shown us. You may be able to pull them out by the extractor. The best bet is to get a wooden dowel and run it down the muzzel and give it a push or a tap. Be sure to hold your hand at the breech to catch the insert. It is about 14" long.

Harry

John McKee · 12-01-2009, 08:08 AM

Those are all great comments, Thanks... 410

I'll pull the gun out again and measure the inserts and try a 410 shell. From looking down the barrel. I'd guess the inserts are only the length of the shells themselves. That could be an optical illusion. So this time I'll do an actual measurement.

Whichever it was; looking at the clean bore tells me that nobody shot the gun. My Dad and Grandad were duck and goose hunters mostly; here in North Carolina. I live between Durham and Chapel Hill. If anybody knows a knowledgeable gunsmith anywhere close; please let me know. A machinist buddy of mine also suggested using a wooden dowel rod and a mallet.

Bruce Day · 12-01-2009, 08:25 AM

We've been having a well publicized annual Parker v L C Smith shoot at Deep River Sporting Clays at Sanford NC at the end of April for the last ten years. Come by.

George Lander · 12-01-2009, 02:52 PM

John: Your gun letters as a "D2" or Grade 2 gun with 28 inch Damascus barrels. I would recommend Jim Kelly at Darlington Gun Works, Darlington, South Carolina to do your work. His telephone number is (843) 393-3931.

Best Regards, George