First Parker...

the spank

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Ok gents go easy on me. I realize this may not have much collector value but it appears to be a good condition mechanically solid shooter which is what I wanted. The seller had taken this on consignment for a family's estate. He said they claimed the gun had been in the family for so long they believed possibly from new and that to the best of their knowledge everything on the gun was original but that the stock had been refinished and the trigger guard hot blued at some point. The recoil pad is labelled Old English and given the condition obviously a much newer replacement. The trigger guard is definitely a reblue to judge by the sanded down serial # engraving and I suspect the barrels were too as their is no choke, gauge, chamber length, serial # markings etc., etc. but then I do not know Parkers and maybe not all had them? The barrels measure a bit over 30" and the seller indicated they were both choked FULL though I cannot verify that currently as I do not have access to a bore gauge.
Anyways I decided to join the PGCA so I purchased a membership to connect with other Parker owners and glean as much info as I can. Here is what I do know so far to the best of my knowledge. The barrels are stamped on top of the rib PARKER BROTHERS, MAKERS, MERIDEN CONN, VULCAN STEEL, the gun is a #2 non-ejector, double triggers and graded VH. The gun locks up solid as a vault, their is zero play anywhere, the barrels open and close so smoothly you'd swear they are riding on high quality needle bearings. The gun feels HEAVY compared to my Ithaca NID 4E with the 30" bbls mounted but until I can weigh both that is just a "feels like" guess. The gun balances nicely with the weight between the hands and their is less drop at comb and heel in comparison to the Ithaca and fits me better. Until I can get some gauges I can only guess as to true chamber length. If it's only 2.5" I am still covered as I have a pretty good supply of 2.5" Bismuth for whacking greenheads, the intended use for this old girl...and I especially like that it doesn't have one of those god awful auto safety's that engages when opening the gun to reload/recock the hammers.
 

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Some very easy ways to confirm chamber length.

Take an old plastic cc/membership card. Cut it lengthwise just the right width so it will just slide into the breech. Push it in until it stops. Mark on the card where it stopped. Pull it out and measure. Voila…..your chamber length.

Looks like a nice first Parker. Good move on joining the association.
 
Looks like a nice old Vulcan , and yes they are a heavier style gun.
I had a Featherweight 16 at one time however that was very light compared to most 16's.
I'd shoot the heck out of that gun if it were mine!:rockOn:
 
Some very easy ways to confirm chamber length.

Take an old plastic cc/membership card. Cut it lengthwise just the right width so it will just slide into the breech. Push it in until it stops. Mark on the card where it stopped. Pull it out and measure. Voila…..your chamber length.

Looks like a nice first Parker. Good move on joining the association.

Thank you, good idea. Would never have thought of that.

Looks like a nice old Vulcan , and yes they are a heavier style gun.
I had a Featherweight 16 at one time however that was very light compared to most 16's.
I'd shoot the heck out of that gun if it were mine!:rockOn:

I'm hoping to pummel some Specks and Greenheads with it this fall...:)
 
Some very easy ways to confirm chamber length.

Take an old plastic cc/membership card. Cut it lengthwise just the right width so it will just slide into the breech. Push it in until it stops. Mark on the card where it stopped. Pull it out and measure. Voila…..your chamber length.

Looks like a nice first Parker. Good move on joining the association.

Thats a good trick thanks!
 
Some very easy ways to confirm chamber length.

Take an old plastic cc/membership card. Cut it lengthwise just the right width so it will just slide into the breech. Push it in until it stops. Mark on the card where it stopped. Pull it out and measure. Voila…..your chamber length.

Looks like a nice first Parker. Good move on joining the association.

I use an appropriate sized socket:d
Cat
 
My go to waterfowl gun is similar 1928 Parker vhe 30” bbl’s it has 42” constriction both bbl’s it completely folds honkers out to 60 yards with hand loads 1 1/16 oz number 2 or number 4 bismuth mine is on a 1 1/2 frame
I load 800x 1200fps 7600 psi works great
I would sell all other field guns before I would sell my Parker’s I have a few others that I use for upland
Enjoy it a very nice piece indeed
 
Looks like a great old gun. I'm not a collector so some parts being refinished doesn't factor much for me.
 
As far as collecting Parker’s it’s like most other firearms it’s the higher grade guns that are sought after
Vh and vhe grades are the most common in all gauges so unless the condition is 90% or better most are just great shooting grade firearms
 
Nice Parker, Spank. the straight grip has a "###y" appeal to it.
My Parker ID book says your gun was made in 1911. Also, the records for your gun are missing---this is fairly common---years ago, somebody probably borrowed the paperwork and forgot to replace it.
I have a bore gauge and a chamber gauge and I'll bring it with me next time I'm up your way. I also have some 2 1/2" ammo with lead shot, in case you have the need for such.
Bill
 
Nice Parker, Spank. the straight grip has a "###y" appeal to it.
My Parker ID book says your gun was made in 1911. Also, the records for your gun are missing---this is fairly common---years ago, somebody probably borrowed the paperwork and forgot to replace it.
I have a bore gauge and a chamber gauge and I'll bring it with me next time I'm up your way. I also have some 2 1/2" ammo with lead shot, in case you have the need for such.
Bill

Thanks Bill, should I need some 2.5" I will gladly trade you for some 2.75". I have a dozen or so boxes of 2.5" Bismuth for killing ducks with my old guns...
 
I think it's 2 5/8" chambers that they started using before the turn of the century (1900's that is). I make low pressure 2 1/2" rolled shells for my parker I was gifted by my wife's great uncle on his 100th birthday. It is my most cherished gun.

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