16ga.com ~ View topic - Parker GH 16-unsure of its fate

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

My Parker GH 16 with damascus barrels came in today. I really like it...with one fly in the ointment. I built my own wall thickness gauge and it revealed good numbers except right along the bottom joining rib. Thickness is more than adequate elsewhere. I sent an e-mail to Drew Hause with a full description of the gun, photos, and my list of measurements.

The barrels have been trimmed to 27 7/8" but I don't mind that, I have no collector interest; it's a gun to use in my eyes. Listed as I/C & Mod. Measures .000" and .012" choke. Bores measure .663 and .664 and are fairly shiny with a "touch of frost" (to be expected). Honed? With those bore sizes, I'm leaning toward not honed, but likely polished at some time.

I have read accounts of guns in good condition with similar measurements being used without issue, but am preceding with caution. Upon recommendations I will either test it remotely or return it to Griffin and Howe. Be shame to send it back, but if need be, I will. Ironically there was set of 0 frame fluid steel barrels for sale at the same time...and they are now gone.

The gun shows very little use and top lever is far right. Could it be that this gun had tubes so eccentric from the day it left Meriden?
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You didn’t define thin, but I like my barrels to be at least 25 thousands at the thinnest point. I have friends that are comfortable with 20 thousands and they still have all their fingers. One gunsmith I know feels that anything over 20 thousands is safe if there is no sign of rust or pitting, but he felt they are more likely to get dinged. My own gunsmith likes them to be at least 25 thousands.

My feeling is there is always another gun so why take a chance if you feel the barrels are too thin.

Good Hunting,
Mike

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

9" from the muzzle the left barrel measures 19 thousandths along the bottom rib. Things measure good "where my fingers are" at 9-12" from the breech.

I'd be packing it for return. Plenty of safer guns available.

Member Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 592 Location: Minnesota

Way too thin for me.

We have communicated.

0 frame 16g Parkers are a delight.
The barrels have been honed.
Eccentricity is common.
Wyo didn't share that the barrels are Parker D4 4 Iron "Turkish", usually found on DH and rare on GH which usually have D3 3 Iron "Oxford"
Austin Hogan stated that factory original 20 and 16 gauge small frame guns with Damascus barrels may have a wall thickness of .090” at the end of the chamber, and .020” in the distal third of the barrel. Other than an increase risk of a dent, I have no concern about .019" at 9", where the pressure is low when using appropriate loads.
The R barrel 12" WT is borderline and would limit load choices.

Joined: 17 Oct 2019 Posts: 455 Location: New Jersey

I had a Lefever that was measuring 17 thousandths in the middle of the barrels at the thinnest point. I fired many 6300 psi loads I found in the Lyman’s 5th edition. This is my regular load for vintage clays. I never had an issue. Steve Cobb looked at it and said shoot it ! American made Damascus was very high quality for the most part. Just be sure to use low pressure like I load or RST’s. You could always contact Morris at RST and discuss it with him and get his thoughts. If this was say a Belgian gun I’d likely be a bit more cautious.

I'd suggest asking your questions on the Parker collectors site. If it can be known about Parkers someone there knows it.

Joined: 07 Sep 2011 Posts: 567 Location: wheeling, wv

Nice looking gun Garth. I ,too, have a GH 16 O frame Damascus that I like to shoot. Mine was trimmed to 27" from it's original 28. Yours has nicer wood and appears the engraving is a little sharper, yours probably from the 1890's.
You've got a lot of varied opinions here, so I'll add mine. I think its a keeper. I would put a lot of weight into Drew Hause opinion on this. I shoot low pressure, mid velocity reloads, 2 1/2", thru mine using 7/8 oz loads on pheasant.

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

Drew, I really appreciate your prompt response.

I have put this out over on Parker forums as well and the general consensus so far is low pressure and shoot it. I am leaning toward keeping it and someday fitting up a second barrel set. I could have bought set last week...and now they are gone!

1901 manufacture date.

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1308 Location: Western WA

Just sayin’, hunting buddy’s brother on a quail outing had a Damascus unwind on him and slit his neck open. He survived.

Don’t think a Parker would have made it feel better.

V/R
B.

Just sayin', this was a Perazzi MX8

Anecdotal reports of blown up barrels are meaningless without a ballistic study of the shells used and a metallurgical failure analysis

for more damascus mythology please see
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LFnSG34k3mBhLEjEgU267wAlIa215MNVQZhIiY62Hx4/edit

WyoChukar,

There are much better guns on the market, send it back and invest in a different gun.

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

While the odds are with you shooting it, l would pass.

My reason is the only gun I had with thin barrels, although a safer .023 (if I recall right) left me nervous every time I took it out. Despite loading low pressure I always had the wall thickness in the back of my mind and it bothered me. The fact it was a shootable 20ga LC 5E, was not enough and I sold it on.

If you can shoot it without it bothering you, then keep it.

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1308 Location: Western WA