doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Parker 12 Ga 1/2 frame guns

The exact distance between firing pins (strikers) determines the frame size of a Parker.
From 1" an increase or decrease of every 1/16" will determine a different frame size.

DAM16SXS,

Research made by C. Price and S. Fjestad, on actual Parker guns, published in "Parker Gun Identification & Serialization" (p. 45), shows the following distance between strikers: Frame 000 (13/16"); Frame 00 (15/16"); Frame 0 (1"); Frame 1/2 (1 1/16"); Frame 1 (1 1/16"); Frame 1 1/2 (1 1/8"); Frame 2 (1 1/8"); Frame 3 (1 3/16"); Frame 4 (1 1/4"); Frame 5 (1 5/16"); Frame 6 (1 3/8") and Frame 7 (1 7/16").

According to this research frames 1/2 and 1, and frames 1 1/2 and 2 share the same distance between strikers. This tells something about the (later) origin of frames 1/2 and 1 1/2. All the other frame sizes have incremental distances (1/16") between strikers right as you mention, but one: Frame 000 that goes down 2/16".

Regards.

You're right ejsxs. I was being too general in my statement while only attempting to give a broad 'rule of thumb'. Thanks for clarifying that which I clumsily omitted.

Best, Dean

The #1 frame is probably Parker's best size frame - it fits the hand well without feeling too large or small. I'd bet if you blindfolded 100 guys and handed them a #0, #1, and #2 frame they'd choose the #1 most of the time.

I wish CSMC had offered 16 Ga Parker barrels for 1/2 frames. They did only for 0 frames.

What would the market be for that? If they only made 250 1/2 frame guns, and probably 5% or less of those have owners who might be interested? I doubt CSMC wants to tool up to sell 10 barrels.

You are right, I bet that the 0 frame barrels (in 16, 20 and 28 Ga) had a wider market.

The last I knew the number of 1/2 frames identified through the research process were in the low 30's. As many know much changed within the PGCA and I do not know where that count is now if it was even shared or has been maintained. I did read on the PGCA BBS a while back the number low 50's but I do not know how reliable that was as I don't recall the source. I do know that the 1/2 Frame is the only Parker frame that was identified by size. It was marked on the interior surface under the top tang.

ejsxs, your request is not as off base as the other posters imply. A set of 16 gauge barrels that would fit a 1/2 frame will also fit a #1 frame. As I posted earlier, I have a 1/2 frame gun with 16 gauge #1 frame barrels. It works just fine.

Eightbore,

more on what you have mentioned, aside from working well, how is the outside looking? No sharp edges?

Maybe 16 Ga. Parker barrels fitting in 1/2 and 1 frames would be not a far fetched proposition to CSMC.