doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Is this grain asking for trouble?

The grain seems to turn left or right in the area of the tangs. That wouldn't be my choice. Looks like a cracked head in the making to me.

To get back to your original question:
As a lifelong woodworker; I don't see an real problem with the grain in this stock in a 20 ga. Perhaps in a heavier gun.
Jim

Jim,
I think these guns are 3" chambered. Even if not, a stout 1 oz 2 3/4" modern pheasant load is a good wallop.

The pics in the link weren't the greatest for evaluating actual grain flow in the wrist and head, but I don't think we're seeing a recipe for disaster. The figure in the head may have made hand inletting challenging, but that didn't faze Merkel's duplicator a bit.

I saw one of these Ithaca Model B Auto and Burglar guns at a gun show a few weeks ago, and the grain in the grip was about 90 degrees away from ideal. You'd think it would snap off on the first shot. The grip on the earlier Model A Flues variety was much better from the standpoint of grain through the grip area.

You you're saying to buy the gun, but insure it.

I bought one new, from GSI (the importer), back in 1993. My memory told me it had 28" barrels, but my records say 27", which seems odd.

I remember patterning 20ga pheasant loads in that gun. Never shot any 3" shells through it, but I did try some "short mags" with 1 1/8 oz shot. They'll get your attention in that gun!

Agree that there are certainly Parker Repro 20's out there in that price range. You'll have to look a little to find one with double triggers, but they made more 20's than any other gauge, so you shouldn't have too much trouble. The Repro might be a few ounces heavier than the Merkel.

The Parkers are fine guns, I've handled a couple. Personally, I like the feel of a Merkel more. The straight stock DT configuration is hard to find in a repro, and usually expensive once found. I also want to leave my options open for stock alterations if this gun becomes my life partner, and I feel the Parker's beautiful butt plate might hinder that.