Refinished Composite Barrel Pictures

[Dean Romig]

It would be a very nice feature here on the forum to have a thread we can go to where we can compare "typical" finishes on barrels that have been refinished by the various names we have come to know performing this service today.

Names like Dale Edmonds, Brad Bachelder, Keith Kearcher, Doug Turnbull come to mind and I know there are a few others. Please post a picture of your barrels here and please identify who did the work on them.

Thanks for contributing to our knowledge base as this may help those who want their barrels refinished to decide where to send them.

[Dean Romig]

Here is a set of Bernard Steel barrels refinished for me by Dale Edmonds about seven years ago.


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[Bruce Day]

Dale's

[Robin Lewis]

Before and after pictures of a 12ga Herringbone Laminated barrels on a C lifter done by Brad Bachelder.

[Drew Hause]

Robin: we discussed that barrel back in 2011, and it is not English Laminated Steel, but a very high grade Herringbone or Manufacture Extra. Lots of examples here
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/23997270

Remington called a similar pattern ‘Legia P.’

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/23997270/403062008.jpg


BTW: several 'before & afters', and refinished barrels are here
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17227428

[Rich Anderson]

Two sets of 16ga barrels from Dale Edmonds.

[Dean Romig]

Yes Drew, I remember that conversation. It was I who identified that set of barrels as English Laminated. Incidentally, the rib inscription identifies the barrels as Laminated Steel. It would be really nice to know where Parker Bros. sourced these barrels.

I have examined other Parker Bros. hammer guns with this particular design/pattern of Laminated Steel barrels and I haven't seen them on a gun lower than a Grade 4.

The Laminated Steel barrels that defined the Grade 1 T/A hammer guns were of an entirely different design/pattern.

[Drew Hause]

It is my opinion that some Lifter barrels were sourced in England, but with the transition to top lever hammer guns the source was Belgium. And King was very likely discussing both pattern welded and fluid steel barrels in 1912.
More here
http://docs.google.com/a/damascusknowledge.com/document/d/1CGAF5f-J0-Foww572KvNYb0xSS1nBasWgHYvzD18i3c/edit

Report on Duties on Metals and Manufactures of Metals
By United States Congress. Senate. Committee on Finance, 1912
Testimony regarding the Payne-Aldrich and Dingley Tariff Bills
http://books.google.com/books?id=QDkvAAAAMAAJ
http://books.google.com/books?id=QDkvAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA879&dq
THE TESTIMONY OF W.A. KING REPRESENTING PARKER GUN CO.
Mr. King: I can speak only for our own company in so far as wages go. For instance, on the question of barrels, Mr. Hunter informed your committee that some years ago some of the manufacturers of this country attempted to make barrels. We made some barrels: we built an addition to the factory, put in some up-to-date machinery, and brought some men from Belgium to show our blacksmiths how to do it. We had to pay our blacksmiths not less than 32 cents an hour, up to 40 cents, and we gave it up, because the highest wages paid the Belgian blacksmiths for exactly the same grade of barrel are 11 cents per hour. That is what is paid to the highest-priced man employed.
Senator Smoot: In Belgium?
Mr. King: In Belgium: yes, sir. That is where all of our barrels are imported from, with the exception of our very high-grade Whipple (probably a typo for Whitworth) steel barrels.

[Brian Dudley]

Refinished Grade 2 Lifter barrels by Dale Edmonds.

32414

32415

[Todd Kaltenbach]

Refinished by Brad Bachelder

[Mills Morrison]

DH 10 gauge by Dale Edmonds

[charlie cleveland]

mills is that upper barrel in the picture have differant type damascus in it or is that the rib i m seeing.. looks good anyway...charlie

[Mills Morrison]

The rib was worn down a bit and we think that is why it looks black.

[Dean Romig]

Mills, is the right barrel flat stamped with a D or with a DD ?

[Jerry Harlow]

Recently posted in other discussions but again:

1883 10 GA Grade 2 Toplever Damascus, refinished by Dale Edmonds. Multiple patterns in each tube.

[Mills Morrison]

Mills, is the right barrel flat stamped with a D or with a DD ?

Just D

[charlie cleveland]

jerry i like that gun...charlie

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Jerry Andrews--Mounsville, Wv
GH 16 Parker GH 20 and Lefever G 16-also chain link pattern LC Smith
Not the best of pictures
Ithaca Grade 3 chain damascus-original, not refinished

[Mills Morrison]

Harold, you have me wanting a Lefever G 16. Great photos!

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Mills,
Lefever 16's are built on the same frame as their 20's-the XX frame. They are like an O frame Parker. Mine weighs 6lbs 2 oz.
I will have it at the Southern.

[Mills Morrison]

Look forward to seeing it.

[Brian Dudley]

Here is a set of refinished Ithaca Flues barrels I got back from Dale Edmonds. They are absolutely striking and the work is flawless from end to end! He does fantastic work as we all know.

36140

[Drew Hause]

WOW! Remington called that pattern "Chine P". What grade Flues?

Here's an 1894 D grade

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17067005/251513314.jpg

And a 3 Barrel Gun Co.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17067005/400647029.jpg

[Drew Hause]

I had thought this 1903 (Lewis period) ad illustrated Chain Damascus, but it might be Chine'

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/20991622/408932781.jpg

[Brian Dudley]

I also have a Three Barrel Gun company in a grade 2 with that same barrel pattern. When it comes time to refinish, I can only hope for them to be as nice as these Flues barrels.

[Eldon Goddard]

They look even better than I expected.

[Mills Morrison]

Here is a set of refinished Ithaca Flues barrels I got back from Dale Edmonds. They are absolutely striking and the work is flawless from end to end! He does fantastic work as we all know.

36140

Holy cow! I think I recognize those barrels and the difference from the "before" is amazing. :shock:


I have an LC Smith Grade 2 with Chain Damascus, but it has a loose rib and Dale does not fix loose ribs

[Mills Morrison]

GH 16 barrels refinished by Dale Edmonds.

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s577/Mills_Morrison/2014-09-22185257_zpsc04d3ed2.jpg (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/Mills_Morrison/media/2014-09-22185257_zpsc04d3ed2.jpg.html)

[Dean Romig]

Nice 4-iron crolle on a grade 2 Mills.

[Mike Franzen]

This is a great idea for a thread. Here is a set of Twist barrels from Dale Edmonds.

[Mills Morrison]

Very nice. Is that stub twist?

[Drew Hause]

Just appeared on e-bay and looks to illustrate the same pattern
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ithaca-Model-4-Shotgun-Nitro-Breech-Advertisement-Reprint-8-034-x-10-034-Premium-/151421872402?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276

[Mike Franzen]

No Mills, they are "Plain Twist"

[Mike Franzen]

Here's a set of GH barrels also finished by Dale. I love the way the rib turned out.

[Drew Hause]

Mike: Despite the rib marking, I believe your barrels are Damascus-Twist

David Purnell's 1888 12g 0 grade toplever hammer gun with Damascus-Twist refinished by Dale Edmonds

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17227428/305238492.jpg

Gary Carmichael's

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17227428/405274430.jpg

Parker 'Plain Twist'

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17227428/245836442.jpg

Parker 'Fine English Twist' (which was of course Belgian)

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17227428/356490813.jpg

More infro, including Dr Gaddy's Twist samples here
https://docs.google.com/a/damascusknowledge.com/document/d/1BdbWHfJmr2EyvzcPybid7pwlEliH6m9pr1LxMESM3W0/edit

[Dean Romig]

How would one ever know his barrels were Damascus Twist when Parker Bros. only ever marked them Twist, Plain Twist, and Stub Twist?

[Drew Hause]

More obvious pattern difference on these P grade barrels refinished by Brad

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17227428/386972891.jpg

It would be clear if by chance an 'end-on' ribband is seen where tube segments were joined

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/24317402/365964409.jpg

Tom Flanigan's refinished Parker Plain Twist with an 'end-on' ribband

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/18015717/309788257.jpg

[Mike Franzen]

Here is a ribband on the same barrels

[Mike Franzen]

Drew I was wondering if you saw the pic in the post before this of the ribband? Can you tell if the barrels are damascus twist?

[Drew Hause]

Yes Mike, I believe it is. The edges of the Twist iron & steel alternees are 'mushroomed' by mechanical deformation/hammering.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/19228742/405054735.jpg

[Brad Bachelder]

For the sake of correctness, I would encourage members to post pictures of surviving original condition Barrels. Simple black and white contrast is only the begining of the process. The range of colors and hues in original barrels is far deeper.

Brad

[Mark Landskov]

Here is my ca1893-1894 Grade 1 Hollenbeck......

[Brad Bachelder]

Original Parker G Grade
Hollenbeck Grade 1

Brad

[Bruce Day]

Original barrels per Brad's request:

1. Bernards from 1885 Parker. All original Bernards that I have exhibit a slight plum color, presumably from oxidation.

2. Damascus from a Parker 1883 G.

3. Chain Damascus from a 1904 Lefever E.

[Mark Landskov]

Your Grade 1 Hollenbeck barrels are nice, Brad. I may have to have mine refinished one of these days!

[Brad Bachelder]

Mark

The Holenbeck barrels are original finish. The gun has two sets of barrels and forends. The wood is good but the case has been removed. We use it as a reference gun.

Brad

[Brian Dudley]

Here is an absolutely striking set of Parker 8ga twist barrels. Refinished by Dale.

43017

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Plain steel first photo original finish, second photo Bernard barrels on grade 3 refinished by Brad, gary

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Double click for close ups, gary

[Jeff Kuss]

DD Damascus from my bhe. These are original.

[Richard Flanders]

Grade 2 10ga bbls redone by Dale.

[Todd Kaltenbach]

All original PH

[Al Limone]

H. Plateaux refinished by Dale.

[Brian Dudley]

^^ WoW^^

[Chuck Heald]

My original finish GH is not nearly finished as well as Dale's work. The ends, hidden underside, etc, have less attention to carding. Dale's work has little to no imperfections, from what I've seen.

[Scott Gentry]

http://http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=45131&stc=1&d=1449089284

[Dean Romig]

Scott, please tell us who did your barrels.





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[Scott Gentry]

To my knowledge they are origional.

[Dean Romig]

Sorry Scott - no offense intended... I just thought, this being a thread about "Refinished Composite Barrel Pictures" that yours were refinished as well...

Those are beautiful barrels Scott - congratulations.





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[Scott Gentry]

None taken, I am aware of the thread title but was posting as Brad suggested some origional finished barrels for comparison.

When I got this gun and opened it up for cleaning and lubrication I was amazed with the fresh innards. It was like a time capsule, this gun has spent most of its life in the cabinet.

[Gregory Miller]

Just got my GH back from Kercher. Essentially flat brown mud with almost no figure. He re-did the work once already and after a year time to write it off and find someone else to do the work.

[Mills Morrison]

Dale and Brad are the best

[Drew Hause]

Bummer Greg.

"Browned" Chain refinished by a very good smith, but not as they should look

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17428644/279710766.jpg

Refinished Chain in the appropriate "black & white'

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17116222/408104240.jpg

BTW: Ken Marburger in Iowa is doing very nice black & white, and not as busy (yet) as Dale or Brad.

[Gregory Miller]

Very hard to see they are Damascus. Almost looks blued. Went back to him twice. No explanation as to why so little pattern. I know what they looked like before and lovely tight pattern. Will send barrels to dale and just not send work to Kercher in future. A shame as took nearly a year of waiting. Oh well, not like I don't have other Parkers to shoot, and a problems that can be fixed with money are merely expenses. Live and learn. Perhaps there is an explanation, but will see if Dale can bring the pattern up. 1891 production on a gorgeous piece of wood. Will see if I can get a decent picture. Polish is lovely, great prep just no pattern to speak of.

[Daryl Middlebrook]

Turnbull does not do composite barrels. He sends them to Brad.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Daryl - it's good to see you're still active here.






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[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Heck Dean, I thought he had got hung up under that 34 ford he is working on, and could not get out, post some photos of that "Rod" you are working on! Gary

[William R Johnson]

Flues 20ga grade 1-1/2. Refinished by Ken61 on the doubleguns forum.

http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s530/trilogymac/Damascud%20Flues/20160304_174212_zps6mpcdczr.jpg (http://s1304.photobucket.com/user/trilogymac/media/Damascud%20Flues/20160304_174212_zps6mpcdczr.jpg.html)

[Rick McKenzie]

I had mine done by Kirk Merrington in 2001, I think. I wanted brown finish, and they look beautiful. Nothing but good things to say about my experience with him.
50761

50762

[John Dallas]

G grade done by Brad

[Ken Descovich]

Barrels refinished by Clark Olivson in California.

[JohnCzarnecki]

Bruce, those refinished Bernards on page 1 are some kind of awesome, that's for sure. I agree with you about them having a touch of plum color. This 1890 CH is yet unfinished :

http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=721&pictureid=8436

[bobutler]

Brad refinished these. They had been blued in the past.

[Garth Gustafson]

Bachelder’s shop- June 2018 completion. Removed hammer marks left over from old repair, re-struck barrels, refinished

[Mills Morrison]

Wow! I assume those were done after Brad's passing. Brad would be proud indeed!

[Garth Gustafson]

Yes sir, they were. When I picked them up I was lucky enough to shake Dillon’s hand. He is the young man who restored my barrels. Parker B has a very talented group of artisans there.

[Drew Hause]

Garth: that is a beautiful 4 Iron "Turkish Star" pattern. D or C grade?
I'm going to add the image here, with an attribution, and thanks for posting
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/19025099

[Garth Gustafson]

Thanks Drew, a handsome looking G grade for sure.

[Drew Hause]

G?!?

You hit the tube picker jackpot brother :)

[Garth Gustafson]

I guess 1897 was a very good year.

[Dean Romig]

Garth, I love that pattern - is it a small bore? It sure looks it. I have a Damascus 28 ga. Parker 24" confirmed by factory letter with the same pattern - just beautiful! Mine is a "1 of 1".

The tube maker used very few leaves in that winding.





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[Garth Gustafson]

Thanks Dean, 16 ga, 28”, 0 frame. This one was a rescue gun. I’ll submit a PP article to you now that I have the gun back.

[Steve Huffman]

Has anyone spoke to Dale ? I did awhile back and just wondered if hes finishing up ?

[Brian Dudley]

Garth, that certainly is one of the better sets I have seen come out of that shop. They came out good.

[Dean Romig]

Bachelder’s has refinished several sets of composite barrels for me and repaired one set that even Doug told me couldn’t be rescued. I’ve been delighted with the result every time.
My Damascus 28 ga. barrels could use a refinish but unless it can be done without losing the striking marks, I won’t do it.

I believe Dale is completely done, from what I’ve heard from reliable sources.





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[Steve Huffman]

Well I guess I better call again he still has some barrels of mine

[Steve Huffman]

Spoke to Dale today said he still has about 10 sets to finish . Mine are next cant wait !:corn:

[Mills Morrison]

There might be someone out there as good with Damascus barrels as Dale, but no one is better

[Dean Romig]

Dale’s work continued to improve markedly over the years he was refinishing barrels to the high point it had enjoyed during the last several years... and now he’s quitting. He was one of the more recent dedicated pioneers in composite barrel refinishing. So glad he has passed his methods on to someone who will continue his work. We are all the richer for people like Dale.





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[David Noble]

A CH(e) refinished by Dale about 10years ago. In the first and third pictures you can see the factory conversion from extractor to ejector done in March of 1947.

[Steve Huffman]

Nice !