Learning on a Parker VH

[Brian Arthur]

I am new to Parker guns, and recently acquired a nice collectible DHE, which is too nice for me to do more than just shoot it.

I want to learn more about the guns and the processes used to restore them, so I purchased a beater of a Parker VH as a project gun. I am starting this thread to document my journey and share what works and what didn’t go so well.

To start: Parker VH, S/N 100044, 12 Ga, 30” dented, pitted inside and out Vulcan steel barrels with worn rib matting and a brass bead, 14 3/8” LOP, oil-soaked stock broken at wrist and internally with just a memory of checkering remaining, forend that looks like an angry beaver spent a decade sharpening his teeth on it, Deely release that is bent (!). Safety and internal mechanisms appear fine. Buttplate and pistol grip knob heavily worn.

Here’s the start

http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachm...1&d=1526212121

Here is a picture of the underside of the receiver

http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachm...1&d=1526212374

I followed the guide Brian Dudley’s excellent tutorial on disassembly to remove the stock, found here: http://parkerguns.org/forums/album.php?albumid=307

Here’s what it looked like when I first opened the receiver. Old beach towels make fine surfaces for this work:

http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachm...1&d=1526212374

In other forum posts I learned about ultrasonic cleaners and purchased one. Here are the same parts after ultrasonic cleaning in Simple Green diluted with a little water, followed by spray down with WD-40 then wiped. I have cleaned up the trigger plate with 320 grit sandpaper.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachm...1&d=1526212374

I purchased and am reading “The Art of Engraving” by James B Meek as a warm up to disassembling the receiver, annealing the case parts, and tackling the engraving.

Meanwhile, I have de-rusted the barrels and sanded them with 320 grit paper (except the rib of course). I have made arrangements with a local gunsmith to look at the dents and the pitted bores and let me know if they are recoverable and more importantly, safe to use. I have a lot more work to do on the barrels….

http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachm...1&d=1526212374

http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachm...1&d=1526212374

This will not be a fast process, so please be patient, and I appreciate any advice!