crack in stock head

bruce willis · 09-17-2009, 01:46 PM

hello, this is bruce willis again with another question. I was dove hunting with my 1906 VH 12 gauge and noticed that while looking down at the top lever/stock head the stock wood is above the level of the receiver "proud" on the sides of the receiver. Maybe a 1/16 inch or so. Enough to notice. The stock is origional and in good condition. I shoot standard 2 3/4 inch 3 dram winchester AA trap loads for upland, remington 2 3/4 inch express 1 1/4 oz #6 loads for pheasant, and 2 3/4 inch #5 1 1/16 oz tungstin matrix loads for duck. There is no stock play, and no cracks. I know with out good pictures, or actually looking at the gun it hard to tell what is going on. does anyone know of a really good stock man in northern california who could check this. the gun is in excellent condition, and I do not want someone to butcher it. I have had Del grego do some work, and was the best, but I really do not want to ship the gun for this. I contacted dale tate, but he said he is not doing gun repair at this time. I used great american gunstocks once, but they burned down, but now in business again. But they are not parker specialists. thanks for your help BW.

Bruce Day · 09-18-2009, 08:41 AM

That's the way they were made. Don't sand it down, don't mess with it. Original, unaltered Parker wood is proud of the metal for allowance for refinishing and hand wear.

We have a few members in NorCal, listed in the PGCA roster, who know their Parkers. Get in touch with some of them if you have concerns about the gun otherwise. Sounds like a nice Parker to me.

brian randolph · 09-18-2009, 10:56 AM

Dale recently did a stock fitting/bending on my VH. If you find a Norcal stock man, please post the info. I'd like to know myself.

VH20 · 09-19-2009, 04:36 AM

I don't know about this one...Bruce is quite right about original Parker wood being a little proud of the metal, but 1/16 in. is HUGE, and certainly not within limits of anything I've ever seen. Either the estimate/measurement is off, or there's something wrong. If it is measured to be truly 1/16th proud, I'd remove the stock and look to see if the head is split. As noted, some good pics would be a simple way to determine if it is normal.

Jim

Bruce Day · 09-19-2009, 08:15 AM

If it was really 1/16" on both sides, there would be 1/8" separation somewhere and the frame would be wobbling on the stock and cracks would be noticeable. I assumed his measurement guess was off. The most common crack is longitudinally from the rear of the top tang and a person can't help but notice that. I think he is just looking at normal Parker proud wood. Of course photos would tell the tale and are easy to post.

bruce willis · 09-20-2009, 12:51 AM

This is Bruce Willis again. you guys are right about the stock being "proud" on the receiver. It must be less than what I estimated, but it still concerns me. I guess it will be all right. The gun is a #2 frame with 30 inch barrels so it should be heavy enough the use the loads I listed in my first post. But if it has a small crack I can not see I would like to repair it before it could get worse. I need to have one of my family members help me post some pictures of the gun. The stock does not appear to be oil soaked, but does have some oil soaking after a 103 years! I believe I saw a post by Mr. Destry Hawford of a parker stock that had a crack or split, or something and had a staple for a repair? Sorry I sound so ignorant on these matters, but i'm new to this and I am a user more than collector of these fine guns. My guns are working guns that I hunt with, well taken care of, but not pure collectors. This whole subject is very interesting. I just wish here in northern california we had as much stockers, and fine gunsmiths that seem to be more on the east coast. One more comment. I have shot the RST light loads, but I still like my winchester AA trap loads even though they are harder on the gun. Again thanks for the replys. I am still looking for a good stock man I can trust with my VH.

Autumn Daze · 09-20-2009, 08:07 AM

Bruce,Dennis Smith has done great work for me. He is in Oregon. thestockdr@riflemag.com

Bruce Day · 09-21-2009, 06:41 PM

This is the normal wood to metal fit. The wood is slightly proud of the metal. If you have much more than that, you likely have a cracked stock head or the wood is swelled from oil soaking. The stock will need to come off the frame and be examined.

Old and Reliable · 09-21-2009, 07:58 PM

Bruce- I wish you lived here in MI- My friend, master gunsmith and PGCA member, Brad Bachelder is a master at stock repair. I agree with Bruce Day that there is a possibility of internal swelling at the head where the wood joins the receiver. I had Brad do a 12 gauge "Project Parker" for me, an older GHE with after market ejectors, matching forearm, barrels from a No. 2 frame VHE and a PHE pg buttstock that had the same crack at the rear of the top tang, as Bruce Day mentioned-

Brad took me through the steps involved, and I saw the stock "before and after" and he used Acra-Glas and a reinforcement pin, but inside, not visible on the surface anywhere- strong as Hercules, you have to use a magnifier to see the crack at all, and the wood is maybe 1/64" "proud" to the receiver now-

As to your loads, yes I No. 2 frame 12 Parker can handle those loads you mentioned, so can the 12 gauge R or Std. frame LC Smiths I also shoot, BUT-I'm getting older, so are the shotguns I enjoy, so I shoot RST 1 oz. light loads mainly- some 1 and 1/8 oz. No. 8 AA Sporting clays for the left barrel- anything heavier afield, I use a Model 12.

I understand your reluctance to ship a Parker or any other gun in today's world- If we go out to Lewiston MT this coming October, as we did 4 years ago, we'll drive a Suburban and the guns go into the motel rooms with us each night out and back.

bruce willis · 09-22-2009, 05:40 PM

Thanks for all of the responses to my question. I really like this forum, you can get so much information one would normally never get. I looked at the photo that bruce day posted, and it really helped. I looked at the photo and my VH stock is more proud than the one in the photo. I feel I should have it checked to be safe. I am going to call the stock doctor in oregon and see if he can check it. I feel the stock will need to be removed and looked at to determine any damage. While my VH is at the "doctor" I have a beater winchester model 24 16 gauge that I can use. It has 28" barrels, it,s light weight, and shoots great. It is not a parker, but it is a nice gun, although an odd design. I shoot federal 16 gauge high brass 1 1/8 #6s on early season pheasant and its a kick-butt load. I also shoot a 1932 remington model 11 12 gauge with solid rib and nice checkered stock. Its a real nice gun, and I use sometimes for late season pheasants, and ducks here in the sacramento valley in california. I have hunted many sugar beet and corn fields with these guns and my labrador heidi chasing that wiley bird. Thanks again BW.