Del Grego Refinished Guns

[6pt-Sika]

Of course he does very nice work yadda yadda yadda .

But to be perfectly honest I'd rather have a gun that's say 30% in honest used but not abused shape over one that's been restored/reconditioned .

I had a friend tell me once about some folks that reconverted flintlocks , he said anytime you did that you were destroying history and I suppose to a Civil War collector that's 100% true . And I kinda view Parker's , Fox's , Smith's and a good many other old quality guns the same way .

But that's my opinion and like a particular body part everyone has ONE !

[David Noble]

Had a BHE 12ga that was really a beautiful piece. All work was top notch.
Currently have a VH 410 that is an early DG restoration. It has the cyanide case colors that are incorrect for the period of the gun. The mostly unengraved receiver really shows the vivid tiger stripe case coloring and is not as pleasing to me as the original Parker bone charcoal colors. Also on this receiver the DG polishing line at the bolsters is distinctly obvious when held at certain angles.
I have no idea what this gun looked like before it was restored but I think I might have liked it better left alone.
I personally prefer honest original guns to restorations but not to the point of exclusion.

[Fishtail]

I had them re-do a gun for me around 1994. I had no idea about different case colors at the time. Their work is 'top notch' especially in how they brought the wood back. I'd rather the case colors were 'proper' but I don't lose a lot of sleep over it.

[charlie cleveland]

i do not have one of their guns in my collection but ive looked at lots of them on the site here from what ive seen i would not mind having one in my little collection of parkers...charlie

[BRDHNTR]

About 8 years or more ago I had DG restore my grandfathers 16 ga VH. New wood, re-case etc. A total restoration. After receiving it back from DG and shooting it, I noticed some gray substance oozing out between the frame and buttstock. Also, base plate screws weren't timed and hadn't been replaced as the original one's were buggered up. Also base plate was not flush seated in the frame. Sent the gun back to DG. Gun came back with base plate flush, new timed screws but the heads of the screws had a copper luster to them. Called DG and was told to rub them with an eraser. Go figure. Checkering is good on buttstock but border is not period correct for this 1924 Parker. Gray matter still oozes a bit. Colors on base plate have worn off with very little use. I use Brad Bachelder now and very satisfied.

[Mills]

My favorite Parker is an older Del Grego refurb and it was well done. It is obviously Del Grego and obviously not factory original, but it doesn't bother me

[Kevin McCormack]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

What are the comments on Del Grego refinished guns in minty condition? I am not asking about values, I am just asking about whether you like them and whether you would like to have one in your collection.

First, let me say that I have read through this entire thread and I would like to personally thank each poster for spelling the Del Grego's name CORRECTLY!!! One thing that drives me crazy is seeing it spelled, 'del Greco', ;Delgrekko', 'El Grego', 'El Greco' (wasn't he a painter?).

As to the question of 99% plus Del Grego restored condition, Larry Sr. restored (including restocking) my very first Parker, the legendary #190737. The colors were wrong for the period (cyanide in 1921?), the beavertail likewise, etc., cut barrels and so on. If I had a chance to buy it back today I would, as it was my very first.

[Dean Romig]

The Del Grego - Runge high-grade upgrades, especially the .410s and 28 gauge guns are highly collectible and represent what would have been done in the last years of Remington's production of such guns.... because they were done by two of the last original Remington craftsmen... they can almost be called "original" Parkers for that very reason. To the eye, they are every bit as wonderful as the guns they were made to represent. I know of a Del Grego/Runge .410 BHE upgrade that will be coming to the auction market soon and it will garner some serious bidding!






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[Mills]

I agree Dean. There was a Del Grego - Runge GH 28 gauge upgrade on here a few months ago that falls under "ones that got away"

That would make a great Parker Pages article. I would do it if I had access to the info.

[Dean Romig]

I think that would make a great technical article. Best idea would be to team up with Bill Murphy and Kevin McCormack and maybe others to make it a comprehensive colloquium on the subject... but I would prefer to limit it to "B" and above grades.





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