Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums  

Go Back   Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums Parker Forums Parker Restoration

Notices

Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
$ 200 Box of Junk
Unread 08-04-2014, 10:47 PM   #1
Member
George "Scott" Davis
PGCA Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 755
Thanks: 1,699
Thanked 1,315 Times in 352 Posts

Default $ 200 Box of Junk

Received a call from a family friend in the fall of 2004 saying he was standing in a store in Tucson, Arizona noticed a box in the corner with two side by side shotgun barrel protruding. The box was full of old shotgun parts plus the two barrels which were both marked “Parker Bros Meriden Conn.” He also was positive the barrels were two different gauges, however he was unsure if the parts matched the barrels and the buttstock sounded like it was filled with gravel. However the proprietor was firm on the $ 200 price for the “box of junk”, my brother and I suggested he buy the box if nothing else the barrels were worth the money.

The box contained the complete gun, the 16 gauge barrels showed limited use but the 12 gauge barrels had lots of pitting and abuse. The buttstock contained a hand full of gravel and was damaged beyond repair. Upon further examination by a local gunsmith the 12 gauge barrel were pitted to beyond safety.

The parts in the box when assembled contained 16 gauge GH hammerless Parker shotgun serial number 92980 (see enclosed letter) which was completed on November 10, 1899. According to Order Book No. 59 it was returned May 15, 1903 to fit a 12 gauge set of barrels.

My brother purchased the “Box of Junk” from our mutual friend and Parker 92980 started the process of being redone. First step was replacing the 12 gauge barrels, after several years of searching I found the appropriate barrels at the 2006 Las Vegas Antique Gun Show for $ 750. A Parker skeleton butt plate was later discovered at the same store in Tucson for $ 1 so we decided it would be only proper to use it on 92980.

The shotgun was shipped off to Paul Fuchs in Alton, Illinois to finish. Unfortunately Paul was only able to complete the fitting of the 12 gauge barrels before he became ill and his widow returned the gun back to Arizona. Paul over the years had done multiple guns for me and my brother so we had to locate another gunsmith.

In 2008 the gun was shipped to Dave Norin in Antioch, Illinois for completion. Dave stocked the gun to my brother’s dimensions and you can clearly see he has done an outstanding job with stock, rust bluing of the barrels, and the case hardening of the action.

In the fall of 2014 Parker 92980 will back in the field hunting Dove in Arizona and Montana for Huns and Sharptail Grouse.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_0214.JPG (92.5 KB, 9 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0213.JPG (88.6 KB, 8 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0211.JPG (85.8 KB, 3 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0212.JPG (102.5 KB, 3 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0209.JPG (94.4 KB, 9 views)
George Davis is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-04-2014, 11:14 PM   #2
Member
wayne goerres
Forum Associate

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,096
Thanks: 2
Thanked 626 Times in 380 Posts

Default

Very nice gun.
wayne goerres is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-05-2014, 10:27 AM   #3
Member
Mills
PGCA Lifetime Member
Since 3rd Grade
 
Mills Morrison's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 10,302
Thanks: 14,183
Thanked 12,306 Times in 4,411 Posts

Default

Very cool!
Mills Morrison is online now   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-05-2014, 10:28 AM   #4
Member
Michael Linn
PGCA Member
 
Michael Linn's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 27
Thanks: 69
Thanked 47 Times in 7 Posts

Default

Thank you for sharing an amazing story! The finished gun is beautiful!
Michael Linn is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-05-2014, 10:42 AM   #5
Member
C.O.B.
Forum Associate
 
Rich Anderson's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,072
Thanks: 2,217
Thanked 6,320 Times in 2,082 Posts

Default

That's what I call a restoration project. very well done and what a nice piece of wood. You and your brother are to be congratulated in you endeavor to bring this great gun back to life
__________________
There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter...Earnest Hemingway
Rich Anderson is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-05-2014, 06:12 PM   #6
Member
Steve Havener
Forum Associate

Member Info
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 168
Thanks: 1
Thanked 68 Times in 56 Posts

Default

I would call this a resurrection rather than a restoration. Great gun and wonderful story.
Steve Havener is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 08-05-2014, 11:02 PM   #7
Member
charlie cleveland
PGCA Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 12,986
Thanks: 0
Thanked 7,787 Times in 3,967 Posts

Default

wish i could find a box of 200 dollar junk that looks so well....very nice... charlie
charlie cleveland is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:07 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 1998 - 2023, Parkerguns.org
Copyright © 2004 Design par Megatekno
- 2008 style update 3.7 avec l'autorisation de son auteur par Stradfred.