The Money Pit

C.O.B. · 09-19-2010, 04:51 PM

Parker #97372 left Meridian in 1900 as a GH 16 O frame with 28 inch Damascuss barrels choked M/F.

She came to me via a fellow PGCA member who got her from another member who got her from God knows where but probably off Gunbroker. I know all PGCA parties envolved and she was in rough shape even for her age. Realizing the potential her barrels were sent to Dale Edmonds who restored them to the beauty they once were. Interestingly enough there are two different damascuss patterns.

It was the barrels and the fact she was an O frame 16 that attracted me. I got her at the investment that had already been made and we were then off and running. The chokes were to tight for my applications so off to Mike Orlean to open them up to .004 & .010. The bores were mirror bright with no pitts and even though the stock finish was worn to nothing and the checkering all but gone on the forarm no one had put a screwdriver to her. She was used as Parker had intended for 110 years and now deserved a makeover.

When I put her up to my shoulder she rattled a little bit and there was enough movement of the barrels I was concerned. You could see daylight between the barrels and the water table so off she went to get put back on face.

The stock was refinished and the checkering recut. I took her along Grouse hunting this weekend as a test run. One more trip to the smith and the makeover will be complete. The right trigger pull is to heavy and there is a bit of a catch as you move the top lever to open her.

Now she will be good for another 100 years.

SXS OHIO · 09-19-2010, 05:19 PM

I own a 1901 GH-16 on a no.-1 frame, 6lbs-10oz, 14 1/4X 2 1/2 a nice original gun...couple fix ups was needed...the two ivory beads were busted off. I sent the gun to Brad Bachelder in Michigan. They replaced the beads with mamuth tusk ivory, the damascus was buitifully redone, and the broken DHBP was repaired very nicely. The rest of the gun is still very high condition with bright bores, some case color left. 2 9/16 chambers, 28" barrels Imp-Mod/F Its one of my faverit parker guns. Its going to Kansas this november to slay ditch dragons! Thanks all SXS ohio...(-:

Bill Murphy · 09-19-2010, 07:05 PM

How did BB repair the buttplate?

Dean Romig · 09-19-2010, 08:13 PM

Hey Rich, can you please get yourself camera savvy so we can enjoy your guns almost as much as you do?!?

C.O.B. · 09-19-2010, 09:52 PM

My camera man will be posting pictures tomorrow. All this technology stuff is hard on an old guy like me

SXS OHIO · 09-20-2010, 06:29 AM

Bill...My guns plate was missing the toe from the lower screw down, snaped off across the screw...Brad salvaged a peice from a similar correct butt plate and seamed them together... it seems strong, looks very good and does not jump out at you. I know its there but I would rather have it this way than a repro plate that does not look right or fit as good. This early 1901 Gh has the inleted sper at the heal, that said Im very happy with the repair. I have a VH gun with a half moon shape chunk out of the middle right side about 2.5" long and almost half the width....gunna call Brad see if he can do the same type repair on this one..or if anyone has a vintage no-2 frame plate availible that would fit? Thanks all SXS ohio....(-:

Dave Miles · 09-20-2010, 08:36 AM

The Money Pit

SXS OHIO · 09-20-2010, 09:02 AM

That ah nice!!!,,,,I need to get some grouses with mine....)-: See the pictures of my GH under restorations, damascus GH-16 Engraving looks very similar but my bird is looking back over its shoulder. mnf=1901 thanks all SXS ohio....(-:

C.O.B. · 01-17-2014, 08:43 AM

I have recently added a set of 32 inch damascuss barrels with forarm to this gun. The barrels are shown in the thread The Beauty of Damascuss.

Interestingly enough the serial number of the 32 inch bbls are in the records as leaving Parker fitted to a GH 0 frame 16 with two sets of barrels, one 28 the other 32. So now I have a backwards GH 16 with two sets of barrels

This gun has now sucked up it's last dollar from me.

Harold Pickens · 01-17-2014, 12:44 PM

Rich, that's a beauty. I really love that little O frame GH 16 picked up at Hausmann's this spring. I carried it more than any other gun in the UP this year, I believe I carried it the day we hunted. Shame someone had cut 1inch off the barrels .They were supposedly damaged). Hope you dont mind your picture on the internet--its already in all the post offices!