Beat up AH Grade 6

Johnny Thompson · 06-27-2012, 12:18 PM

Hello all, new guy here. I just bought a Parker AH - Grade 6 in absolutely deplorable condition. Serial # 78xxx, made in 1894. 12 gauge, frame size 2.It's Damascus, 30" full/full and was apparently a waterfowl gun. Heavily used and not cared for, there is no original finish left on the metal, barrels pitted, slightly Off Face (you can close the barrels on a post-it-note, but it won't pull out) and the engraving is worn thin. The gold grip cap is still attached and has the skeletonized butt plate. A local guy examined it and advised it was all there and all original. Question is, is it worth getting refurbished? I'm not a shotgun guy and not really interested in doing that, but as the gun was, at one time, exceptional I wondered if a true collector would feel that refurbishing would be an option, or just sell it for parts, etc.
Any advice will be appreciated.

Big Friend Ten (BFT) · 06-27-2012, 12:38 PM

HI Johnny,

Please do not "part out" an AH Parker. Chances are that if you have no interest in keeping the gun someone will buy it from you with a potential profit!

Is it worth restroring an AH? If that is a question concerning potential return on investment factors to consider are:
1. What you paid for the gun?
2. How much minimum barrel wall thickness will remain if the barrels are honed smooth? A #2 frame Parker 12 gauge probably has pretty thick barrels. If the MBWT will less that will be safe for proper loads then you might want to stop here.
3. What price a VERY similar gun which has been restored will bring?
4. The cost of a perfect restoration?

Now, if you have any competent gunsmith restore it you may be pouring your money down a hole. There are few persons that have the abilities to properly restore a Parker AH to an "as new" condition. There are things as simple as achieving proper colors for the period from case hardening that can make or break a restoration. The shape of the stock and checkering are also big factors in this. Finally, you wrote that the engraving is worn thin. Some gunsmiths can acid etch engraving and bring it back to life. If the engraving needs to be chased or recut the cost of restoration will rise.

So, take your time. Show the gun to knowledgeable Parker collectors but do not accept any offers from them without getting assessments/opinions from others. Take your gun to a competent gunsmith with a reputation for Parker restorations. He (or perhaps she?) will tell you what the AH will cost to restore properly. Toward this paragraph, where are you located?

If you desire a more accurate online assessment you will need to post high quality photos.

PS: I have an AH in restoration presently and another that may get restocked. These guns are worth saving!

For what it is worth,
Mark

Bill Murphy · 06-27-2012, 01:03 PM

Yup, pictures. And where are you located so we can get you some help.

B. Dudley · 06-27-2012, 01:52 PM

John,

Thank you for your post. It is always nice to hear about High grade Parkers. At the time of manufacture, the AH grade would have been the second best offered by Parker.
It is always interesting to hear about or see very high grade guns that are in very bad shape because usually they were well cared for by the owners that paid so much for them.

You should really post pictures of your AH grade if you can. We would all love to see them. Maybe the gun is not in as bad of shape as you make it out to be.

Just a note about what you have shared...
If you can close a paper in the breech and it will not pull out or support the weight of the gun, then that is actually pretty good.

Johnny Thompson · 06-27-2012, 02:16 PM

Hi y'all, and thanks for the information. I'm in West Texas and there are some good gunsmiths around here, unfortunately none that I'm aware of who can tackle a restoration. I took about 30 photos, but have no idea how to post them on this forum. I'll try my usual method and see if I can get some out there.

Johnny T.

Nope, can't figure it out. If you e-mail me at jht3944@suddenlink.net I can forward them.

Mills · 06-27-2012, 02:20 PM

I am relatively new here as well, but I would think an AH Parker would have to be really bad off before not being worth restoring. If not to you, then probably to someone else.

OH Osthaus · 06-27-2012, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Thompson

Hi y'all, and thanks for the information. I'm in West Texas and there are some good gunsmiths around here, unfortunately none that I'm aware of who can tackle a restoration. I took about 30 photos, but have no idea how to post them on this forum. I'll try my usual method and see if I can get some out there.

Johnny T.

Nope, can't figure it out. If you e-mail me at jht3944@suddenlink.net I can forward them.

have you stored your photo on a web hosting site such as photbucket??

Johnny Thompson · 06-27-2012, 02:49 PM

No, I don't know how to do that. The photos are in my computer file, Fine Pix Viewer. I can send them e-mail, but I don't know how to get them onto this site.

AmarilloMike · 06-27-2012, 03:04 PM

Hi Johnny:

I emailed you. I am in Amarillo.

Thanks,

Mike

B. Dudley · 06-27-2012, 04:15 PM

John,

Posting photos right here on the site is very easy. it is much like attaching photos to your E-mail. You have to use the New Reply feature. Not the quick reply. Then click the attachment tab to start uploading your photos. When they are all uploaded, close that window out and then click attach all back at the attach icon. I am sure there is a thread on attaching photos on here somewhere too.