Need help evaluating case color

[Double Play]

Originally Posted by Ray Masciarella

Maybe the better question for me to ask is whether there is any generally accepted industry standard for making the evaluation (as opposed to asking personal opinions)?

Ray,
I believe there are two standards when judging percentage of case colors. One is used by sellers and one is used by buyers. If I were looking to purchase your gun, percentage of case colors would be the last thing I would be looking at. The wood and engraving along with those beautiful Damascus barrels would consume all my attention. It seems to me that guns with a lot of engraving tend to loose color faster than a VH. Besides, when the only CC remaining is down in the engraving cuts, I think it highlights rather than hides the real beauty of the guns engraving.

[Ray Masciarella]

Larry, I agree with you. There seems to be too much focus on CCH in determing value. I like to look at the whole package. I just raised the question because it seems to be so important to the Parker collecting community. Thx, Ray

[Dean Romig]

Ray, and others, you will notice hat I preceded my comment with "IMHO" and everybody has one... an opinion that is.
There are hose who disagree with my opinion and there are "NRA Standards of Condition" but I don't know exactly what they are so I don't resort to them.

[Ray Masciarella]

Dean, thank you for sharing your opinion. That's what I asked for in my initial post. Only when there seemed to be such a wide differences in opinion did I wonder if there was an industry standard. Maybe I posed my initial question incorrectly.

Btw, I looked at those NRA standards and they don't help much. They are rather vague and subjective. Maybe there is no answer to my question. Maybe Julia's is what I should rely on as they are a respected leader in the industry when it comes to buying/selling guns. Their evaluations are nothing more than their opinions but it is something to go by.

Thx again

[Bob Hardison]

Very good questions and responses. I to am somewhat confused about CCH %. I also agree that many VH Parkers seem to have more CCH than equal condition higher grades. Ray: Beautiful A. I would love to have one like it even without any CCH. Bob

[charlie cleveland]

i hope ya ll figure this one out i m confused also...charlie

[Ray Masciarella]

Thx, Bob. I don't think a VH has more. You can just see it better because it doesn't get lost in the engraving. The CCH on guns with less engraving also looks glossy because the polishing if the frame comes through. Frames were highly polished before engraving. The more engraving the more the the glossy appear was removed.

I once saw a circa 1920 BHE that was almost brand new. It had all of its CCH but it appeared dull except for the few areas that were not engraved where it appeared glossy.

[Ray Masciarella]

Thx, Bob. I don't think a VH has more. You can just see it better because it doesn't get lost in the engraving. The CCH on guns with less engraving also looks glossy because the polishing if the frame comes through. Frames were highly polished before engraving. The more engraving the more the glossy appearance was removed.

I once saw a circa 1920 BHE that was almost brand new. It had all of its CCH but it appeared dull except for the few areas that were not engraved where it appeared glossy.

[Dean Romig]

On the other hand, the intricate and delicate engraving of a high grade gun like your AH is often somewhat obscured by a high percentage of CCH. Personally, I would prefer to be able to see fine engraving over vivid CCH. But again, that's just my humble opinion.

[Mike McKinney]

I appreciate the question(s) as have been ask, and the answers as they have appeared. I am really curious to hear other thoughts as the thought process really is almost 180 degrees apart, coming from some astute collectors and purveyors.