Question about a BH Parker

[Researcher]

I'm surprised the Damascus barrels still exist. With Remington's policy on Damascus barrels by November 1941, I'd have thought they would have required their destruction before they fitted new barrels. Must have been somebody who knew somebody.

I'd expect that if the gun was back to Parker Bros. in 1919 it would have been retrofitted with the 1910 bolt and bolt plate.

An early Quality BH with beautiful fine scroll engraving and a set of "modern" steel barrels should be worthy of some serious restoration investment.

[ArtS]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

That is a really good candidate for Butt transplant.

The barrels were a remington addition.

I am struck by how solid the original stock is except for the goofy comb. I have seen guns worse than this with a new piece inlet as a repair. With a careful choice of wood, they often look good and are serviceable. Given the gun and features, what is the opinion of the relative value of the gun if the bad comb were professionally matched and installed. Much less work and cost and much more original (checkering etc) than a new stock. However nice the new stock, it is totally unoriginal vs saving much of the original. Repaired original vs new I would think would be more valuable and cost much less.

[Craig Larter]

Very much a worthy project. It appears the skeleton butt was removed in addition to the comb modification. If it were mine I would do the butt transplant suggested by Brian. That way you get your dimensions and also restore the skeleton butt. I have seen a couple of Brian's butt transplants and they are outstanding. Good luck with whatever you decide. I'm a big fan of BH's and own 4. They are sweet guns you get almost the same level of finish as a AH at a more reasonable cost.

[B. Dudley]

For example…

IMG_0053.jpeg

[David C Porter]

If you're going to do it right, do a complete new buttstock. Where as you can hide the glue joint by butting up to the checkering, you can't hide the joint on the top. Two pieces of wood glued together move in time & will show the glue joint line. You have a very nice B grade and it deserves to be done right. It will be a little more costly, but it the long run you will be happier.

[Dean Romig]

If they’re glued properly with a biscuit or wafer joint they will never move.





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[David C Porter]

I've been a professional stockmaker & checker for over 40 years & I know what I'm talking about. All you have to do is look at furniture tops that have several glued boards & in time you can see the joint line. I'm not saying that they will come apart, but the joints we'll move and the glue line will appear & different woods can absorb moisture differently & one rise slightly above the other.

[edgarspencer]

I don't know if the gun I distinctly recall seeing was done by Brian, but it was an excellent butt transplant. Because of the grade of the gun (IIRC, it was a hammer gun) the checkering came right up the wrist from the cap to the centerline, behind the top tang. The edge of the checkering was mullered, precisely over the joint. I know I am not the only one who saw the gun, as I recall there was a group of us standing around, admiring it. I'm pretty sure it was in the tent at Hausmann's, probably around '12, or '13.
Gary C, help me out here. was it one of your great hammer guns?

[Craig Larter]

We are talking about a early BH if without a screwed up stock and little case colors is a 7k gun. A completely new stock would make it a money pit in my opinion. We all want to save these old guns but must consider it's market value after restoration. A butt transplant would result in a nice shooter without being way underwater.

[BRDHNTR]

If you have family members you can leave the gun to after you pass and want it to stay in your family, I'd bite the bullet and have it restocked. Nice gun