Justin Julian
05-31-2013, 10:09 PM
I could not call this a story of restoration, because it is indeed much more of a resurrection. About two years ago I acquired a former DHE from a member named Jerry from Moundsville, WV for its basic shooter value. I say "former" DHE because the "E" part of that designation was long gone. The gun showed extensive use, some abuse, and its original forend (wood and iron) had been lost and replaced with that of a D grade extractor forend, which was poorly fitted to the frame. I decided to do the unthinkable and bring this D grade back to its rightful status as a DHE, meaning that when the project was finished, she would be ejecting empty hulls like she was originally intended to. The first order of business was procuring a suitable ejector forend. I soon lucked across a GHE on gun broker with damascus barrels and in such a condition that it was a stretch to call her a shooter, but the forend mechanism worked perfectly. It was scavanged from the GHE and sent out for an engraving upgrade. The GHE was converted to a GH with an extractor forend that I was able to fit to the gun with surprising ease. I then refinished the damascus barrels and case colored the action, which is a hobby of mine. It quickly sold on GB for a modest profit, essentially leaving me with the ejector forend iron for free. I sent it out to have the ejector forend fitted into the beautiful extractor forend wood, and the forend action fitted to the frame. The dolls head extension was badly damaged and had to be hammered, welded, reshaped and engraved, all of which came out beautifully. I then de-oiled and bleached the butt and forestocks, fixed cracks and gaps with acraglass, and stained both to match. I then gave both a hand rubbed oil finish, put a Silver's style pad on the butt for a 14" LOP, and the buttstock was sent out for a checkering recut. The original forend checkering remains nearly mint. I rust blued the barrels (another hobby), trigger guard, safety and triggers, and bone charcoal case colored the frame and forend iron. Somewhere along the line the ejectors got out of whack and had to be sent back to an experienced 'smith for repair, which is never inexpensive, as we all know. It is now finally resurrected and ejects spent hulls beautifully. The first photo shows the damaged dolls head and the general rusty condition of the barrels and frame. Along the way I received advice, and purchased parts, from members like Scott Kittridge, Brian Dudley, and others, and am very grateful for their help. I must say that I enjoyed this resurrection project immensely, though I doubt I will ever undertake such a massive project again. I can also say that in terms of a sound financial investment...I should have bought silver instead. But then again, that was never my motivation in undertaking this project, and I am very much looking forward to hunting this DHE hard this fall on wild pheasants and quail.