Parker 12

[Jim Thoma]

Just received my Parker which was completely restored,my question is when I have the forend off has a lot of play with the forend on is tight is this normal?had the gun restored by a well know gunsmith

[Dean Romig]

Just received my Parker which was completely restored,my question is when I have the forend off has a lot of play with the forend on is tight is this normal?had the gun restored by a well know gunsmith



Did this "well known gunsmith" give you the option of tightening the gun or is his "well known gunsmith"ing limited to cosmetics?

I would think a restoration would certainly include that service or at least a discussion of it with a quote for tightening..... :whistle:

[Jim Thoma]

So Dean this is not normal? It was discussed when he received the gun the gun was loose before with the forend on

[Dean Romig]

Did he say he would tighten it for you? Did he say that was included in his quote or did he suggest it would cost you extra?

As far as being normal.... There are a lot of Parkers out there that are loose with the forend off and are tight with the forend on. I don't believe they left the factory that way so I guess you could say that as far as a new gun was concerned, it is not normal.

I think you and your gunsmith should have made a decision as to what you expected of him and a breakdown, or itemization, of his services.

What he apparently did was to tighten up the forend on the loop (or forend lug) but I'll bet there is some excessive clearance between the breech face and the breech of the barrels. This is called being "off the face" and will probably only get worse.

Without actually seeing the gun I am only making assumptions.... and we all know what that makes me :shock:

[Dean Romig]

OK Jim, I received your message to me. Thanks.

My own personal opinion is that I wouldn't send my guns there. Please don't give the name of the shop here.

Try Brad Bachelder in Michigan for the correct repair.

[Harryreed]

Hi Dean, you sure have raised my curiosity.:confused:

[Dean Romig]

Harry, we each have our own opinions. The shop is very highly regarded and has been for a long time. A lot of folks have sent their Parkers there for just about every kind of service and repair and have been very pleased with the results.... but you'll not get the name from me.

[Harryreed]

I respect that.

[Brian Dudley]

I know who is being discussed. Mostly because In conversations I had had with others, it is my understanding that the subject shop is actually telling people that the forend iron on a Parker is the final key to the puzzle in the design to tighten up the gun. I beleive we all know that is not the case per say.

That being said, a little bit of play with the forend off is not all that uncommon. You do not shoot the gun with the forend off. True, the ideal situation is a breech that is tight with no forend, but if it is tight all together, shoot it. No reason to spend a ton of money on it to fix a problem that realistically is not a problem.

Though some guns may have play with the forend off. They were NOT designed that way.

[Ed Blake]

Is your top lever to the right?

[Jim Thoma]

No my top lever is not to the right,and Brian just hit the nail on the head about the forend that's what I was told in Brians first paragraph