Building a CH upgrade

[Brian Dudley]

This project started a while back. Unlike my 20g. hammer gun build, I decided not to document the whole thing too closely since all the work was less involved.

It all started with a set of 30" 2 frame 12g. Damascus barrels that had very nice bores. I kind of had them planned for something else, but I figured I would go through all my extra frames to see which ones the barrels would fit up well to. I have 2 or 3 VH frames that the barrels nearly fully closed on. So I figured I had a good platform for an upgrade. I picked the VH frame that had the shallowest cut engraving and started to work on it.

The VH is serial no 100908. I originally got it as a parts gun that had a poorly fitted non-original buttstock, no forend at all. And the original Vulcan barrels had both tubes badly bulged in front of the chambers. When I had picked out that frame, I went through my parts bins and found that I still had nearly all of the serial matched parts that came out of it. After fitting up the barrels to the frame, I quickly threw the action back together, put another buttstock onto it and took it out a fired a few rounds through it to make sure the barrels had no unforseen issues.

When everything came back apart, all hardened parts were annealed and the VH border engraving was wiped off. The actions look a bit different in their naked state.

The dolls head had to be worked down a little to be flush with the frame. All screws were replaced with new ones.
Some custom work to the gun was the underside of the forend iron was milled out as to lighten it some. It made about 1/2 oz. difference. The former straight top lever was converted to a fishtail.

The SSBP is one that I made from scratch using a plain hammer gun buttplate. The middle was roughed out with a mill and everything else was cleaned up with hand file work.

I decided on a straight grip stock for this gun. The stock is a piece of darker colored english walnut.

The photos below show everything as it is currently. Metal parts polished out and restocked with the wood only having a few coats of sealer on it.

32350

32351

32352

32353

32354

32355

32356

32357

32358

32359

32360

32361

[Todd Schrock]

Looks very nice Brian. I love the wood!

[wayne goerres]

That is going to be a nice gun. Just a thought But have you ever seen the top lever on a sabatti. If you cut yours out in stead of checkering it, it would be pretty unique for a parker.

[Virginia Hessler]

Looks great .
Did you make that stock or is it after market ?
Looking forward to pictures of the finished product.

[Brian Dudley]

It is one of my own "aftermarket" stocks.

[charlie cleveland]

brian this is another fine project you have come up with youre gona get so many requests to do other guns like yours that it will certainly keep you busy...keep up the fine work...charlie

[Larry Frey]

Brian,
Very nice as usual. Will your engraver be able to reapply the rib matting well enough to make it unnoticeable? I have never seen that done and often wondered how well it could be matched.

[Brian Dudley]

I anticipate he can. It is only about 3/8" of it that got wiped out.

This gun will be going to Geoffroy Gournet for all the engraving work. I plan on having this gun and my 20g hammer project at the Southern and Hausmans for show and tell. After that, it will come apart for the engraving.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

That will certainly be fantastic when finished. I like the fishtail lever. Hope to see it at the Southern. I have a little VHE 20 that would make a good project
gun. It is rough, but quite shootable,ejectors work fine, etc ,some dufus cut the barrels to 26 1/2". If I ever did anything with it, I would have a straight grip put on it.
Question, the frame is quite dark and dull, what would I use to "clean" it up some--a frontier pad, or some Flitz polish, certainly dont want to buff it out.
Harold

[Virginia Hessler]

Brian
You can make that stock out of a hunk of wood !!
I am most impressed, stuff like this always inspires me to continue to learn.

Tom

[Brian Dudley]

Here are photos of the forend with finish completed and checkering cut in.

33652

[Daryl Corona]

Very nice Brian. I find it interesting in that most of the upgrades in Parkers or Foxes, that the person chooses to make it a straight grip. I just love straight grips especially in the smallbores.

[Brian Dudley]

The barrels are at Gounets now for breech engraving. I am to pick them up from him at Hausmans and the gun will be displayed there in its current state. Then when I get home it will all come apart and go to him for the rest of the engraving.

I did the barrel engraving first so that I can send them off for finishing while the frame is out for engraving.

[Brian Dudley]

Progress on the wrist checkering.

33706

[Brian Dudley]

And here is the back half with finish and checkering completed.

33746

33747

33748

33749

[Alfred Greeson]

Hey Brian, I was looking at some old posts just learning and enjoying a break and ran across this post on your C grade. This is making a beautiful gun. You may recall the high grade repros that were sold by Galazan in the white. I always wondered if we should have picked up one. If you took my VHE 12 that we are working on and say wanted to make an AHE out of it, how much egg money would it take to make a nice one out of it?

[charlie cleveland]

that straight stock sure has come out nice...charlie

[Robert Delk]

Glad I got a place in line...

[Brian Dudley]

Well, the frame and all replated parts are off to Gournet for engraving. I am opting for the very tasteful Rondel pattern. Something very much like the photo below. I will be giving Geoffroy his own artistic license on the animals used on the gun. As long as they look like original parker engraving.

34521

[charlie cleveland]

this gun just keeps getting better...charlie

[tom tutwiler]

pretty sweat indeed. I've got a deposit in with Gournet for a project that will be ready for him at the Southern next year. Everyone is busy it seems which is a good thing.

[Bill Holcombe]

Just saw this. Beautiful as always Brian!

Is this a keeper or do you intend to sell it?

[ForrestArmstrong]

I gave GG 4 unfinished repros about a year ago, he finished one recently. According to Geoff, Turnbull is coloring it, Brian will reassemble. Since his DGJ article, he has gotten alot of additional publicity and demands for his work, hope he can finish the others during my lifetime.

[Brian Dudley]

Bill, This gun is a keeper for me. I have no intent to sell it.

[Bob Hardison]

Brian: I wanted it but thought you would want to keep. It is nice that you will be able to keep some of your outstanding work for yourself and the family. Bob

[Bill Holcombe]

Dang, I really like your work, I was hoping I could have saved.my pennies up enough by the time you finished her. ;)

[Brian Dudley]

Here is the first photo I received from Geoffroy on the engraving work he just started on the CH upgrade.

36648

[Alfred Greeson]

Very Nice!

[Mike Franzen]

Sometimes I wish I was Brian Dudley :cool:

[Dean Freeman]

Sounds like we've all got a touch of "Dudley Envy"!

[Brian Dudley]

Another photo of engraving progress.

36702

[Rick Losey]

what can you say other than WOW

[Bruce Day]

BHE 12ga 26" Bernard's. 1 frame. Double rondel side panel engravings

[Dean Freeman]

More!:shock::shock::shock:

[Terry McElrea]

Truly works of art in the highest forms!!!!!

[Brian Dudley]

Here are the final photos of the finished engraving that I just received from Geoffroy.

37207

37208

37209

[Steve Huffman]

Very Nice !

[Robin Lewis]

Very Nice !
I second that!!!

[edgarspencer]

Really beautiful Brian. Is that a Parker butt plate or a Galazan?

[Craig Larter]

That will be one beautiful gun!! Can't wait to see it complete. Craig

[Brian Dudley]

Really beautiful Brian. Is that a Parker butt plate or a Galazan?


It is a Parker plate, sort of. It started as an original hammer gun buttplate that I made into a SSBP by doing the rough milling and then hand filing.

I figured why waste a good original SSBP on an upgrade.

Besides, the Galazan plates are not completely correct for a Parker.

[Dean Freeman]

More "Dudley Envy" for us to cope with, your skills continue to impress. Great work! And kudos to Mr. Gournet. That work is incredible!

...What a beauty this will be. That buttplate must have taken some time to get right! Gives me an idea for my project:p. Of course I'll have to practice a few more years before I would dare go cutting up my baby!
Thanks Brian for keeping us coming back for more. I can't wait for a chance to win this beauty in the raffle. :rotf::rotf::rotf:

[Brian Dudley]

I got the parts all back from Gournet and of course there was no surprise from the photos I previously shared.

Here are a couple more photos now that the roll joint, pin and all the screws are back in it.

Not as nice as the "Glamour Shots" Geoffroy sent me.

Now off for case color.

37330

37331

37332

37333

37334

[Brian Dudley]

Rust Blued Trigger guard and flame blued screws.

37385

37386

37387

[edgarspencer]

How about a side view so we can see the wrist, checkering and guard.

[Mills Morrison]

I really like how it is respectful and close to the old CH engraving pattern but also has Geoffrey's unique touch. Very well done

[Brian Dudley]

Rust Blued SSBP with flame blued screws.

37472

37473

[Brian Dudley]

I got the color case work back from Turnbull so I assembled the action for some photos. They also nickel plated the triggers for me.

38493

38494

38495

38496

38497

[Bill Holcombe]

Beautiful Brian.

[Dean Romig]

Just amazing!

[Rick Losey]

sure - now that I already ran my errand out your way- you have it back :rolleyes:

very sharp

[wayne goerres]

I cant wait to see this gun finished.

[Alfred Greeson]

Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbors' wife or his gorgeous C grade Parker! Beautiful gun!

[Craig Larter]

Brian: Beyond words beautiful. I look forward to seeing it in person.

[calvin humburg]

WOW!!! everything one would want love fishtails. More wood pictures please.

[Dean Freeman]

Those case colors are wonderful; not too bold, not too subdued. Is this the goldilocks gun?

[keavin nelson]

Brian, very nice. Did you fabricate the straight grip trigger guard with the long tang?

[Brian Dudley]

No, it was an original guard. From a GH grade. I had to polish it out to prep it for engraving.

[Scot Cardillo]

Brian..being a new member & all I've been looking through the site and have now seen a lot of your posts..you do some really really nice work!

I admire your talent & your knowledge working on these guns.

This build is gorgeous!

[Fred Slyfield]

Brian , That gun is a work of art!! Just might have to talk to you about a "little work" on my 16

Best

Fred

[Chris Travinski]

I was curious about how the project was progressing. Also, did you change the address on the rib or leave it as Vulcan Steel?

[Brian Dudley]

It is just about together and complete. It will be out for display at the Southern.

The barrels are not fluid steel. They are Damascus.

[greg conomos]

Really nice work.

[Bill Murphy]

Sorry we didn't get to see it at the L.C. Smith Spring Shoot yesterday. It would have been a great display piece. Your Trojan was the nicest Parker in the house.

[Bill Zachow]

Brian, can you bring it to the April Syracuse show. Would dearly like to see it in the flesh and finished. Bill

[Brian Dudley]

Maybe...

[Todd Kaltenbach]

Brian,
Please post lots of pictures when its complete.

[Tim Wells]

I'd love to have that to engrave myself, nice work! I'm always on the look out for hand engraving projects.

[Brian Dudley]

Ok, here are photos of the finished gun.

40592

40593

40594

40595

40596

40597

40598

40599

40600

40601

40602

40603

40604

[Todd Schrock]

Just outstanding Brian!

[Steve Huffman]

Love it ! You should be very proud !!!

[scott kittredge]

My God Brain, that is OUTSTANDING!!!
OK , how much do you want for it?? :corn:

[Fred Slyfield]

Ok,, so I'm drooling all over my keyboard, excellent work , love the fishtail !!

[Erick Dorr]

Impeccable. Love the floorplate and the stock work.
Erick

[Craig Larter]

Brian: OMG Beautiful gun and craftsmanship WOW!

[Mills Morrison]

Awesome!


:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

[Gerald McPherson]

Most appealing case color I have ever seen especially the trigger plate. It doesn't over power the engraving but rather seems to enhance it. If you had been around back then you may have been able to get a job at PB. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Are those birds Woodcocks or Marsh Hens?

[Mike Franzen]

That must be what condition looked like on brand new Parker's when they left the factory back in the day. I wonder how many hours were put into that gun …

[greg conomos]

Really nice. You don't waste time....

[Brian Dudley]

A year and a half or so.

[allan.mclane]

A year and a half or so.


Brian, it is very tastefully executed!

Thanks for the narrative and photos... bringing it to Hausmanns?

[Brian Dudley]

I will be at Hausmans, but only for a day and a half, and not as a vendor. I have another commitment for the rest of the weekend. I may bring it to put on the Parker Table. If there is room.

[Dean Romig]

I'm sure we can make room for it Brian.

[David Holes]

Turned out very nice Brian, I remembered those barrels were very light 2 frame and wondered what the finished weight was of the completed gun. Dave

[Bill Holcombe]

Brian,

Just wanted to say how much I loved reading this thread since you started, and really enjoyed the writeup in PPs.

[greg conomos]

What is unique about this gun, IMO, is that it's an upgrade that actually was done by someone with all the right ideas and the ability to execute them. The end result is proof of that. That makes it an extremely rare gun.

[Richard D. Carlson]

Super nice! Your abilities far exceed mine.

Richard

[Kirk Pfeffer]

The quality of your work is simply amazing.