"Cleaning up" an old Parker

[Mills Morrison]

I picked this one up playing Gunbroker roulette (low ball bid that gets it). It is a low grade and was in bad shape with a cracked and crudely repaired stock, pitting and dents in the barrels, and a messed up action with one hammer screw missing. It made no sense to do much to it except the bare minimum to get it working and safe. Brian Dudley shored up the stock, repaired the action, generally cleaned it up and did some light honing to get the worst of the pitting out of the bores. The result is a very usable Parker which still shows its wear and history, but won't embarrass anyone's dog.

Thought I would share this for anyone with a similar old Parker debating what to do. This is a good compromise between doing nothing or parting out and a full blown restoration.

[Steve Havener]

Well she ain't no prom queen but at least she found someone to dance with. Great job and have fun with her.

[Brian Dudley]

Mills, wasn't that a 32" 1 frame gun?

I would have liked to do a lot more to the gun, but you have to know when to stop and be wise with the money.

[Bill Holcombe]

Nice Find!

[charlie cleveland]

mills you got a fine shooter there... i like it when a old gun is brought back to shooting status...don t look like she was hardly as bad as the old 8 ga you had....charlie

[Mills Morrison]

Mills, wasn't that a 32" 1 frame gun?

I would have liked to do a lot more to the gun, but you have to know when to stop and be wise with the money.

It is 32" but I think it is a 2 frame. The 32" barrels were a plus in the decision.

[Mills Morrison]

mills you got a fine shooter there... i like it when a old gun is brought back to shooting status...don t look like she was hardly as bad as the old 8 ga you had....charlie


She was not as bad as the old 8, but the old 8 is shooting again too.

[wayne goerres]

That should make a great candidate for the swamps. I would bet RST appreciates you.

[Mills Morrison]

That is right Wayne. No shame in taking this one out hunting. The barrels have a good muted color, so the ducks and turkeys won't see them a mile away.

[wayne goerres]

I always keep an old gun around for any real ruff hunting. If you step in a hole and the gun goes for a swim or you bang it against a tree you wont feel near as bad. You can still say your hunting with a Parker.

[Alicia Muller]

I am a new member and just recently fell in love with my first Parker. In May I inherited my grandfathers gun collection following the death of my grandmother. There are some real beauties in the collection including a Rigby, Perazzi and this Parker.
I am sending away for my research letter and realize it will take some time before I see it. I am posting a few pictures in hopes someone can give me more information on the gun. The stock has a tragic break and I wonder if it could be repaired/replaced or even worth it to do so. It is in major need of clean up and I am considering restoration over selling. I couldn't capture the detailed scroll work with the camera but it is beautiful. I think with a good cleaning it will look amazing.
This is what I know so far; serial number dates gun for 1899, CH grade 4, 12 gauge, titanic steal,. 2 3/4" 3 1/4 tons per , sleeved

I am a novice and any help is greatly appreciated.
A. Muller - Ma[/SIZE][/SIZE]
35800

35801

35802

35803

35804

35805

35806

35807

35808

[chris dawe]

Hi Alicia ,and welcome to the forum ....the break on your gun is in a very thin spot ,not much there to work with ,but it would really need to be in the hands of the person doing the work for a proper assessment ...one good thing though ,it looks quite clean and it is of the utmost importance you keep it that way until it gets in the hands of the person doing the work ...the cleaner the break the better the potential repair

The barrels have been sleeved and reproved in Britan meaning the original set was cut just ahead of the chambers and fitted with new fluid steel tubes, this was done because of the unfounded paranoia of the day regarding the strength of Damascus ,if that's what the originals were ...or maybe possible damage of the original set, not a good thing in the eyes of a collector but not so serious to a shooter.

The gun has great engraving and nice wood ,IMHO it is definitely worth looking into a clean up and potential repair .

Good luck with it

[Dean Romig]

I agree with Chris Dawe on all points except that the gun wasn't made with Damascus barrels, it was made with Titanic fluid steel barrels. Must have been on the 1-frame as 3lbs, 6 oz. is relatively light. I'll guess the barrels were somehow damaged and required replacement.... odd that it wasn't just sent back to Parker Bros. or Remington unless the gun was in England at the time of the damage.

[Brian Dudley]

It is truely unfourtunately that your CH has been sleeved. That effects the value of the gun quite a bit. And your CH would have a lot of value if it were an original gun.

I think repair/replacement of the stock is a good option for you.

The good thing that I notice from the few photos you post is that the barrel work looks to be of very good quality. The additional Stampings may be the only real hint to people that the barrels were sleeved.

[Alicia Muller]

Wow! Very helpful guys, thank you. Chris & Dean- I was wondering about the barrels. There is a D stamp that I thought might have been from original Damascus but I was hoping that wasn't the case.
But.. If so why would the rib be stamped titanic steel? I did find the 1 stamp on the barrel lug indicating frame size. ...Forgive me for my inexperience... ; )
I really wish I had more history on her! Unraveling the mystery just adds to the charm right? Hopefully I will get some answers from the research letter. I searched the serial number for the original order tags and they are available. Should I order that as well? What do you guys think? I might have to wait a few months because of the cost.

I am positive that the barrel was replaced before my Grandfather acquired it. The stock break was a tragic accident maybe 15 years ago by my Uncle. He took possession of the gun for a few years after the death of my father. Its been taped up until recently when I needed to get a better look. I will wrap it back up immediately to not cause any additional damage.

One more question - How do I move my post from Mills thread to its own? I didn't even realize that I posted original message as a reply. I am going to blame that one on the time of my post...

Brian Dudley - I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you responded to my post. Thank you! I was JUST given your contact information (along with a glowing review of your work) from a trusted friend the day before. Could I message you privately about possible repair work? other options? My email is AMuller77@yahoo.com

[Dean Romig]

Alicia, Parker ser. no. 93201 shows in the Ser & ID book as a TI4 H 0 S 28 12 which, translated, is a Titanic Steel barreled Grade 4, Hammerless, 0 options, Straight grip, 28 inch barreled 12 gauge. I don't see the D you refer to but that doesn't matter at this point as we know the barrels were not originally Damascus.

Incidenally, where in MA are you? - I live in Andover.

[Brian Dudley]

Yes Alicia, feel free to contact me privately either through this site or through my website.

[edgarspencer]

It's hard to believe our esteemed Director, and Editor of the Parker Pages forgot to mention to you that if you order a letter for your gun, as a forum associate, the cost will be $100. However, if you join the PGCA, easily done on-line, from the home page, your $40 membership fee will entitle you to research letters at $40, plus four quarterly issues of the afore mentioned Parker Pages magazine, which is perhaps worth well beyond the annual membership fee.

[Dean Romig]

Guilty as charged... :whistle:

Thanks Edgar.

[John Ross]

Great thread. Need some advice. Just bought a Parker DH vintage 1906. Nice and tight. Heavily hunted. Bores fair, Skeleton butt. A previous owner had a smith silver solder (?) a shield to the rear of the trigger guard to protect his middle finger when he shot. Want to have it removed and to have the gun cleaned up, but not restored.

What do you think? Who could do a good job on this this.

Thanks for your ideas,

John Ross

[edgarspencer]

If, in fact, it is silver solder, it can be removed with a rosebud torch and hopefully the engraving wasn't compromised. It's going to require a nitre bluing which not every smith does. You could give Brad Bacheldor a call, as I know he does nitre bluing. All in all, getting the gun back to original shouldn't be too involved.

[Dave Suponski]

I think I would leave it alone...

[wayne goerres]

Gives the gun a little character.

[Brian Dudley]

Get that thing off of there!!! In my opinion...

If it is just soldered on, it should come off with not too much trouble and without much effect to the original guard undernieth. The guard would at least have to be reblued after the corrective work is done.

[John Ross]

Thanks all. My inclination is to remove it, but not to reblue the trigger guard. That would send me down the slippery restoration slope. Think this old guy is greying with dignity and like gentlemen of similar vintage, should get a little exercise but otherwise left pretty much alone.

John

[Bill Holcombe]

Sorry, I am having trouble understanding what the soldering would accomplish? What was he protecting his middle finger from...I have shot some ruff guns, but never felt the desire to solder on metal to protect a finger from the trigger guard.

[John Dallas]

Mr. Galazan will sell you a rubber one if you wish:
http://www.csmcspecials.com/product_p/e0123.htm