View Full Version : what to do about Parker gun?
stephen grubb
04-17-2010, 07:07 PM
What a great site guys!Very informative and educational and you make newcomers like me feel invited:)I posted pictures of my Parker gun in a album titled Grubb gun and I have some questions.To restore or not restore or just have gun cleaned up,value of gun for insurance purposes only, approx. cost to have work done ect..I just feel a large responsibility to make sure this Parker lasts another 113 years!
Dean Romig
04-17-2010, 10:18 PM
Stephen, do NOT restore your Parker. At most it could use a bit of cleaning up but don't use any abrasives and don't use any solvents as they will take the shellac off of the wood. Your Parker is in wonderful condition and it appears that never has a screw been turned. Are the barrels still thirty inches? Aside from the buildup of old oil and grime it looks like an extremely well cared for Parker that has been lovingly cared for. (I know that was redundant but I'm excited) You're lucky to have one that nice . . . now go shoot a turkey with it.
Jack Cronkhite
04-17-2010, 10:41 PM
Lovely gun. Screws are close to perfect. Stock head is slightly proud of the metal (a good thing). Water table does not appear to have a single pit. Butt plate looks almost new. How are the bores? Can you post a picture of the muzzle end looking down on the bead, which may answer Dean's question about barrel length being original. Obviously well cared for during and after use, as well as storage over the years. It has likely not been dismantled and if everything operates smoothly, there may not be any need to get inside for cleaning. If things are a bit sticky, it could use a day at the spa after 113 years. If you do anything yourself, ensure you have proper tools and know the methods involved. If you have any work done by another, ask here for well experienced Parker gunsmiths anywhere near you. A great gun to be enjoyed for decades to come.
Cheers,
Jack
stephen grubb
04-17-2010, 10:54 PM
OK, thanks Dean for that info.yes the barrel are still 30 inches and clean inside however the condition of the outside Damascus barrels could use help.took gun to local shop and was told to wipe them with vinegar to remove grime I thought that sounded barbaric. same guy tried to demonstrate the cleaning properties of "Ballistol"on the stock of the gun and was verry persistent till I told him that nothing was going to be done till I got the gun documented with you guys.
Eric Eis
04-17-2010, 11:04 PM
For the barrels try Hoppes 9 wipe them down and let them sit for a day or two then wipe down again and use some OOOO steel wool with the Hoppes and that will take some of the grime off, never heard of the vinegar idea. Ballistol is a good product for both metal and wood but if you want to clean the wood try some Murphy's oil soap on the dry side and that should take most of the grim out and then some wax. Whatever you do go slowly..
stephen grubb
04-17-2010, 11:22 PM
Thanks guys.great info.Any contact info. would be great. I live near Cocoa Bch,Fl.{don't hold that against me my folks were from Pa.}Locals here seem to think bacon fat makes great wood protection.Heard about a gentleman named Norman Flaydermon? from Miami.About 3hrs drive , but don't know reputation.
George Lander
04-17-2010, 11:45 PM
Stephen: Norm Flayderman is the "Grandaddy" of the antique gun collectors. His published price guide is in it's unpteenth printing and is used by all the auction houses to price their guns as well as all serious antique gun collectors. I think that you were joking about the bacon fat.
Best Regards, George
stephen grubb
04-18-2010, 12:30 AM
WOW!Thanks George.Talk about foot to mouth.Being new to something sure can make one feel ignorant.I will have to get back to you about the bacon I'm going to check it out on my Daisy BB gun.
stephen grubb
04-18-2010, 12:49 AM
Thanks Eric,should the steel wool be copper or brass wool?Also what type of wax would you recommend?
Bruce Day
04-18-2010, 08:17 AM
Here's another of the same grade and gauge that started out looking like yours. Re-browned barrels and cleaned up and re top coated wood. I use it for waterfowl, long range pheasant and long range clays. I choose to fix mine up, your choice. This one is a little later, a 1910 gun from Vancouver.
Dean Romig
04-18-2010, 09:25 AM
As Bruce says, the choice is yours and as is exemplified by his gun, there is nothing wrong with a good clean up. I don't think your barrels need refinishing and as Eric said, some Hoppe's and 0000 steel wool will take off the crud and the pattern will show much, much better. There is a product much like coarse steel wool but of a softer alloy than steel that is guaranteed to take off rust but will not harm blueing. I'll get back to you with the name of the stuff... I have it somewhere in my basement. I've used it on lead fouling in my bores and it is terrific!
stephen grubb
04-18-2010, 09:30 AM
Thank you Bruce,that's one good looking Parker gun,do all barrels of this grade have the same type etching pattern.
stephen grubb
04-18-2010, 09:42 AM
Thanks Dean,the end result pictures on Bruce's Parker are stunning!Amazing result on those barrels and stock.If I get close to those results I'll be very happy.
Bruce Day
04-18-2010, 09:57 AM
Thank you Bruce,that's one good looking Parker gun,do all barrels of this grade have the same type etching pattern.
Response: This is the base grade damascus steel and within a range of variations, some bigger, some smaller patterns, yes, they will all look the same. These are very typical G grade barrels. See the Teaser from Dale thread for more Damascus. Some of us believe Parker Damascus barrels are more attractive and are as capable as fluid steel of equal condition.
To be precise, the pattern is caused by alternating twisted and stacked ribbons of malleable iron and steel, hand forged together. The different Fe compositions oxidize at different rates and create the color, assisted by a bath of logwood dye. Damascus barrels vary, a few have names assembled into the Damascus pattern. Others like Bernards were the designer barrels of their day and very costly.
Dean Romig
04-18-2010, 10:12 AM
Here's the product I mentioned earlier. BIG 45 Frontier Metal Cleaner, Rust and Dirt Remover. When used with a solvent like Hoppe's or CorrosionX For Guns from Corrosion Technologies Corp. you probably will not need to send your barrels out to be refinished. Certainly this advice doesn't apply to everybody's barrels but from what I can see of yours, they are not faded but are only covered with old dried oil and grime. At least try cleaning them before sending them to be refinished.
.
Eric Eis
04-18-2010, 11:01 AM
Dean where did you pick that stuff up at?
stephen grubb
04-18-2010, 12:55 PM
I want to say THANK YOU to you guys, to freely receive such info and advise sure is reassuring.:)I added a picture of the front of the barrel of this gun to the Grubb gun album.To my untrained eye it appears to be uncut and original.Correct?For insurance purposes I would appreciate a approx. value of this gun.For now I'm "gone fishing!!" and will log back in later.best regards, Stephen
Dean Romig
04-18-2010, 02:49 PM
It looks just like the day it left Meriden - uncut with keels in place.
Dean Romig
04-18-2010, 02:55 PM
Dean where did you pick that stuff up at?
The solvent, CorrosionX is available in several sizes from gallons right down to the plastic 4 oz. bottles I bought, from www.corrosionx.com or call 800-638-7361.
The BIG 45 Metal Cleaner alloy scrubbing pads are available from www.big45metalcleaner.com or by calling the tel. no. on their website.
stephen grubb
04-18-2010, 08:51 PM
You guys are really fantastic. :) Thanks for your time and advise! My next post should have pictures of a cleaned up Grubb Gun.And I'll remember to go slooww! Much Thanks To All, Stephen:bigbye:
Dave Suponski
04-18-2010, 09:02 PM
Stephen,Dean has given me some of these cleaning agents and they work very well. Do as Dean suggests and you can't go wrong.You have a wonderful GH there enjoy it!
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