Original finish??

[Rich Anderson]

I have a VHE 20 ga skeet gun that is in the book. Typical skeet configuration but with a factory vent rib. The serial number is in the high 240 range. My question is this has the cyanide case color typical of Remington era guns (I can add pics later) or a recase. Would these have a chance of being original to the gun? I'm thinking of having it recase colored using bone charcoal but would hate to lose any originality.

[Reggie Bishop]

Let me be the first to say, "must see pics!".

[allen newell]

Rich, if you do decide to have it case colored, please let us know who you select for the work.

[Dean Romig]

I believe there was a period during which late Remington (Ilion) Parkers were case-hardened with cyanide. It was a simpler and less time-consuming process.





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[Reggie Bishop]

Rich here is one that was made after your gun:

https://stevebarnettfineguns.com/parker-2-shotguns-for-sale/parker-vhe-skeet-20-gauge-1



And this one is just before your:

https://stevebarnettfineguns.com/parker-2-shotguns-for-sale/parker-vhe-skeet-20-gauge

[Dean Romig]

Those both look like bone charcoal to my eyes.





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[Reggie Bishop]

That was my thoughts as well Dean.

[Mills Morrison]

Leave as is and use the savings toward a new gun.

[Rich Anderson]

Mills the cost to "make it right" won't come close to the gun I'm looking at:rotf:
Any way here are the pics. For what Steve is asking for those I did VERY well on this:)

[Jean Swanson]

Rich

For what it is worth----the gun is what it is, you can not change that !!!!

Do not fool with changing the case colors, one could warp the frame in the process !! Not worth the gamble.

Allan

[Brian Dudley]

That gun is not original finish. The cyanide colors as well as the noticeable polishing line under the bolster is typical of a DelGrego re-color.

I personally do not believe that Cyanide coloring was used on any production Parker by Remington. That was something utilized after the war on guns for Service and refinishing.

[Dean Romig]

That was something utilized after the war on guns for Service and refinishing.


Brian, please explain what "the war on guns for Service and refinishing." means... I don't understand it.

Best, Dean






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[Rich Anderson]

I think he's referring to guns that were sent in for service after WWII.

[edgarspencer]

That gun is not original finish. The cyanide colors as well as the noticeable polishing line under the bolster is typical of a DelGrego re-color.

I personally do not believe that Cyanide coloring was used on any production Parker by Remington. That was something utilized after the war, on guns for Service and refinishing.

Dean, does it make sense now?

[Dean Romig]

Ahhh...Yes, now it does. Thanks guys.





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[Rich Anderson]

I've been looking at this more lately and might add it to the "guns of autumn" heading to the U.P. Perhaps I'll just use it a while, maybe take it to Georgia as well and see if it grows on me.

[Daryl Corona]

[QUOTE=Brian Dudley;253903]That gun is not original finish. The cyanide colors as well as the noticeable polishing line under the bolster is typical of a DelGrego re-color.

I've seen that polishing line on a number of DelGrego guns and have often wondered if they did that on purpose or was it a result of some secret process?:shock:

[William Davis]

Personally with little actual experience, I would not have a Parker re cased, too much chance of warping. Simple action like a Single Shot Rifle not much problem, just a few pins and the block fit is loose. Action full of parts than have to work together like a Parker too risky.

William

[William Davis]

Refinished re done Skeet configuration cyanide job at Cherrys Fine Guns

http://www.cherrys.com/stokpics/67724wol_2.jpg

William

[Bill Mullins]

In researching the Parker Story we were informed by some old time Remington-
Parker employees that Remington initially had some problems of warping on the top tang and forearm metal with bone meal/ charcoal case coloring. Therefore, they used cynaid coloring on those thin pieces to prevent warping. No record as
to how long that was continued. Remington enlisted a retired Parker Brothers employee that did case color to ride the train from Meriden to Ilion to help them
in the traditional bone meal charcoal case coloring.

[Bruce Day]

Bill, thanks for setting the record straight again. A person hears all sorts of things from so many people. What you just said again is the real story in my opinion based upon looking at
lots of guns over many years.

[Brian Dudley]

If I am not mistaken, James Hayes was involved in sorting out some of the issues Remington had initially in their Parker case coloring process.

No Dean, I did not mean anything in regards to the war on guns. I was referring to WWII which resulted in the end of regular Parker production at Remington.

[Kevin McCormack]

It may very well in fact be a re-cyanide colored gun. Parker experimented with the cyanide coloring process well before the Remington buyout and documentation regarding the process and results exists in private hands. This gun may well be an original product (or a redo) of their earlier cyanide process; notice the 'splotchy' pattern coverage of the colors on the sides of the receiver as opposed to the vertical "zebra stripe" pattern(s) on the receiver body forward of the shoulder break extending to the hinge pin area.

"Splotchy' colors are most often the product of a true 'bath' effect, e.g., the area is swirled or washed slowly through the cyanide solution, whereas the "zebra stripe" effect is most often the result of dipping the work slowly up and down in small surface area increments (think the colors of the very earliest Perrazi guns imported from Itally by Ithaca in the early 1970s). They could have used both on this gun and the process could be factory original.

[Tom Flanigan]

Rich

For what it is worth----the gun is what it is, you can not change that !!!!

Do not fool with changing the case colors, one could warp the frame in the process !! Not worth the gamble.

Allan

Actually annealing before case hardening removes the risk of parts warpage. All competent restorers will anneal the parts before case hardening. I have seen a few parkers that were case hardened without annealing and the floor plate on them didn't fit right. If you decide to have a gun re-cased, make sure it is a competent restorer who anneals the parts first.