Original barrel finish - Grade 2 Hammer Gun with Damascus Barrels

[Brett French]

I apologize, as I’m sure this question has been asked before (and debated), but I can’t place my finger on a thread/post that covers the topic. My Grade 2 Hammer Gun has 30” Damascus barrels. The SN is 44,762 (1885 production). I’m wondering if the original finish would have been rust or black and white?

I appreciate any insights...

[Chuck Bishop]

They were all black and white.

[Brian Dudley]

Damascus barrels from any American maker would be black/white.

[Dean Romig]

Well...

From Chuck: They were all black and white.

From Brian: Damascus barrels from any American maker would be black/white.


An all original unfired Grade 1 with Laminated Steel barrels I once owned that sure look "plum" to me.

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[Steve Huffman]

Well...

From Chuck: They were all black and white.

From Brian: Damascus barrels from any American maker would be black/white.


An all original unfired Grade 1 with Laminated Steel barrels I once owned that sure look "plum" to me.

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How could a man part with that Dean ?

[Dean Romig]

I never shot it.... just took it to shows and such. It was becoming somewhat of a liability... what if I damaged it or put wear on it as I kept schlepping it all over the place. But it is definitely a benchmark Parker in every regard - This is what they looked like when they left the gun works in that "Dusty Little Plant Down In Meriden."

Sixteen gauge on the lightened 0-frame too.


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[Brett French]

Now that right there is one purdey Parker!!!

[Brett French]

The reason for the question is that I plan to have “some” restoration work done on the gun. I was trying to determine what would be more appropriate given the vintage (1885) and grade (2/G) with Damascus barrels.

[Dean Romig]

Go slowly and be careful about how much $$ you put into it because you'll probably never recover the expense you put into refinishing a lower grade gun.





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[Brian Dudley]

And I would like to know how you know that the gun is “unfired”. That is a bolt statement for anyone to make about even a much more modern gun.

And if that was the case, how was it patterned without firing it?

The same goes with “never a screw turned”. Then how did they get them into the gun. I suppose that the screw was held still and the gun was turned down onto it. I would love to have seen that operation.

[Chuck Bishop]

What's the S/N Dean? Did you get a letter?

[Dean Romig]

Chuck, PM sending in two minutes.


Brian, I’ll ignore your arrogant challenges.





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[Harold Lee Pickens]

Brett, looks like a pretty nice Grade 2 hammer gun. Refinishing the barrels would look really nice. From what I see of the rest of the gun it looks in good shape. Just me , but I dont care for recase coloring guns. I also have a Grade 2 12 hammer with 30" barrels ser# 34275, so a little earlier than yours. I took a nice turkey with it this year. I spent 3 weeks in the UP this year grouse hunting, my 36th year up there.

Oh, and by the way, my 16 hammer that is on the home page picture currently has plum barrels--but it certainly has been redone.

[Bruce Day]

1881 G 12ga 28” 7 lbs. original metal condition , mostly original wood finish.

I can assure you that the gun has been used and fired.

[Tom Flanigan]

Well...

From Chuck: They were all black and white.

From Brian: Damascus barrels from any American maker would be black/white.


An all original unfired Grade 1 with Laminated Steel barrels I once owned that sure look "plum" to me.

.

Black and white Damascus can turn brown if the gun is kept in a climate with high humidity. I have a benchmark DH that had turned brown. You can restore some of the black and white by boiling the barrels. I did it with a few barrels. This doesn’t diminish the originality of the barrels, it just brings them back to more of what they looked like when they left the factory.

[Tom Flanigan]

One more thing,.....the only difference between finishing in plum vs. black and white is that the barrels are boiled during the finishing process converting the brown iron oxide to black. Plum barrels are not boiled. It's as simple as that.