To Refinish or Not to Refinish

[David Champa]

I’ve got an old Trojan 12 gauge I recently acquired, only to detect a split in the head of the stock mid season. After disassembling and glueing the stock back I’ve got to thinking if it’s worth restoring. I understand it’s completely subjective and one’s preference. It’s a very worn gun from 1927, but I plan on continuing to use it and realize there’s no real collector value to it.

I’m going to finish the repair with a staple and accraglas and would then continue with the refinish. Re cut the checkering and applying Timberluxe and maybe reblue the barrels.

Stock is quite worn, looks like a previous owner wore a ring on his right hand.

Any thoughts or opinions, or regrets are welcomed… thank you

[Jim DiSpagno]

If you’re going to do this you ourself, then by all means, have at it if you think yourself capable. It’s your gun and enjoy it

[CraigThompson]

If you have intentions of selling it and thinking refinish will enhance the value you’re wasting your time .

[Brian Dudley]

It doesnt look that bad to me.

[Mike Poindexter]

The pictures dont show the crack/split. If you have the skill to remove the stock and staple and accraglas the split, without buggering the screws or further damaging the wood, then you have enough skill to do pretty much anything you want to the finish and checkering. Frankly, that stock and checkering look better than 80% of the guns I've seen from that grade and era and I would leave them alone. Getting the barrels restored would be nice, if done properly, i.e. not buffed too brightly, but rust bluing is also a talent that comes with practice and knowing how an original untouched set looks is helpful to avoid mucking it up. Good luck whatever you choose to do!

[Mike Franzen]

You have to be a member of the PGCA to refinish a Parker. That one is a good candidate since it already has damage. It might look best leaving the metalwork as is and refreshing the stock finish to match the metal patina. That’s what the masters do.

[David Noble]

You have to be a member of the PGCA to refinish a Parker.

That’s a new one on me! :):rotf:

[edgarspencer]

I agree with Brian. It doesn't look so bad at all, and probably better than most.
I also think Mike is on to something. If it isn't already, membership should be a prerequisite for refinishing, together with repercussions if not done well.

[charlie cleveland]

i would do as you said fix the stock good andrefinish as you desire.....charlie

[Alfred Greeson]

It looks good to me. Old scratches and dents add character and may just reflect good times that will not come again so I like to leave them as I find them, wood repair and careful taking down a rough finish and bringing it back with oil and elbow grease often is good enough. That gun is much nicer than my old 20 Trojan and I like it just the way it is. Just my preference. My 20 Model 12 was about a 95% gun and my Dad just had to have it so I let him enjoy and it is about a 65% gun now from his wear on it but I love it just the way he left it to me.

[Ian Civco]

I know I’m probably going against the grain on this forum, but I despise any firearm that is refinished, completely or partially. It’s only original once. And the crack isn’t that bad.

[David Champa]

I know I’m probably going against the grain on this forum, but I despise any firearm that is refinished, completely or partially. It’s only original once. And the crack isn’t that bad.

Appreciate everyone’s input. There was a split on the head of the stock, undetectable with the receiver on, but leaving the receiver quite loose from the stock. I glued it back and have a staple ready for installation as soon as the shipment of acraglas arrives.

Figured once I have the stock apart again might be the time to refinish, if at all.

[Jeff Christie]

Just shoot and enjoy it.

[Keith Doty]

I'm a shooter/kinda collector. I have several Parkers that I have done work on or had it done if beyond me. As I'm only a custodian of these guns, they'll outlive me, I consider this as maintenance. A proper rust blue re-do on barrels or proper re-case color is simply maintenance and protecting the gun for the generations down the line I hope will enjoy them as much as I do. My labs are gonna shake water on them, I'm gonna get hot and sweaty in the dove field and handle them and no matter how careful I am there will be an occasional scratch on a stock or fore end.

[Stan Hillis]

Well said, Keith. In the future, when my grandsons use the guns that I use today, and have refinished years ago, what they will see are the scars from use that I, their grandad, put on them, not some nameless owner(s) of 50-100 years ago.

IMO, the trick is getting the right refinish on metal or wood. How differently the English feel about maintaining their guns, as compared to many Americans.

[edgarspencer]

I consider this as maintenance. A proper rust blue re-do on barrels or proper re-case color is simply maintenance

I would differentiate having a gun re-case hardened from 'maintenance'.
The attributes of barrel bluing and wood finishes are protective. Barrel bluing is a protective finish on otherwise 'raw' steel, to prevent rust. Stock finish, regardless of type, is a protective finish to prevent moisture damage. The fact that they enhance the appearance is the secondary, the protection is primary.

The primary purpose of the case hardening process is to heat treat the surface (skin, case)of the metal such that hardness and wear resistance are achieved. The resulting colors are simply a byproduct result of the process. These colors come from the transfer of carbon, when the part reaches a certain temperature, from the carbonaceous material it's packed in. The colors are extremely shallow, and wear off with normal handling. When they're gone, the surfaces still retain the hardness and wear resistance. The colors are not like the gas in the tank of a new car; When the gas gauge is on E, we simply refill the tank. We don't need to tear the engine down.
The consistency of the colors on guns that left the factory is pretty good evidence that the process was also consistent. There are loads of examples of guns which were re-case hardened. The colors are often very different from those pretty recognizable as original. The differences can come simply from different materials the part was packed in, but can also be effected by the time the part was held at, once it reached the aim point. Too long at temp, means that the depth, or core of the part is also effected. Why does this matter? It means that the properties that the original heat treatment the raw forging got, are very likely no longer the same. internal harness may have gone up, and ductility may have dropped off the chart
(read brittle).
I personally enjoy guns which impart the signs of years of use. I don't have issues with re-blued barrels, or refinished stocks. I'm always wondering about guns which have been metallurgically messedwith. (Hi, I'm Edgar, and I'm a graduate metallurgist)

[Keith Doty]

Edgar, your knowledge and insights are always appreciated here. I had never really considered the "brittle" possibility. I have only 1 Parker that was re-case hardened (Turnbull I believe) and it matches in appearance very well with the couple of original condition benchmark guns I have been fortunate enough to see and handle. Now, I have no way to know what effect this had on the physical characteristics of the steel.

[Brian Dudley]

There is never any actual functional reason to have to re-case harden a frame. Only if it has to be annealed for engraving or other work.

People normally do it for cosmetic purposes only.

[Chris Pope]

Very much enjoyed this discussion. It's a privilege to watch folks express their opinion with knowledge, grace and dignity. All found right here. Something to be thankful for during a week where it's important to step up our expressions of thanks!

[Garry L Gordon]

Very much enjoyed this discussion. It's a privilege to watch folks express their opinion with knowledge, grace and dignity. All found right here. Something to be thankful for during a week where it's important to step up our expressions of thanks!

Amen!

[David Champa]

I decided to go for it and refinish the stock and do some work on the barrels.

Surprised out how much the grain pops, this is just a small section sanded with 220 and wet to see the figure. Thinking it will look nice one it’s completed with timberluxe

[charlie cleveland]

nice.....charlie