What to do with this old Parker

[Tom Trumble]

Got this 126xxx sn CHE with 32 inch barrels--letters original--now what to do with it?

http://s1093.photobucket.com/home/ptrumble1/index

[Harry Collins]

Tom,

The short answer to "what to do with it" is shoot the snot out of it.

I don't have the "Book" to look up 126163, but a CHE #2 frame, 32" ACME Steel barrels, caped pistol grip, Silvers pad with the pad part gone.

I can't give an estimate, but would guess $5,000+ in its current condition. I would not do a thing to try and improve condition as that often leads to devalueing the Parker by thousands of $$$'s.

Kindest, Harry

[George Lander]

According to "THE BOOK" SN 123162 is a 12 gauge hammerless T14 or C Grade (4) w/ Titanic Steel 32 inch barrels & ejectors, pistol grip stock. Made in 1904. Nice gun. Wouldn't do a thing except shoot it.

Best Regards, George

[Richard Flanders]

Nice gun! All you need now is a few cases of ammo and a pair of glasses that have over the horizon radar capability as that's about how far away that gun will smash clays....

[Bill Murphy]

If the pictures are any indication of condition, the gun is in need of mechanical inspection and repair as well as being in cosmetic disrepair. The gun shows large gaps in the breech area which need to be addressed before shooting.

[Jack Cronkhite]

I think Bill's advice is always the sound approach with a "new" gun, especially if it has issues. The overall look is not of a gun that has seen a lot of attention to basic maintenance. I know what I would do, which I suppose "devalues" the gun but I don't think a gun is any longer in "original" condition once it looks like this. I would rather have "non-original" re-stock to enjoy the shooting of it looking like a nice gun should look. I would of course save the "original" stuff and put it right back on the gun if that is how someone else preferred it and I was selling it to that person. I guess a CHE is not in my future if, in this condition, it is still considered a $5,000 gun. I too would shoot the heck out of it, once any safety issues are addressed. I would also hunt with it and not worry about another scratch or dent (wood, that is)
Cheers,
Jack

[Brent Francis]

I think the short answer is that you can pretty much do what you want short of blueing the reciever or shortening the barrels and not hurt the value much since it appears that someone has used it rather hard. I would probably try to find some better wood maybe scavenge an old damascus D and I would definately get any mechanacal issues like off face etc taken care of. I would save the old wood if when you sell it somebody wants the original stuff.