Should I clean it?

[Ray Masciarella]

I just bought another old Parker. What is called "as found" meaning it has years of dust, dirt, dried oil, etc. but very charming in its own way. The "grunge" look!!!

Now, should I clean it up or leave it alone? In other words, I could clean up the stock, remove the dried oil from frame, etc. I'm going to clean and oil the mechanics so I can go shoot the old rascal but I could still leave the old grunge.

What do you think?

Ray

[Bruce Day]

A gun is a reflection of its owner. What do you take pride in?

[Richard Flanders]

If it's that grungy on the outside it may be a real mess inside, to the point of potentially being unsafe. I take all my Parkers apart and clean/inspect/repair them to make sure they're safe to carry around other hunters and dogs. You'd be amazed at the stuff you find inside a gun that has not been dismantled in many decades. Can you post pictures of the gun?

[Ray Masciarella]

Matbe I overstated the "grunge". it's just been under a bed for Lord knows how long. Dusty. Stock could use a good rub down with mineral spirits to clean surface. Frame has coats of old dired oil but still has some CCH under it all. Barrels nice/clean. Who knows what is inside-that's why I need to take a part and clean. Very nice gun to shoot. Good barrel thickness.

I never have figured out how to post photos or I would. Is there some place on this site that tells how to do it?

Ray

[Bruce Day]

look to the top of the page. FAQ.

[Robin Lewis]

I never have figured out how to post photos or I would. Is there some place on this site that tells how to do it?

Ray

Ray,

There are instructions on how to post pictures in the FAQ section of this forum, see the FAQ link at the top of this page.

There are also video(s) on posting pictures to be found on the FAQ page linked off of the www.parkerguns.org (http://www.parkerguns.org) main page too (two different FAQ pages). That should get you going.

[Ray Masciarella]

I always listed as a "forum member" but I'm a PGCA Member! How do I get this changed?

Ray

[Dave Suponski]

Ray, Contact John Dunkle and he will take care of it for you.

[Steve McCarty]

Just cleaning a gun is no sin, it's good. That old oil can and probably has soaked into the wood. I always clean my old guns but I stop at refurbishing them. I don't reblue, etc. Sometimes I steam a stock to lift out some dings and sometimes I hit the metal parts with Liquid Wrench soaked 0000 steel wool. I also take it apart. I've found bugs in there, old bits of string and lots of dust and grime. Remove the gunk. I brush the parts with a tooth brush soaked in Hoppies No. 9. I also pass a patch and usually a copper wire brush down the bores, then I run about a dozen patches down there. I apply a thin coat of gun oil on the metal parts. I never put linseed oil on the wood. That stuff turns black over time.

Sometimes I apply beeswax to the stock, but I'm careful.

Clean up your Parker. Don't scrub it with anything. I avoid bright varnish like finishes like Tru Oil. Usually.

[Ray Masciarella]

Thx. I do intend to clean and oil it, ie lock and barrel. What I don't want to do is anything that would effect the value as the gun is a fairly rare, collectible gun. I was wondering whether dried oil, a little grime here and there was best left alone. It is all part of the patina i guess. I would not do anything with steel wool or fix any dings in stock.

If the recommendation is to clean the dried oil, does anyone have a recommendation on how to do it without effecting the CCH?

For those interested, I did find a product that does a nice job on cleaning up a stock without effecting whatever finish is left on it. Furniture refinishers use it to "rejuvenate" the old finish. I have never seen it available for sale of the shelf. They order it trough their commercial sources. I have no idea of the mixture but it does a great job of restoring what finish is left. Adds nothing and takes nothing away. Just rejuvenates what is there.

I just go to the local furniture refinisher and he gives me some in a jar as it is supplies in larger quantities. A little bit goes a long way

[Richard Flanders]

I use lacquer thinner on the really tough dried old oil on the metal parts. There are good posts in here somewhere on using Murphys oil soap to clean up dirty stocks.

[Steve McCarty]

Yes, indeed, Ray. Gun stocks are antique furniture after all and stuff made to refurbish old chairs and tables can be good for gun stocks as well.

[Jack Cronkhite]

I prefer to clean thoroughly and inspect each piece within the action. Just an opinion here but I'm not a fan of "patina". Lets consider any old car found in a barn. Been there for years and long forgotten. A little removal of bird droppings and dirt, dust and mud reveals the original paint, intact and shineable. Do we leave the patina and just accept that is how the car should be represented? If a proper clean up/repair of a gun does reduce its $$ value, so be it but what value is a gun that may not be or is not safe to shoot? Once safety is ensured, I guess "patina" remains a personal choice. My choice is to clean it all off and return wood to a well sealed state for use in the field again. I do like Tru Oil for a home job. Once the multiple coats have been properly done and the wood is sealed, finishing the final coat determines lustre. Very light steel wool rub and good gun wax polished will give the bright finish that some don't like but aggressive use of the steel wool can bring the lustre to most any desired level. I always wax the final product to repel moisture.

A neglected gun will continue to deteriorate. One brought back to safe shootable condition will be around for long enough to allow a future custodian to debate whether or not to "shine it up" or "leave it alone". That's my take on it.

In the meantime, mine will be out in the field for as long as the old bod' allows.

Cheers,
Jack

[Carl Erickson Jr]

I have been a collector of firearms for several years. With any firearm that I acquire I want it to be safe to shoot. I also want to have the regular maintenance performed. The only exception would be for an art object that is in very good condition or better or a historical piece. Otherwise I would make sure that the metal is properly cleaned and that the stock has the finish maintained. If the stock would be damaged by firing it should be made whole. I might have to refinish the stock if it is oil soaked or split I might have to clean light rust from the finish. I would consider those things maintenance. A gun that has been under bed should be inspected , cleaned and preserved.