1901 Parker DH3 - Serious Barrel Damage

[BrandonBoozer]

Hey guys. Newbie here.

I just received word from my uncle that he's giving me my Grandfathers old Parker DH3. There's just one problem as you can see in the picture.

The damage apparently happened when my Grandfather was hunting with it many, many years ago. He died in 1972, and I'm sure it was a good while before that when he last used it.

Any suggestions from anyone here with regards to starting a restoration if I choose to do so? I'm in the Nashville area.

I'll be posting more pics after I receive the gun this weekend.

Thanks!

[Bob Jurewicz]

Other than the barrels the gun looks to be in very good and original condition. If I am correct a replacement set of barrel, fitting and numbering to gun may bring that treasure back to many more years of service.
Bob Jurewicz

[Bill Murphy]

My friend Bob is right on. Start by giving us some more pictures and information about the gun and we may be able to steer you to a restoration plan. We would need frame size, gauge, serial number, ejectors or no ejectors to give you a start.

[John Campbell]

Brandon:
Seems like a fine gun. Worth sleeving by an expert. That means cutting off the old damaged barrels ahead of the chambers and inserting new tubes, chambering, etc. At least you will have the root of the original barrels and avoid fitting costs to an extent.

Barrels will have to be blued, but you won't see the work. Only you will know it has been done. And, of course, pure collector value will be diminished. But who cares, it's your family gun.

Only one place to go for this work to be perfectly done: Kirk Merrington in TX. Just type his name into the Google box. Cost will be about $1000.

Best, Kensal

[BrandonBoozer]

Thanks for the great information. Exactly what I'm looking for.

So far, I know that it is a 12 gauge, and the serial number is shown underneath on the forestock as follows:

3
102300
D

More info and pics to come.

[Dave Suponski]

Pretty cool. My first Parker was 102500

[charlie cleveland]

it looks that it mite be possible to line the barrels to a different ga...the barrels could be repaired by shaping the metal back to former position and then reblued and lined with the barrel liners to a differant ga...possible to leave good barrel alone and line the bad barrel to 20 ga...would have 2 differant ga s in the gun but it wood be neat...plus you would have all of grandpa s gun still in one piece.... charlie

[John Campbell]

Charlie:
I hate to be seen as contrary, but that left barrel is SPLIT. There is no way to repair the tube. It is scrap. Sleeving is the only alternative to new barrels (which are way too expensive a proposition). But your suggestion may work for another gun... just not this one.

Best, Kensal

[Bruce Day]

A person ought to be able to find a set of D2 or D3 30" 2 frame barrels without too much effort, or even buy a cheap abused D2 gun if it has good barrels, then fit them to this gun. Fluid steel tubes sleeved to a damascus monobloc, while restoring functionality, are readily apparent and to a collector are less than desireable.

Bruce Day, Parker novice

[Bill Murphy]

Finding a set of non ejector #2 frame Damascus barrels should not be difficult. Even a set of Vulcan Steel barrels comes on the market occasionally.

[John Dallas]

Charlie - I'd never want to have 12 and 20 shells in my pocket and have to remember which goes into which hole. I'm sure I'd get a 20 stuck into the 12 barrel, then we could have a real problem

[Destry L. Hoffard]

You guys talk like any old set of barrels that are the same frame size should work and that's far far far from the case. I went through three sets for my old B grade #2 frame and never even got close. This was working with one of the best Parker barrel fitting men in the business as gunsmith. It's possible, and it does happen for some folks, but certainly not every time.


Destry

[Bruce Day]

It is possible that a person could not get a set of barrels to fit. However, the conventional Parker wisdom is that your best chances come from selecting a barrel set that is within 10,000 SN's of the frame. Some will fit without doing anything more, others will need a little filing and fitting, others a lot.

Parker regularly fit spare, previously made barrel sets on returned guns.

Destry, I think you may have had an unusual, unfortunate experience with your old BH 12ga. Sounds like in that situation there was little alternative other than sleeving the barrels or installing Teague full length liners, both of which can be costly. Sorry to hear of your disappointment.

[Bill Murphy]

I'd be the last person to suggest that the first set of barrels that is tried on a gun will work. I just keep buying them until I find a set that will work. One gun has had two sets bought for it and I still don't have a set that will work. The same person who worked on Destry's gun worked on mine. I am still looking for 0 frame three lug barrels for that gun. They don't even have to be good barrels, just capable of being fit to my gun. I would also buy a set of hammerless non ejector barrels in 0 frame if I can find them.

[Kurt Densmore]

Check with Brad Bachelder. He is getting some damascus tubes and may be able to fit one in place of the blown one or use your monoblock to fit two new tubes. I am not sure what procedure he will be using.

Kurt