1969 DelGrego Restoration

[fritz dornan]

This DE 12 Gauge was restored by Larry in 1969 and remains unfired. The frame is a number 2 with 32 inch bbls weighing 4# 6 oz. Made in 1913.
Thought you might like to see the photos.

[Mark Landskov]

Very nice, Fritz!

[Steve Huffman]

Did you mean DH ? Nice gun

[Bill Murphy]

A great Del Grego gun. I love it and would like to own it.

[charlie cleveland]

me too bill... nice gun...charlie

[Bruce Day]

The photos provide clear views of the results of the cyanide bath process of color case hardening.

The photo also shows that a white line Pachmayr recoil pad was also installed instead of the skeleton steel butt plate.

[fritz dornan]

Yes DH. Those White Line Pads sure do dress up a Parker don't they? Replace with Silvers .. Hawkins.. or Leather covered?

[Pete Lester]

Yes DH. Those White Line Pads sure do dress up a Parker don't they? Replace with Silvers .. Hawkins.. or Leather covered?

It's a lucky man who finds a SSBP gun that fits him. Those white line pads were the style of the day but like liesure suits and shag carpet they are very much out of fashion, and there are a lot of them out there.

I would opt for a Silvers pad on this gun.

[Brian Dudley]

Thanks for sharing the photos of the gun. Too bad about that pad. Replacing it with any of the above named pads would be better solutions to the issue. Even a pachmyer old english would be nice.

Maybe the gun was already cut for a pad when Larry restored the gun.

[Mike Shepherd]

T'were it my gun I would leave the whiteline on and happily show and shoot it. It does say "Larry DelGrego and Sons" on the pad. Some provenance there.

[fritz dornan]

J.B

What does SSBP stand for? The gun has 14.375 to the wood with the 1 inch pad. 1 7/16" at the comb and 2 1/8 at the heal

[Bruce Day]

My friend Mike likes recoil pads to color coordinate with his outfit:

[Pete Lester]

J.B

What does SSBP stand for? The gun has 14.375 to the wood with the 1 inch pad. 1 7/16" at the comb and 2 1/8 at the heal

SSBP - Skeletal Steel Butt Plate

I would be hard pressed to ever cut a stock that has one to adjust the LOP to my shooting dimensions, once a gun has a recoil pad things can be adjusted without further harm.

[Brian Dudley]

2-1/8" drop at heel. That is high. Can you say... trap?

[Bill Murphy]

A full Del Grego restoration with pad should not be messed with. It is the pad that belongs on this gun.

[Mike Shepherd]

My friend Mike likes recoil pads to color coordinate with his outfit:

I actually wore white shoes and a white belt to my Senior prom in 1973.

[Bruce Day]

Mike, you had the total look. Why go with less? White shoes, white belt, white line recoil pad, the whole package.

The art of looking fabulous doesn't just happen.

[Dean Romig]

The gun appears to have been restocked in American Black Walnut by Del Grego. Probably had a skeleton steel butt plate when Parker Bros. made it - a letter might tell - but Del Grego made it his way.

[Bill Murphy]

A Del Grego restock, probably, but Juglans Nigra, I'm not sure about that.

[Bruce Day]

Re stockers during the 50's through the 80's purchased machine inletted blanks from Fajen Gunstocks in Warsaw, Missouri. The rough formed stocks were from regional black walnut and then the re stockers would finish the forming, final inletting, checkering and finish. The practice continues today, except re stockers buy blanks from Show-Me Gunstocks in Warsaw, MO or from Wenigs in Lincoln , Mo. I probably should not reveal the secret finish applied to these , but I will if nobody tells. Its often hardware store spray can lacquer.