Parker Restoration Advice Wanted

[Bruce Day]

I need some expert input.

Here's an important GH 12 ga.

Should I send it off to get fully restored? You know, the barrels and frame reblued and the stock refinished or should I just shoot it as is in all its original glory. I know people say its only original once and I wouldn't want to totally destroy the historical and vintage value of the gun.

Should I get a PGCA letter?

Then, how much do you think I can get for it? Restored or not restored to look like new?

Happy Halloween Folks.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I could make a suggestion as to what you could do with that gun but I think the moderator might delete it.

DLH

[tom leshinsky]

What makes it so important?????

[Destry L. Hoffard]

It belongs to Bruce. That should be enough for anybody.

[Paul Plager]

It looks like it has enough shellac on it to sink a destroyer.
Bruce, take it apart and run it through an ultrasonic cleaner a few times and see how the metal work looks. If it cleans up enough, just have it restocked.

[Rick Losey]

Happy Halloween Folks.

yeah that's scary :shock:

maybe it should go back where it was, propping up the back gate, and we can talk about something serious :whistle:

keep posting the good stuff Bruce, its fun to look at

[Bruce Day]

It looks like it has enough shellac on it to sink a destroyer.
Bruce, take it apart and run it through an ultrasonic cleaner a few times and see how the metal work looks. If it cleans up enough, just have it restocked.

If I took off the shellac, wouldn't that destroy the patina of age and harm its vintage value? Wouldn't want to do that. Noooooo.

[Mills Morrison]

I vote for making sure it is mechanically sound and then shooting it.

[Paul Plager]

So would restocking it, but what's the piont of having a gun you cant shoot?

[Bob Jurewicz]

I really think you should do it (restore). The gun obviously has special meaning to you and in its current condition it can't meet your needs. Don't worry about the money-its not about money -its about something far more important.
Bob Jurewicz

[Brian Dudley]

Bruce,

Are you by chance being sarcastic at all in your original question about restoring this gun?

[Bill Murphy]

Brian, yes is the answer. For some reason, Bruce is a war with the website and its posters again. I must say that the pictures are great.

[Jeff Christie]

I saw a GH over in Cabela's (Owatonna MN) yesterday that makes this one look new old stock. Brutally ugly and they wanted $895 with a very straight face. Scarey out there.

[Mills Morrison]

There is half (no barrels) a GH on Ebay that is supremely ugly for close to $1000

[August Luchow]

Bruce,

If you paid $1.00 for the gun, you'd lose money on the restoration. Part it out.

August

[ed good]

if gun is a shooter, redo the wood and pad and shoot it!

[Brad Bachelder]

Bruce, I think you know me , If there is a chance to save a Parker, I will do it. No matter how lowly it is worth any effort to make it the best it can be. There will never be any more. Economics, Right, Not an issue. I don't restore guns simply for the sake of investment. To part out an intact gun due to grade or condition is nothing short of sacralige. Actually I would chrome plate it, gold the triggers, beavertail the forearm and install a rollover California style buttstock. Just Kidding obdviously I would lose money restoring it rather than wreck it. Just my opinion.







Brad

[Bruce Day]

Brad, I tried to get rid of this gun before with all the fellows here who talked about how every Parker was worth saving, etc, no interest from any of them, yada, yada, yada. Its gone now.

I've saved some Parkers before and helped others save guns and likely will again but I will only for rare ones. I'll be calling you soon on an extra special Parker that needs some help.

[Steve Huffman]

Guys ,
I think some need to do some serious reading and not just this post. I think some have no idea what this is about and I really dont like to see whats happening !!JMHO

[Dennis V. Nix]

In my opinion I would have it restocked and recase color the frame not reblue it. You probably already knew that though. Then I would enjoy it and shoot the daylights out of it.

[George M. Purtill]

I think we need to create a tax emept foundation to get homely Parkers like this off the streets to prevent someone from taking advantage of them in their distressed state. Sort of homeless shelter for Parkers. There is a lot of vacant property in Meriden right now.

[ed good]

one already exists...hits called gunbroker.com

[David Noble]

Look at that gun, it is telling a story. A tale of some poor soul who had little, but he had that gun, that tool. He used it. And when it broke, he fixed it as best he could. It put food on the table for his family. Time and again. It was special to him, for a reason. Not because it was a Parker but because it gave him the ability to provide. He probably died with the gun still in his room, waiting to be used yet again.
Why do some only see beauty in something that is pristene, clean and colorful. Does hard work and integrity not mean anything today? Is there no value in a life spent providing?
No, now it's all about the investment, the financial gain. Most of us would turn away from that gun. What a shame. We missed the testament. If only it were prettier, then we'd give it a shot.

Restore that old dog!

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Well , here is my two cents worth! This old gun like David says reads like a book, it has seen it's days afield, with long gone caretakers. If it were mine it would have a place of prominence in my gun room and every one who saw it would stop and wonder about the tales it could tell. If it were redone that would not be the case. That said, Brad has restored several guns for me and I love them but they were not in as bad a shape as the one here.

[Steve Huffman]

Guys lets not kick a dead horse Bruce doent even have this gun anymore as he states in a previous post . I dont think he ever needed our advise on anything ! He was making some kind of point and I hope this thread gets locked soon !

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Yeah, Bruce was just trying to stir the pot when he was taking all that heap for being such an elitist on the other thread. This has nothing to do with the gun in the pictures and everything to do with Bruce's ego.

DLH