B Grade Lifter Restored

[Mark Ouellette]

Every once in a while a gun crosses my trusty Nikon to which a few photos will not do it justice. After a lengthy stay in Grand Rapids, Brad Bachelder finished restoration of my 1881 B Grade Lifter Action. This restored B Grade deserves more than a few photos!

The B Grade came from Parker Brothers with A Grade wood and engraved breach balls. Its 32” barrels are fine Damascus with .030” constrictions in each. Despite its 9 lb 13 oz it seems very lively in my hands.

These photos are my holiday gift to my fellow Parker guys!

PS: If one clicks on the photos they will open up to fill your screen!
PPS: Of course this is a 10 gauge :)

An album is available at:
http://www.parkerguns.org/forums/album.php?albumid=383

[Daryl Corona]

Mark;
All I can say is ..... WOW! Great pics and one beautiful gun. Can't wait to see it and fondle it. Give us some history of that beauty.

[Robert Rambler]

Wow, that could make anyones Christmas MERRY!! :) Thanks for sharing Mark! :cool:

[charlie cleveland]

boy thats a fine piece of gun there.. charlie

[Mark Ouellette]

Daryl,

Our friend Eric passed it on to me a couple years ago and it promptly went into the restoration que. Patiently I waited until it was restored. That's all I know since I do not have a letter on it.

For future history this B Grade will take some pheasant from a European style tower shoot in a few week. I'm sure that it won't let me down!

Happy holidays,
Mark

[George M. Purtill]

And the collection of old shotshells is a great relish to the photos.
get a letter and share.
Now......
Who did all the fine work?

[Mark Landskov]

Very nice, Mark. I hope to have Brad work his magic on one of my 10s. He resurrected some abused barrels for me a few years ago and did a swell job. Cheers!

[George M. Purtill]

My bad.
I rereead the post above. I should have guessed Brad anyway!
I can't wait to get back my 27607 from Brad soon.

[Dave Suponski]

Very Nice Mark! The breech ball sculpting is pretty unique. Is it a 10 bore?

[Jay Gardner]

Brad does beautiful work and your photography does it justice. Picked up my Grade 5, last Friday and it was worth that wait. Hope to take some pictures that will capture Brad's work.

[David Noble]

Beautiful! That is one to be proud of! I really like the game scenes and detail in the tight scroll. The hammers are exquisite!
Thanks for sharing.

[Brian Dudley]

Very nice. I love the little bird on the top at the front of the tang. Very interesting hammers for a Parker.

[Mark Landskov]

Indeed, the hammers are unique. They are almost Remington-ish:eek:

[Mark Ouellette]

Gentlemen,

As unique as the hammers are, they are correct for this gun. "Remington" my butt!

[Mark Landskov]

My Missus thinks I am crazy when I tell her that Parker hammers are sexy, especially those like your B Grade:whistle:

[Eric Eis]

Daryl,

Our friend Eric passed it on to me a couple years ago and it promptly went into the restoration que. Patiently I waited until it was restored. That's all I know since I do not have a letter on it.

For future history this B Grade will take some pheasant from a European style tower shoot in a few week. I'm sure that it won't let me down!

Happy holidays,
Mark

I forgot how beautiful that gun was:crying: but I know it is in good hands now. :)

[Paul Harm]

Yes, I do believe those hammers came from a 1889 Remington. If you would have brought it out to the club, which would have been nice, we could have compared it to my 1889. But no, you didn't bring it. Were you afraid someone was going to hurt it ? I would have put on my white gloves - now my feelings are hurt.

[Mark Ouellette]

Hey Paul,

Who are you trying to BS! You do not have any feelings! :rotf:

Last Sunday at the Lapeer club I shot a lovely restored Lefever DS 20 gauge and nobody except Dave L. even gave it a look... Too bad because it is a really nice gun!

Mark

[Dave Suponski]

Mark, What serial range is this B?

[Mark Ouellette]

Dean,

This B Grade is in the 21k range.

Mark

[Paul Harm]

You have so many nice guns but once again you didn't show it to me. I won't able to sleep tonight. From now on when you DO come out to the club please show me the gun you brought with you. That way we'll both feel good.

[Dean Romig]

Dean,

This B Grade is in the 21k range.

Mark

Uh... That was Dave :whistle:

[Mark Ouellette]

Sorry,

I get you brothers confused sometimes... :confused:

Mark

[Dave Suponski]

:rotf::whistle:

[Bob Gambrell]

How do I contact Brad to inquire about restoring my 1877 Lifter?

[Frank Cronin]

Give him a call. 616-459-3636

[Bob Gambrell]

Thanks Stub, I'll do that.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Mark, I looked at those photo's two or three times, that is one fantastic gun, restoration by Brad is a given. Thanks for the pictures a high grade lifter is tops in my book! Can not wait to get my B grade back from Brad with it's extra's Thanks Gary

[paul stafford jr]

hi mark......brad does great work, i recently got back aset of damascus barrels he refinished inside and out, they look great and shoot even better! that took six months how many years did he have your gun. i cant wait to see it this spring at paul harms place in lapeer.

[Mark Ouellette]

Gary,
Thanks! That is a big compliment coming from THE Hammer Gun Guy!

Paul Jr.,
The time for restoration was not relevant because I told Brad, "Take your time." Which to Brad, a renowned gunsmith, meant that he could restore my gun at his pleasure. If you wonder why I did not rush Brad please take another look at the photos.

Mark