Brian

Is the glossy look the result of polishing the frame or the colors themselves? I always thought it was the result of polishing and was more obvious on guns on lower grade guns with less engraving. Higher grade guns that I have seen with a lot of color seem to be dull. Am I understanding this correctly or is it something about the way Parker did the colors that produced the gloss?

Thx, Ray

1905 Meridan`

The example that Bruce shows is a good example of more early colors. The subject gun at the beginning of this thread is more like Bruce's example. It does not look out of place on a Parker, just not true to the time period.

Yes, that glossy look is more noticeable on lower grade guns due to the lack of engraving. But the appearance of the colors themselves are notably different than early guns.

I didn't know that.

1939 Rem Parker:

Justin, great thread. Many of us on this forum want to acquire the best possible firearms in the best possible condition. Yet we probably do not own one or more "like new" condition Parkers to compare against. Further, it is clear, it has proven difficult to match the chemistry and metallurgy necessary to create a Parker that looks like it is a century old and yet in "like new" condition.

Listening to others discuss what they look for and how they determine the condition of a Parker shotgun is much like sitting around the fire listening to your grandfather and uncle discuss their guns, prejudices, beliefs, and sharing knowledge about woods craft and guns in days long gone. If you think guns are an interesting topic, bring up the characteristics of your favorite hunting dog!

Sooner or later you have to go with your "gut" but letting other experienced owners have a look is priceless. Thanks for letting us sit by the electronic fire and listen in. Russ

At the risk of being a bit too picky..... Brian's picture sure doesn't exhibit the oil on water look that he is describing. Maybe he's describing the gun on the internet link. Of course the GB gun has new case colors. The question is "How did the Vulcan rib get on a set of probably original Parker Special Steel barrels?" The rib replacement is obvious because of the poor fit of the rib to the sub rib. That gun is a real temptation at the present price.

Check out the KelTec gun in the seller's past auctions. It has sold with no reserve four or five times, been relisted four or five times. How does the KelTec keep returning to the GB site?? How is it that the Parker had 19 bidders up to $3300 and the seller has it back on GB? If the gun were returned by the successful bidder, I would be contacting the second high bidder, but he apparently didn't do that. What is going on here? I have been dealing with GB for a long time, and this is a new one on me. This seller has wonderful feedback, so maybe he has just found a way to save GB fees on multiple identical guns by just hitting the relist button when he sells one of them. My take is that he may have had four or five KelTec .22s and legitimately sold each one.

gunbroker sellers are prohibited from contacting non winning bidders.

and then there is this one: GHE WITH VULCAN BARRELS, which we discussed in this forum back in august.

All one has to do is look up the serial number to know it is or is not a Remongton built gun.

Bill,
The photo I posted is of a 1928 VH with high condition original colors. Oil on a water puddle is how I could think to describe the difference in appearance from the restored colors on the gun in the link or earlier Meriden Parkers.