Challenge... I do have every part that is needed for that one. Minus a stock.

Sure dean... I think the tang should go right up over the comb and be part of the buttplate. Would it then be considered "Full Tang"?

"Anything that can be built, Can be rebuilt."

Some Brit guns had the top tang contour up onto the comb for a bit. Maybe not such a bad idea...

it was also common in some schools of southern flitnlock long rifles

You got that right Edgar...

#1351
 

Thanks for all your insight and thoughts about this sad beauty. We got a rare sunny winter day in Seattle and I snapped the photo below.

Hi Scott,
We're kind of neighbors. I live in Portland. My first Parker Bros. shotgun
was a lifter. I cleaned it up and have it on display on a mantel.
Your Parker is worth the time and money to repair, in my opinion.
If you ever travel down this way let me know. I could help with
any welding repairs like the trigger guard bow and trigger plate rebuild.
Nice very early Parker with Damascus steel barrels.

Best regards,

Jeff

Tang extension
 

Here's a photo of the extended upper tang.

I can't yet get any good photos of the bores but will keep trying. First attempts just "look like a light at the end of two tunnels"!

Yup... About 2.5" added. But the good news is that in the event of a "make things right" scenario, that would not be a difficult fix. The line of the old tang is still very visable. So the extention may just be soft soldered in place. There would have been worse off and harder to correct ways of adding that tang.

Here is a photo of an extended tang on a back action that I own.

Attachment 30628


I would not stress about photos of the bores. It is very hard to get good pictures of bores and even then, they may not tell much. Physical description is usually just fine.

Thanks for the info. and insight everyone. I've learned so much that I am getting a better idea of what I don't know.

So here's another question that may show my ignorance...

I assume that a tang extension was an attempt to strengthen a weak stock and keep a gun usable for a bit longer. In the gun collecting/restoration world, does a tang extension require replacement or is there a place for retaining the extended tang and letting it be part of the gun's history? Does "restoration" demand tang replacement while "refurbishment" allows keeping the tang extension?