I hate to see an obviously messed with gun described as original condition. In addition to the bluing the re-checkering job is terrible. And it's not just the tip, it’s also the grip. To take an obviously valuable and nice gun and do a hack job on the checkering is a crime to me. The bluing can be removed without effort, but it is going to be a lot harder to fix the checkering without taking it down.

With some price adjustments for the incorrect mods, that would be a desert quail machine!
I like that gun, and wouldn't sniff at the minor flaws.

I can't disagree with that. It is a great gun, but it was described as original condition and the price reflected that although it is not the truth. And poorly done re-checkering on a Parker always bothers me. I would like to own that gun for sure but not at the price.

Make an offer, Steve is usually pretty open minded. Point out the flaws to back it up. It's a nice gun and at the end of the day find another one.

Yes; this verbage is part of the "new vernacular" of dealers and auctioneers, along the lines of "new as refinished", and "refreshed along traditional lines." We will just have to get used to it, I'm afraid.

My new to me original condition VHE 16.
I look forward to shooting some of the color off of it in the next few years.
As I read in other threads of the waning interest in these fine doubles,
who exactly are we preserving for? I'll shoot mine.

https://i.imgur.com/Dh6EmYG.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/winj0No.jpg

Nice Parker, Bobby! I wouldn't complain if someone preserved a 16 Ga VHE for me! :bigbye:

The guns pictured are incredible. Personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable taking either into the field. I guess if I owned one of them, I would be tempted beyond resistance, but I would put something on the colors to preserve them and then take it off at the end of the season. Parkers with true 90% or better original colors are rare and once the color is gone, its just another great Parker.

Bobby's Parker would be a dream gun on the huns and sharptails in Saskatchewan.

I'm with Bobby, who are we saving them for? Posterity? Well posterity never hunted a grouse for me. I use all mine 99% or 0% they see some type of use. Treat them well and be careful and you can enjoy them for what they were made for.