Brian's commenta are exactly what I would have written. Great minds think alike

larry: in order to preserve the wood on your old trojan, keep your loads light and your screws tight....

[QUOTE=Brian Dudley;60594]Yeah, that is a major concern is if the stock was cut for that recoil pad that was put on. The original stock should have a curve to it. If it is straight, then it has been cut.

Brian, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe the Trojan had a curved butt like higher grades with the DHBP. At least all that I've seen were straight cut on the wood but the plate itself had a slight curve where it would contact your shoulder.

Just checked my trojan 12 and it has a curved butt plate. It is original. The wood is cut curved. Dave

They were curved. The original buttstock from my trojan is like that too. They just didn't have a spur and they are a bit narrower in width compared to the higher grades.

Thanks for setting me straight:banghead: I was looking at the examples in the Trojan Grade Identification section plus some on the internet and to my eyes they looked straight but my eyes aren't what they used to be!

Thank you everyone for the responses. I contacted Turnbull today and boy they spent a lot of time on the phone with me discussing the options I have for finishing the stock and forend as well as redoing the checkering. Am I correct in assmuming Turnbull has an outstanding reputation? I almost considered a company in my own area (Yuba City, CA) but saw some very bad press on the Internet thus the call to Turnbull.

Althought I have restored several 1903A3s, 1903s, many rifles, and many inexpensive shotguns, I am very nervous about screwing up my only Parker. I have decided to leave the final touches to Turnbull.

I am definetely going to look into RST shells and my own reloading recipies to make sure I preserve this gun.

Wow, those guns are beauties. What guages are they?