To paraphrase Thomas Edison, I haven't had any failures, but I've sure found a lot of ways not to refinish Damascus barrels. I have five sets going at present and three are ready for logwood boil to bring out the black/white finish. I will post more pictures when I finish these.

Sorry about the poor photos. The shadows appear as if I did not get the rusting down to the ribs. I'll try and get better pictures after the boil.

Looking good Harry

I hear you, Harry. Tough to get the photos right. I have a sister-in-law in that industry, and she's describing more photography gear than I want to invest in. Good luck sorting it out.

It is interesting to see my instructions turn up again. The setter in the picture was Stoney, one of the best gun dogs I have ever owned. He was a true grouse dog and we normally took over 30 birds a year in addition to pheasants, huns and sharptails in Saskatchewan. Experience is the only thing that can make a true grouse dog. I still miss him terribly and think of him often.

TOM: So good to have you posting, and I hope all is well with you and your family. Drew

Thank you Drew.....much appreciated

I am also glad to see Tom posting again and in contact with PGCA members. Tom helped me with my Wirehair, Eva, when she was a pup. I lost her at 12 years, 2 months a few weeks ago. Tom and Jeff Mullican shot the first birds over her, while I handled the leads. I can't believe it has been that long.

I well remember those days. Tom did a set of Damascus barrels for me.

What was Jeff's big yellow lab's name? He was a real sweetheart of a dog - he liked everybody. Jeff did some fantastic nitre blueing too.





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Dean and Bill.....Jeff's lab was named Luke. I loved that dog as if he were my own. Jeff used to take Luke for retrieving while on hunts with myself and Stoney, my wonderful setter. Luke would stay at heal while Jeff and I walked in for the flush. When Jeff gave him the command, he would rush in for the retrieve. Luke always tried to beat Stoney to the retrieve. One memorable day, Stoney beat Luke to a pheasant Jeff shot. Stoney started back with the bird and Luke, not to be denied, grab a hold of the bird also. They both came back to us holding onto the bird together. Jeff and I still talk about that duel retrieve.

Jeff has bought a farm in NH not that far from my home in Pawling, NY. We will be fly fishing the Housatonic River a lot this spring and hunting grouse in my home coverts in Pawling. The area I have hunted since childhood is still highly productive grouse cover due to the 1400 acres being selectively logged every ten years.

I am back in the game. I suffered severe depression for a number of years due to a family problem. I sold most of my Parkers to pay my son's hospital bills. I only kept a Holland and Holland 28 gauge and three Parkers. I gave a couple of Parkers to friends including a wonderful DHE 34" pigeon gun with high dimensions that I gave to Destry. I hope he is still using that gun.

I am now buying Parkers again and hunting again. I won't get up the eighteen Parkers I owned back in the day but it doesn't matter. I am happy and again doing the things I did as a boy.

Thanks for responding guys. It was great to hear from you.