Lot of history on this website about shellac-based French Polish and Parkers. Even some discussion in TPS Ch. 10. I have had good luck with it on revitalizing overly worn finishes, i.e. with 50% or more gone . If the finish is mostly all there, only crazed or cracked looking, I leave it alone. Search "shellac" or "french polish". Austin had the seminal article, I believe.

There are four Parker Pages articles listed in the index on topic of finishes:

1999 - Some Reflections on Stock Finish by Austin Hogan
2000 - More Thought on Stock ad Finishes by Austin Hogan
2004 - Some Reflections on Stock Finish by Austin Hogan
2007 - Stock Dimensions, Stock Finish, Butt Plates and Pads on Parker by Schroeder, John N. Davis Ray Roy ,Jeff Kuss and Ken Waite

I don't believe he has a special Parker mixture but TimberLuxe provided me with the most original looking refinish. Again my opinion and each stock takes stain and finish differently.

I just sat down at my PC to list my findings and see that Robin has beat me to it. Nice work Robin - and I used your search function on the "Parker Pages" link to find them. Just the same as yours but with the notations in red that I've added to make it a bit easier to find them.

I hadn't looked for articles authored jointly by Austin and others so I didn't find the one Robin listed for the 2007 Issue of Parker Pages.





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I was given a copy of a post from this forum from 2007 I believe. It was supposedly the original mix that was used at the Parker factory. Some refer to it as French polish. Use a container of choice, I use an 8oz. jelly jar. The mix is one (1) inch of Zinnsers Bulls Eye Amber Shelac and 1/8 of an inch of boiled linseed oil. You can also add two drops of Japanese drier but I don't think it is needed. Mix well and apply with soft cotton cloth. Dries very quickly. Apply as many coats to your liking, fine steel wool between coats if you prefer. I used this on all three of my Parkers as you see in the pics. From left to right, 1901 vintage VH and also where credit is due, checkering recut by Brian Dudley, Center 1884 vintage Grade 1 hammer, and 1891 vintage GH.

I have been tempted to try french polishing, but have never found a good enougg how to/example of the actual application and such to feel confident about trying it.

No highjack.
 

Guys,

I am not trying to steer this discussion away from the direction it has gone about finish.

But, in my opinion whether re-stocked or not, I believe the upper stock to be Feather-Crotch American Black Walnut similar to what Ithaca and Winchester uses on higher grades and 21's.

Whereas, the lower stock is obviously English Walnut.

Will

Ithaca Mag-10 ready for finish and second or third coat straight Poly no stain.

You can see the Natural Red Hue in the raw photo just rearward of the comb.

Now, I am not saying that no stain was added to gun one, just saying some wood is more red than others.

Brian, the finish on the last picture is superb. love that color. Brian, I'm referring to the pictures you posted on the first page of this thread.