I guess this forum and all of us wouldn't exist if we didn't believe we were more than that Garry : )

If only they could talk and re tell the places they have been and the birds or in the case of a classic rifle the big game they have taken. Some would have traveled the world some would have remained in the area of the caretaker and some would have been destined to be safe queens.

Several years ago I did a PP article on the fictitious travels of a CHE 20. It did get shipped back to Parker from either China or the West Indies I don't remember exactly for a new stock and returned to that far off destination. The fact that it was shipped and returned without miss hap is amazing in itself.

One of the firing pins on my Superpose was driving so I sent it to Art Isaacson to have the gun cleaned. They suggested it would be a great candidate for restoration but I declined. Every mark, the wear, was in the hands of a gentleman who I admire. It may diminish the financial value but it increased the sentimental value.

Taking the honest wear away from a classic gun is erasing the memories and removing it's soul.
There are cases where a restoration is prudent and might even return a classic to it's full potential but to do it to a completely functional firearm just to make it pretty again isn't one of them.

I bought a neat 16 DH from an elderly gentleman in Maine. The gun had been found in the back of a closet in an older house and it looked like to. The wood had a coat I grime and the metal had gone brown. It needed to be cleaned up, not restored. The only real wear to the stock was on the forend, just forward of the knuckle where the checkering was completely worn off. So, I ask a fellow to recut the checkering. A year or so later I was carrying the gun and I looked down and realized why the gun was so worn at that spot. The gentleman who ha carried the gun for decades wedding ring was responsible for that wear and I immediately Reg regretted having had the checkering recut. Never again will I mess with something that doesn’t absolutely need to be messed with.

I bought a GHE Damascus 20 from a friend. The stock had so much dirt and grime you couldn't tell if it had any figure in it. I had it cleaned up and under 100 years or so of grime was a beautiful piece of walnut befitting a much higher grade of gun.

I completely understand "honest wear" and honoring past custodians,
but have trouble with careless abuse at the hands of a stranger.


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About a week after I returned from viet nam and with some separation pay in my pocket, I bought a very nice 12 ga Browning Superposed from Eddie Thomas at the Dedham Soortsmans Center, in Dedham, Mass. I hunted with that gun for many years and sold it when the top rib came loose. Best shooting over under I ever owned and would buy it back today in a heartbeat. 26 inch barrels and many a grouse to its credit..
Oh and I paid $300 for it. Had money to burn back in the day.....

If I remember correctly, a Superposed at the PX in 1968/69 was $322

And a Rolex Submariner was $95 at the Navy China Fleet Club in Hong Kong. Lets not get started...