Nope, not 'gleening' anything and I never intend to give or take offense.

That's a nice looking old Hardy Bros. muzzle loader too.

I'm in agreement with Jeff K's month-old post... that "there are a lot of nice guns out there for that $3000 price range and most of them will not have the issues that this one has". Which, in my humble opinion leaves only the "pretty" aspect of such a gun... that's all I meant but Jeff said it better and after a month, his statement is still quite valid too.

I agree that nowadays $3K can buy a nice Parker and it is probably better to find one for that price and spring for it than buy a sick gun for that number. I own only two Parkers, a SBT SC which I paid $1500 for more than a decade ago and a GH that I bought last year for $900. Both guns took a little work and neither are what I'd call pristine, but still nice guns. The SBT was covered with a thin coat of bright orange rust, having been stored in a humid climate inside an old plastic case. Not healthy for the old girl.

The other didn't open or cock, but took little work to fix, just $160. Here is the SBT: (It's not a very good picture.)

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...hotguns009.jpg

My GH:

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...hotguns023.jpg

This gun is totally untouched, except for some work on its guts. I'm going to keep it as is. Bores are bright and shinny. I think the gun broke in the 40's sometime and lived for a lifetime or two in a closet. It is F and F, a 12, 30 inch tubes, an 1896 gun.

Better Picture?

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...hotguns025.jpg

As one can see this GH is far from in outstanding condition, but as I handle the gun, which locks up like new and has light, crisp triggers and a fine bore, I think its original condition is charming. With RST shells I think she'll shoot up a storm. She has a no 2frame and is heavy!

The gun in question is a "no buy" at $500 until we see pictures. It is a "no buy" at $3000 or any price as long as it has pitted barrels. Sorry, it seems to be a bad gun no matter what.

Yes, pictures would be nice.

On a slightly different note, while I understand that a slightly pitted bore will affect value, but does it effect shootablity/pattern? As an example I own an ancient GEW 98 WWI Mauser with a terrible ringed bore. I can see the rifling though. However the rifle shoots almost about 2 MOA...even off those rotten open sights. It is a tight bore and is so marked at the breech. The trigger while a two stage is light as a feather!

Okay, we are talking about shotguns. Does a pristine bore shoot a more even patter than a blemished one?

I purchased a pitted out twist barrel for 66.00 off ebay. The muzzle was damaged so a 28 inch barrel was created, with mod. chokes. I easily fit it to my 1 frame hammer gun and shoot it regularly. With the good wads it patterns great, Cleaning the barrel is a major problem. Pitts are hard to clean inside a tube. Dave

Interesting; and thank you, Dave.