Bill

No, it would ruin the AH to restore it or no, it would ruin the CHE to refinish stock, or both?

Best-Ray

Ray, I was actually referring to the AH. However, if I owned the CHE, I would only partially recut the checkering and leave the rest alone. That's just what I normally do. Most of my shooting guns are in original finish with very little cleaning up. My little GHE that is consecutive serial number to your CHE is unrestored with a Keith Kearcher Damascus finish that is quite dark in keeping with the original look of a field used gun.

Bill: could you post a pic of the Kearcher dark damascus to compare with essentially unused or like new damascus restorations. Thanks, Jack

There we go with the pictures again. Some day.

Some day works for me. as long as it's not a Fogerty (CCR) some day. :eek:

I like the idea of barrels with a color that doesn't outshine the rest of the gun's overall look. For my old eyes, barrels brought back to "new" do look out of place if the rest of the gun is not brought back as well.

Bill, Richard Anderson, alias C.O.B., has posted some very good instructions on photo posting. It you can't find the post you should PM him.

I'm with Tarnation in that new looking barrels on an old gun looks funny.

Bill, is this darker, used look a finish that can be specifically requested?

Thx, Ray

Brown is what KK does.

Does anyone refinish old Parkers to a "antique" look. Years ago I collected Sharps rifles. I remember Shiloh made a reproduction that looked 100 years old. Not beat up but used. It was very cool because it looked so authentic. For example, stock finish not perfect with some wear to checking.

This gun might look great that way but no gunsmiths seem to promote this type of work.
Does anyone do it?

Thx, Ray

My gunsmith is Brad Bachelder who will refinish to whatever look one desires.

I have a favorite #2 frame EH 10 gauge that I take in duck boats. That is a harsh environment for any gun. The EH had a bolt through the head of the head of the stock that I had Jerry Andrews remove and hide the work. Brad re-case hardened the gun and restored the barrels so that the gun looks far-from-new. The case colors and barrels are softer than the total restorations he has done for me.

Making Damascus barrels "pop" with high contrasting black and white requires more work than does an antique look. The important thing to remember is that the gunsmith needs to understand what you want since refinishing Damascus is somewhat subjective. Make certain that what you want is written on the work order. Provide a photo of the desired product if available.

Another point that I learned about restorations is that Parkers’ case colors varied by production period (of years). If you really like case colors of a Parker made in 1911 and provide the gunsmith a Parker from 1890 and ask for authentic colors, the result probably won't match those of the 1911 gun. If however you want colors to match the 1911 gun, ask the smith if he can do so. Some gunsmiths have discovered or developed specific formulas and processes for the different periods of case colors and refinishing Damascus, twist, and laminate barrels.

Talk to the gunsmith and ask him if he can reproduce the finish that you want. Provide a photo if possible.

Mark