When I visited Brad's shop, he showed me a work in progress where very ornate engraving had been removed. Through a process, he revealed the pattern. An engraver was then able to meticulously chase every line. I saw the results "in the white". It was pretty spectacular. So....... almost anything can be fixed :)

Several years ago, a friend found an outrageously engraved SO Beretta that had been heavily used and neglected by a South American shooter. The engraving was filled with rust and appeared to be heavily pitted in places. He sent it to Rich Cole and it came back looking wonderful. Rich disassembled the gun and put it through a procedure that only he can tell us about. It was a chemical process and did not involve reengraving. It doesn't hurt to ask.

i dont want to try that, sounds like it could go wrong. On a lesser gun i would look into so thank you very much, if i buy one ever ill make sure to get informed.

Thought I would bring this thread back up see if anyone knows whatever happened to this gun.

If this was my gun, I would have Brad Bachelder of Grand Rapids work all wood and have Dan Cullity of Sandwhich, Mass work all metal surfaces. Cullity is a world renown Master Engraver and restorer/builder of fine weapons.
However, I'd have Brad Bachelder do any case coloring as Cullity's colors are not consistent with Parker factory colors (Ryan Cullity, Dan's son acknowledged this to me yesterday) Brad's colors IMHO come as close to original Parkers.

Dan Cullity definitely for the engraving and barrel work but Chris Dawe would by my first choice for the wood work.





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Steven, Take this from an old guy who has been down this road. Don't get hung up on having someone local (Florida?) to do the work required. Seek out the best craftsman for engraving, barrel work, metal work, and wood work. Send the gun to them. They deserve and earn what they charge for their high quality of work! You will always appreciate best quality of work long, long after you forgot what you paid to have it done.
All the best,
Buddy

I had Dan Cullity do a partial restoration probably 20 years ago, or as he called it a hunters special on an old beat up Fox A 16 many years ago. Reblued the barrels, recut checkering, refinished wood, and added nice recoil pad. We left the nicely patinaed receiver alone. I really enjoy shooting this gun now.

I sure would like to see a scan of the letter he sent for. According to my records, this gun had a pistol grip stock when it was first sent out in early 1898. Supposedly, it was also sent out with no safety. Did our original poster ever get his PGCA letter? And what makes us think that this gun came from the factory with a skeleton buttplate? Sawing enough wood off the stock to install a skeleton plate will make it too short to appear or shoot like original. This gun was probably originally sent out with a Silver pad.

Bill, what records do you have that would suggest no safety? It is not listed in the serialization book with any options. Not that safety delete is an option in the book anyway.

I agree on the pad. By the look of the screws used, it looks like factory work.