New Member with Trojan questions
 

Hi guys. I have a Parker Trojan. Number 170488.
I don't think it's original. The case has been blued/re blued. The barrels are
28" and seem to be original. There is some minor pitting in the bores. The wood is in excellent shape. Just wondering what your thoughts were, when it was made, and what it might be worth. I paid $550 for it.
http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...psde54d2e1.jpg
Link to Pictures;
http://s1117.beta.photobucket.com/us...rojan%20170488
Thanks,
Greg

As long as whomever did the bluing work did not hot blue the barrels, then the gun is worth about what you paid for it. If the barrels were hot blued, then all bets are off as the barrels could be severly damaged.

Thanks for the response Bill. The barrels were not re-blued. They are in pretty good shape. I was hoping it was worth more than I paid. lol.
Anyone know the date of this gun? The seller told me 1915.
Thanks in advance,
Greg

Yes it was made in 1915. How do you know the barrels were not reblued as the gun is nearly 100 years old?

I guess I can't say 100% but the bluing on the barrels looks thin and is worn thru a bit at the sides of the muzzle. The bluing on the case looks new.
What I can't understand is why would someone blue the case? It isn't supposed to be blued is it? I mean....with the barrels and wood in such good shape. Why would they blue the case? Did Parker make any Trojans with blued cases?
Thanks,
Greg

The buttstock on your gun looks to have been replaced as well, as the form is not correct. Being the gun is a shooter, you paid about what it is worth.

The frame is not supposed to be blued, you are correct. If the Frame finish was worn and had some rust issues, the easiest way for many to "fix" this years ago would be to blue it. The bluing can be chemically removed, which will leave a dull gray finish.

As far as I know Parker never made any blued cases. If I would have to guess I would say that reblueing would be cheaper to do then re case coloring. Other members on this forum know alot more than I however. The gun is a great find. I would buy it for 550.

Parker made one blued frame that I know of. Stay tuned to the Parker pages for more on this gun. And Remington made some Trojan skeet gun protoyypes that were blued. But... No regular production Parker's were offered this way.

You could improve the gun a lot both from the appearance and handling by having Brian Dudley checker the forearm and stock in the correct pattern. From what I can see both appear uncheckered.

You are correct there is no checkering on the stock or forearm....so I guess the wood has been replaced. I liked the gun and bought it on instinct. I figured for $550 I couldn't get hurt too bad. I really like this gun so I'm going to keep it and leave it "as is".
I would like to buy a higher grade Parker but I have a lot to learn. On the other hand I am an impulse buyer. I'm going to a gun show on the 12th. God help me :rotf:
Thanks guys for all your help.
Greg
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!