A Challenging Project
 

Okay, here's one for you restoration fanatics . . .

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=153419324


We'd like to see pictures as you, the happy winner of this auction, progress through the steps of restoration of this fine old Parker. :corn:

My guess is when the Dam in Augusta was breached several years ago and the water level receded by some 8 - 10 feet all the way up to Waterville this fine old gun was discovered in the old riverbed.

I'm not sure fresh water could do that much damage. Perhaps it was hauled up in a lobster trap. I'll be watching the auction to see how much the listing party pays to have this thing hauled away.

:biglaugh:

You sure that wasn't one you left out in the field with that musket Dean???

That's probably what that musket would look like today after more than fifty years. I wonder if it is still there in that field where I left it...

I thought I would be able to bid in peace and get this gun for a reasonable price.

Mr. Murphy - I think your spell checker is broke - Should be "Bid in piece"

Come on guys lighten up.... You could strip the stock and it might clean up ok, look at the stock shield it looks ok.... come on a couple of bucks and it will be good as new.

That Parker is what I would term an Austin Hogan Special yuk yuk

Roger

Maybe a main spring is in good enough shape for a replacement for Sean Harpers broken spring ??

For some reason, when I look at those pics, the haunting theme from the movie "Titanic" is playing in my head...

If you put a blue-wash on those pics, I'd swear they were taken from an remote deep-sea submersible. Even the background looks like a sand-bottom.

Jim

That gun reminds me of my old 32 inch '97 Winchester, it sorta looks like it might have been buried in the ground at one time. But it still shoots!

Destry

Res-to-ra-tion...:eek: not a problem:banghead:

Cow Manure
 

The rust can be readily removed by soaking the gun in moonshine. At that point, it should be safe to fire. These early parkers did not need barrels, as the cartridges were metal and that contained the shot.

As to the stock, after 28 days in Moonshine it will come out gleaming. The only caveat is that these guns must be kept in the dark. If you take them out in the light they will immediately revert to corroded. If you leave it in the box and do not look at it, however, it will be in as new condition.

As to a value, we should be able to digitally apply a Hilbert Transform to the image to recover the serial number. I have it from a reputable source who spoke to Elvis recently in a Laundromat that this gun was the very one Washington carried when he crossed the Delaware. I expect it will easily exceed the price for the Bo Whoop gun which also required some stock work after having been lost. :corn:

Greg,

You would waste good moonshine on this......:shock:

This gun has surfaced on this site before. Found in a basement at a deceased in-law's, I believe.

Actually, I don't think he wasted the moonshine. Sounds like he found another use for it!

Jim

Extracting the oil from the stock with moonshine may make the beginning of a redneck "dirty martini"

At least after seeing this relic, I feel better tackling a simple matter of cut off barrels and a bondo stock on a 16ga VH. That thing is a complete mess. I'd like to here what is the most extreme restoration on a parker you have done or heard about.

I still want it. I'm really disappointed about the barrels. I guess they were in fairly bad condition. On the positive side, the seller has a very liberal return policy. He only asks that the gun be returned in the same condition as it was sent! What could be fairer?

Austin;

My first post on this subject came out all wrong.

What I meant was with your expertise in the mechanics of finding a way and doing the bring back to life on guns would apply to this poor old sick Parker.

Reguards Roger as in FG

PS I tried to edit the origional post sans a non result as this new BBS system is far smarter than I

Bill,

Stop talking and start bidding, money talks and........


Destry

"We are not gunsmiths and we have not test fired or checked headspace on any gun we sell" "Please have your local gunsmith check any gun you buy from us before shooting it." I don't know if I can live with such limitations. A dealer who won't stand behind his product is not a dealer I would choose to do business with. I still want it.