What to do?
 

I recently acquired a really nice DH 12, with 30" Damascus barrels, the gun is in well over 90% condition. The two issues are these, the top rib is loose for about 4 inches, about 6 inches back from the muzzle. And the top lever sticks/catches on the top tang when returning to the closed position.

Regarding the rib. Can it be repaired/re-layed without having to refinish the nearly perfect barrels?

Regarding the top lever, is this a common situation? I assume the lever needs to be bent slightly to relieve the contact, but I am not confident at all about doing this myself.

Any advice appreciated!

Hello Mark, it's difficult to imagine a Parker in over 90% condition would have those problems... Is that 90% original condition or 90% refinished condition?

Not trying to disparage your gun at all but those particular problems seem extremely unusual for a Parker in original such condition.

Best, Dean

I would suggest you contact Kirk Merrington. He's one of the best barrel guy and he's also in Texas. He will be able to fix the rib. Because of the soldering involved I believe you will have to have the barrels redone. I have had him do work for me and you can rest assured you won't be disappointed. I'm not sure if he will do your top lever. Call him and ask. Good luck.

Hi Mark,

The two problems are not common and to me indicate that someone unqualified has attempted to restore your Parker.

The loose top rib MAY be caused by hot blueing the barrels. Side by Sides need to be rust blued since hot blueing can leave salts between the ribs. The hot in the hot blue can loosen the solder which binds the ribs to the barrels.

Maybe your barrels were not hot blued but if it were me, I send them to a barrel expert for examination.

The top lever sticking? That sounds like something improperly installed or poorly repaired.

These are just the thoughts of someone who has been there and done that... Take them for what you paid for them. :)

Mark

We normally bend our top levers back in shape by: 1. Open gun so lever is locked to the right. 2. Insert several layers of thin cardboard (like 3X5 card stock) under the lever and over the top tang. 3. Close gun and slowly force the lever into the closed position (to the left). 4. If the lever is not free from the top tang, repeat with more layers of cardboard. Kirk Merrington or Kody Kearcher for your rib work.

I will take the gun to Kirk. I am certain the gun is in original condition. I bought it from a "black gun"store in Fla., that had the gun on consignment. It is my belief that somebody dropped the shipping box, or dropped something on the box, and sprung the rib loose, and compressed the top lever at the same time. There is an almost imperceptable ding transversing the barrels, dead center of the spot where the rib is sprung, along with a very slight sheen/or polishing across at that point. The gun was very poorly packed, and the photos from the seller prior to sale were not very good. I bought it 20 minutes after he placed it on gunbroker, by phone, for his reserve of $1,600.... SO, the photos were good enough to know that the gun either was in astounding original condition, OR, had a high quality restoration some time in the past, as there is some honest but sparing use and aging of the finishes. The seller did not purchase the insurance i asked him to buy. Still and all, it was a very good buy, and i think the damage is related to shipping.

If i can figure out how to reference the thread where i posted photos of the gun a couple months ago, i will.

Oh, and again, the top lever does not stick for any reason other than the bottom surface of the lever is contacting the top tang. It does so BARELY, so the remedy above with the cardboard sounds like something i might try.

If the barrels must be refinished to re-lay or repair the rib, i will probably be unwilling to repair it anytime soon.

Thanks

http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthr...ight=Christmas

There are photos (albeit poor ones) in this thread.

So, now I see the gun has Damascus barrels and no blueing of any method was used. I will crawl back into my hole and go to sleep now...

Better have the gun checked by a good gunsmith.

Mark

Ribs cannot be relaid without refinishing of the barrels. Either fluid steel or Damascus.

Regarding your top lever, I am not really sure of what the issue is that you are having backed on your description. I gather the lever is bent downward. It is likely from someone not tripping the lever to its closed position after removing the barrels. Then the gun was dropped on the lever or something of the sort. When a gun is cased or shipped, the lever should always be tripped to avoid damage.

Mr. Ray:
I would not attempt to bend that lever if you intend to take the rib issue to Kirk. These levers are hardened and can meet with trouble in the hands of a rookie. Kick can fix both. Professionally.

Yup, if the gun is going to a gunsmith, let them address the lever. However, I have never broken a lever by bending it gently.

Okay, then now a new question, how many of you would have the rib re-layed on a gun that is otherwise in very high condition?

If the rib is loose , it needs to be addressed regardless of the overall condition of the gun.

A rib can come loose for many reasons on guns. Condition has little to do with the matter. I have removed loose ribs that had very little evidence of much solder in the areas where it was loose. Some factory barrels were not put together as good as the majority of them. It is just the fact of the matter.

There is also some bore cleaners that will desolve lead. And some people feel the need to use those solvents on the outsides of the barrels instead of just the bores. Well, they can compromise the soft solder joints if allowed to sit in the cracks along the rib.

And as I stated before, if you have a rib stripped and re-laid, the barrels will have to be refinished. Someone good with the use of flux and solder can do the job with little cleanup needed. But excess solder needs to be sraped off and those areas polished back with abrasive papers, thus leaving white metal.

If I was in love with the gun I would fix it. At $1600 you made a great buy on a 90% DH. BUT … now you have damaged goods that I believe you would have trouble getting that amount for it as is. Fixed up you will probably be in to it for around $3000 after relaying, re coloring, shipping, insurance, etc. look around and see what a 30" DH 12 ga is bringing that are in similar condition to yours. You were dealt a tough hand on this one. Keep us posted on what you are going to do.

Yeah, my Daddy used to say "That's the way it goes, first the money.....then the clothes!!"

No bid deal... Will just return to Meriden, with a note that says "Repair rib on 12 g DH, and adjust top lever". I will pin a 10 dollar silver certificate to the letter.

Would that it were so simple... and cheap.

Have you contacted the seller regarding the lack of insurance that was paid for? I would ask for compensation regarding the cost of the repair. Either way at the end of the day you have money tied up in a gun that you can't use. If you can't or don't want to return it for a full refund then I would have the barrels fixed and use it the way Parker intended. To leave it unusable is like having a 69 Camaro Z28 that you can't drive because it has a bad tranny.

I trust this is not some cheesy reference to Bruce Jenner....

Oh Hell no!! Just whats the point in having something that's broken but fixable and NOT having it taken care of.

Kensal Rise that made me laugh out loud!!