CH Bernard on hold
 

I have this CH on hold but value this forum's opinions. I am concerned a little about the originality of the buttstock, appears "proud" against the metal to me, the checkered side panels, and screws are buggered and was disassembled at one time. I again solicit your collective opinions and thanks in advance.
http://www.gunsinternational.com/gun...n_id=100782413

Looks like the original butt stock, but what is protruding from the top of the checkering within the skeleton butt plate?
Very nice checkering all over, even if it is redone.
The case colors appear to be cyanide so that may suggest a complete re-do. Nice gun though... I would buy it!





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I do not recall seeing a CH grade with checkered side panels as standard feature. Picture number one shows a chip in the stock that has been repaired on the left side where it meets the frame at the bottom. Maybe Im wrong about the checkered side panels but can't find a reference to them on a CH.

SN 136,503. 12 /30 CHE Bernard

Thanks Bruce, I knew that someone would be able to produce one. Was this considered a rare special request to have checkered side panels?

Usually but not always.

Special requests are never rare in C's but as Quality C guns were special order anyway, the unusual was usual. There are many C's with checkered panels.

But those checkered stock panels do not look like usual Parker side panels to me because of the rounded end. The price is a bargain.

Checkered cheeks was not standard on a grade 4.





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This is a nice gun.I agree with Dean that it has been recolored.The letter might shed some light on whether it came back to Parker for work.The colors look like early DelGreco to me. Either way,it is a rare gun at a reasonable price.The Parker Story only lists 383 Bernard 12ga CHEs built.

I would be very surprised if more than 20% of those had ejectors.

The cyanide colors could have been done by Remington - check for Remington repair codes on the barrel flat for the left barrel.

If it was re-checkered I'll bet a dollar it wasn't done by Del Grego.





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Del Greco's brother El:

Looks like a piece of leather or something in the center of the SSBP in picture #7. The case colors would probably look great with some wear.

You are aware of the left lower head of the stock repair?

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../413025093.jpg

Forrest,

The frame has been recolored at some time.
The buttstock is original, but the checkering is not.
What is on the butt is just a leather pad of some sort.

Thanks so much everyone. The letter doesn't mention anything other than standard specs, nothing about it being returned for repairs, etc. I'm gonna look more closely at it tomorrow, have only seen the pictures thus far. Wonder if the barrels have been recolored too?

I have seen D grades with factory checkered panels yhay letter that way.

What is important is to know what factory checkered panels look like and to know how to spot ones that are not correct.

As you can see, there is a big difference between the gun in question and the example that bruce provided.

Yeah,I recognize him.I think I bought the Czar's first cousin's A1 from him years ago.

Regardless the naysayers, staters of the obvious, and reiterators, I think it is a handsome gun, a good value, and, as Dean says, I'd buy it too. Congratulations.

I inquired the seller about this one. Here's a picture the butt he sent me. The Parker story say's that C grades could have checkered cheek panels.

That picture helps to explain the checkered cheek panels. Nicely done.





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I don't understand....how does the picture of the butt help to explain the checkered cheek panels?...

I think someone misinterpreted The Parker Story. Browse through the C Grade chapter of "The Grades" section in Volume 1.

I think I'll just refrain from offering my opinion. This very nice CHE thread doesn't need varying opinions... it's just a darn nice gun that I would buy, given the opportunity.




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And yet that was what Forrest was asking for in his OP - forum opinions. Sounds like a "want" rather than a "need" in interpreting his evaluation of the gun.

At the price you got it for I think it is a great buy. Even if it isn't 100% original I sure would like to own it. Enjoy it Forrest.

Nice gun. I like it. By the way, I have Kevin M. to thank for my $400 cased CH Bernard two barrel set. I have Kevin's brother, Tom, to thank for finding my $700 Acme barrel CH. I don't seem to be able to find any of these things by myself. It's great to have friends.

Nice gun if you can live with it's issues, as pointed out by the other posters, go for it, if you will have difficulty living with it's warts walk away.

Forrest did not ask about the gun being a good buy or what we thought about the price. He asked about the originality of it.
So why are some getting grumpy about people answering his question?

side panels
 

Checkered cheeks between the two S/N's mentioned.

Didn't load the picture, too big for the insert.

Checkered Cheeks
 

Another try on the cheeks. 121,xxx S/N range

My bad! It isn't the Parker Story that states C's can have checked side panels, it's the grade information area on this site that has the reference.

I included the picture of the butt because someone mentioned it looked like there was a piece of leather on the butt. I thought the same thing and asked for the picture.

I hope Forrest enjoys the gun !! I almost sprung for it myself.

Did you go look at the old girl Forrest?

Calvin, I'll see her tomorrow morning.
Buttplate is impregnated with Acraglas or some kind of epoxy.

Sounds like fun!

I don't understand Mike Moffa's comment about "checkered cheeks between serial number". What serial numbers? I think checkered cheeks were special order or aftermarker on C grades. I don't know that serial numbers had anything to do with it. The last picture of checkered cheeks does not look like factory work.

The most important feature of factory checkered cheeks is that the panel should be recessed with a beveled edge. The panel is actually carved out. Then checkered.

There are other more minor things to look for, but If the panel does not look like this, it is likely not factory.

Brian, there is a lot of variation in original Parker checkered cheeks, and not all are as extreme, with repsect to the beveled edge, as the C which Bruce has shown.

This is an untouched BHE, in the 189K sn range, and as you can see there is only a minor bevel to the leading, vertical edge. The panels are sunk below the outer edge, but not as significantly as that which Bruce has shown.
I am not remotely convinced that Forrest's CH is not original, and I don't think there is enough photographic evidence to suggest conclusively otherwise.

This CH as for sale earlier this year.

http://www.foxriversporting.com/prod...s-1896-antique

Same gun, right Will?





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The photos shown on the Fox River listing show the cheeks in much greater detail, and they don't appear to be original, though they are still nice.