GH Is this a candidate for restoration
 

I purchased this 1911 GH Damascus a couple years ago. Is this a candidate for restoration. All serial numbers match. The top lever spring is broke. There is a crack in the stock but does not go very deep.

Dick L.

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...popreciver.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...Damamascas.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...912Reciver.jpg

Brazed area on end of barrels
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...N0009_1652.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...N0004_1629.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...N0007_1632.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...N0006_1649.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...N0002_1645.jpg

Crack in stock
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z.../gripcrack.jpg

Dick, the cost of restoring that gun will be more than the gun will be worth when it is finished.

I don't mean to sound harsh but that's the reality of it.

Thanks Dean. Wonder if it could be made a safe shooter.

There are a lot of decent GH 12ga damascus guns available for under $2000 that just need cosmetics in the stock and barrels finish. Start with a good platform, it will be far less expensive in the long run.

Thanks Bruce. I have spare parts for my future GH. LOL

but its got turnips:rotf:

Calvin, those are some of the most rotund "turnips" I've seen. I think they're delightful! Thanks for pointing that out.

Sorry I am lost on this, guess it was a inside joke.:)

Richard, it's not an inside joke at all. The ducks engraved on the earlier hammer guns as well as the hammerless have been referred to as "flying turnips" because of their shape. I think it was Ed Muderlak who first coined the expression in his first book "Parker Guns, The Old Reliable" and it stuck. Yours are some of the finest flying turnips I have seen with the exception of some done on early Meriden Fire Arms guns. They were probably engraved by the same contractor as both Parker Bros. and Meriden Fire Arms were made in the same city.

Rotund is a good description of them as well as me!

Well looks like i'm going to have to look up rotund so I no the exact meaning now. 2 c if I fit into the mix. ch

Richard, what gauge and barrel length is that gun.

Bill It is a 12 GA. with 29 1/2" barrels as measured off the receiver.

Dick

Aside from the stock problems the fault that send shivers down the collective spine is that the barrels have been cut. Do not despair. With out doing anything more than determining if the gun is safe to shoot low pressure shells you should pattern the gun to see if you want to use the gun and for what purpose. That gun's metal does not look like it needs restoration. David

Dave the receiver is stripped of it's parts and did you look at muzzle of the barrels no keels and the rib looks lose. You would have to put way too much money in to it...... call this one the "Moneypit":shock:

I have all the parts and the top lever spring is coming. The barrel and crack in the stock were my main concerns.

Dick

Richard, I bought a top lever spring for a Parker and had a gun smith install it. He did so and it broke on the tenth time he operated it. He then made a spring from scratch which has worked fine. He said that most of what can be purchased in the way of leaf springs is junk. David

Richard if you have the parts for the receiver that's great, I am still worried about those barrels, have a smith check them to make sure the ribs are fully attached I think they may be lose from the looks of the muzzle end. If the ribs have to be relaid then you are talking serious money.

Eric I am about to the point that this will be my spare parts gun. Sure is a shame that the barrels are so pretty but abused like they were!

Did I not read an article in praise of cut barrels? Can't remember where it was but probably in Parker Pages. David

Bottom line, don't give up on the gun until you have explored its condition and if ok, pattern the old thing. You might be surprised. There could be a dance in the old dame, yet! David

I will give it some more love and see. Thanks to all who replied!

There is a guy in Indiana who did some resoldering of a rib on a LC for me. He is very reasonable ( around $100) name- mike richey 317-373-0599.

Thanks Tom!

"In praise of Cut Barrels"
 

Ed Muderlak wrote the above article for the Autumn 2008 (Volume 15, Issue 3) Parker Pages, in which he discusses cut Parker barrels. The short sum up of the article is that one must pattern and shoot a gun to know anything about its performance. Modern ammunition can perform very well in a gun with no chokes. Let me know if you need me to send you a copy of the article.
David

A strong word of caution here David. Most all of Mr. Muderlak's works in Parker Pages as well as elsewhere are copyrighted - be careful.

Dean, Thanks for the heads-up. It was my intention however to cut the article out of the magazine and send it by snail mail if it was asked for. David

David, I sent you a message.

Dick