Non Factory Case Colors on Repro
 

Gents !

Does one devalue a Repro by having bone and charcoal case colors refitted to the Repro ?

Even Turnbulls.

Thx

Great question! I have a 20 GA with Turnbull Colors. It is in almost new condition in every way so it was not an effort to restore a worn gun. Makes gun look much better and more original. Next step will be to have Brian Dudley add the proper borders.
I do not believe these modifications will either add or take away from the value of the gun.
Bob Jurewicz

If two otherwise identical guns were offered up for sale, the one with real case hardening would sell first. As Bob said, above, having the borders mullered, and I would add, the synthetic finish replaced with a nice oil finish, The gun will be far more attractive to me.

If you compare 2 guns both new.One with original colors and one with good aftermarket colors, there is little difference in price. The difference in price will show up after the guns are used and handled. The original repro colors will come off faster than bone charcoal colors causing the gun to look more worn. After use,the aftermarket gun will hold its value much better than the original.

Except for a few that may care, I would say that it does not really matter. If anything it may help the gun for those who care about the colors looking better and more "legit".

The colors on the Repros that i have are getting pretty thin. Im considering have them re-colored bone charcoal. Any recommendations on who would be best to undertake this work?

It is my opinion based on fact that having the checkering borders redone with Parker (Meriden) mullered would not be in keeping with what the gun was originally intended to reproduce - but then neither were the Kodensha borders a good reproduction of the Remington Ilion examples Tom Skeuse had sent to be copied. The Remington Parkers made in Ilion did not have mullered borders as did the Meriden guns.

See examples of original Ilion checkering borders below.


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Here are some Turnbull Colors.
Bob Jurewicz

I agree with all posters who say that real bone charcoal colors add to the value of a high condition Repro. I also agree that properly done mullered borders are a nice touch even though they are not proper of an Ilion Parker. The only negative factor is that the owner of this upgraded Repro will have a bit more money invested, probably happily invested.

I recently acquired a beautifully refinished VH 28 that I’ve decided to have the cyanide case colors removed and replaced with bone and charcoal. I personally find the bone and charcoal colors more appealing and my hope is it will look closer to original.

Dan, who did your case colors?

Bill, I believe that DelGrego did the refinish.

Ive been under the impression that DelGrego only does cyanide colors

I believe you are correct. That’s why I’m having them redone.

Actually these days he sends them out for bone charcoal colors.





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For my money, no one did them better than Batchelder. Has anyone had any case hardening experience from his shop since he passed?

I guess I was asking who did the re-recoloring. I didn't realize you had not had them re redone yet. Thanks.

Yes, to turnbull. For close to 10 years now.

A local friend of mine has a fellow in Kentucky that does some case coloring for him. He did the gun I had the mishap with and I've seen a few others he's done. Attachment 109262

Attachment 109263

Attachment 109264

Steiner,
Sorry to say, I would not be happy with those colors.
Bob Jurewicz

Ill have Turnbull recase the colors on my Repros.

This question still needs a response.

-Victor

Victor,
Don't even think about Bachelder. They have had a 20 gauge repro of mine for 4 years for case coloring and I can't get them to send me my gun back. I call and demand they ship it back every couple weeks and they say I will have it in two weeks and no gun. My advice would be to avoid them like the plague.

Contact the atf and report the gun stollen. That should light a fire under their butts to get your gun back or at least come clean as to what happened to it.

Victor, Brad Bachelder was a master craftsman. He colored one of my guns and the colors came out very well. Brad did other work for me over the years and his work was always excellent.
Ive not used Bachelders since Brads unfortunate passing. His son now runs the shop. The cyinide colors on one of my Repro 20's is pretty thin. Ill either have Turnbull do the case colors or see if Dan Cullity can do them. Dan is local here in Barnsteable

Allen, I thought Dan was in East Sandwich. He was when I visited him a few years ago.





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Filing a false police report? Brilliant. Maybe you should stay in your lane. Seriously, what a stupid suggestion.

4 years of keeping someones gun with multiple failed promises to deliver and no excuse as to why? How does Matt not know that the gun is not lost?

What else may you suggest? Asking nicely, multiple times? It sounds like that has happened. Maybe a long drive and showing up in person demanding it be returned is the only other option. Or wait 4 more years.?

Last year I had guy I had never talked to before call me crying the blues to me because he had his gun there for over 5 years for what was supposed to be a barrel refinish and a stock refinish. I was at a loss for why he was calling me and telling me his woes. He was asking me for advice I guess, I told him to call and demand his gun back in whatever state it was in. Write off the time lost and get it back in hand.

I had a gun at their shop for a second set of barrels to be fitted, when Brad died. It took me over a year to get it back after dozens (No exaggeration) of broken promises, and outright lies. Mother and son couldn't even agree on the BS. It came back with a nice reblued finish and daylight showing through the breech face. I'd use Rustoleum before I use them again.

The fake colors of a Reproduction are not 'Case' colors, or the result of any heat treat process. It is a dye applied to (barely) simulate case colors.

I have never had a problem with Brad, Parker or Lori responding to phone calls or e-mail. Regardless, you hold yourself out as an expert on all things Parker and for you to suggest someone file a false police report is incredibly irresponsible.

So what would you suggest Jay after 4 years of broken promises ? ?

Maybe you could offer to help Matt since you have no problems with them...

That’s a bit harsh.

If a person legally takes possession of my Parker (I sent it to them for repair), but then refuses to return my Parker, even after several years of demands (in writing), I would say such person committed “theft by conversion.” You Michiganders might use the old school “larceny by conversion.” Whatever you call it, it’s a theft and it’s appropriate to report such a theft to the ATF.

-Victor

Since Jay in in MI maybe he can can check things out for Matt. ?

Matt;

Unless I missed it, I don’t see where you have made a demand for the return of your gun, in writing. If not I suggest that you do so, including the date they received the gun, the serial number, the work to be done and document as best you can the number of times you called and who you have spoken to. Ask the gun be returned to you, at their expense, within 30-days of receipt of the letter, and tell them if the run has not been received within 30-days you will contact the Grand Rapids Police Department. Express your disappointment and your frustration, but be professional, keeping it short and confined to the facts. Send the letter registered mail, return receipt requested.

I suggest you send the letter to Lori Bachelder’s attention (but confirm first that she is still working there). If she is not, send it to Parker Bachelder. Keep a photo copy of the letter.

That’s my advice.

JDG

I think Matt needs to make a formal demand, in writing, to the owner(s), Parker and/or Lori Bachelder. In terms of reporting it, larceny/conversion is a state offense, not a federal offense. The GR PD will investigate, and if the facts justify a possible criminal charge, they will refer the matter to the Kent Co Prosecutor, and request a warrant be issued.

I hope that upon receipt of the letter Lori or Parker will respond promptly and return the firearm.

JDG

Send them a Registered Letter where their signature is required upon receipt of it. Keep your copy of the letter and keep the US Postal Service copy of that receipt when you receive it.
Demand the return of your gun within 30 days. This will begin your record-keeping process. Up to this point it has been nothing more than “he said - she said” and will not hold up in any court.
From that point on, any communication with them should be done by mail. Do not accept any telephone calls from them. Emails are ok because they can be printed or stored in a folder on your PC but NO phone calls because that goes back to “he said - she said”.




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I would say that Jay has just given Matt some great advice.

-Victor

And further to Jay’s great advice, whether or not you report to the ATF (in addition to local PD) depends on whether you have a federal firearms license, such as a C&R. If you have an FFL, you must report a theft. If you do not have an FFL, reporting to the ATF is not even an option.

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/report-...-theft-or-loss

-Victor

The paragraph referring to the reporting of theft from non FFL holders goes off on a tangent and starts talking about assigning serial numbers. It was obviously written by a semi literate ATF employee who does not address the original question.

I’m disheartened by the number and severity of the “rough edges” included in this thread. I humbly and respectfully ask that we just help this fellow get his gun back.