PARKER RESTORATIONS
 

Parker guys--I have a question on restored parkers. As I have some Winchester 21's I am familiar with the feeling among 21 collectors and shooters that a properly restored 21 has very close, if not as much, value as an original gun. What say you about parkers? Does a properly restored parker command close to, or as much, value as an original gun??

Not with the "Parker Guys"!!!
Restored guns are looked down on and command 50% of comparable condition original guns.
Bob Jurewicz

As I am a shooter I really don't have problem with a "Properly" restored gun.I have a few originals, A couple partially restored (refinished wood and bluing) and one of my favorites lately is a cobbled up gun. But my guns are mostly junk....:rolleyes:

Now that's BS and you know it!

But I understand that Danny has some nice guns!

Depends what it is, if it one of only a few then it matters far less. A restored VH is not the same as a restored A1S and a restored 12ga isn't the same as a restored 410 or 28. I think there is a bit more to it than a simple equation.

Nevertheless, condition being equal, original vs. restored, the original will still command a much higher value.

If "restored" means to return to the condition it was when it left the factory, there are very few restorations and very few capable of doing them, and a true restoration is costly.

There are many refinished guns that were intended to be restorations.

Good points Bruce. I agree.

That sums it up.

I agree with Bruce. A restoration is a rare bird. Most refinished Parkers are just that, refinished, not restored.

In what ways does a restoration go beyond refinishing?

It has a new finish on it. Is it restored?

If the original stock is damaged beyond normal refinishing, restocking in identical original style and finish with original hardware. Reengraving all original metal to new condition. All finishes true to original method and appearance, including trigger guard, all screws, sights. Repairing all damage to metal surfaces and corners. All features true to factory provenance. Even with all these attentions to detail, top of the line workmanship is neccesary to keep the restoration up to high standards. With a Parker, the restoration of the case hardening color, even under the best of conditions, can come out somewhat different from the original style, spoiling an expensive restoration. It will still be a nice gun, but can be identified as different from an original finish by an experienced Parker student.

It has a new finish on it. Is it restored?

PS I'm not suggesting that there be any public criticism of either of these guns or even that they are subject to criticism. In my non expert opinion, both are well done refinishes, and I leave it to the viewer to conclude whether they are restorations to the level of original high condition Parkers.

Too often we see nicely refinished Parkers but a "budget" refinish becomes evident by the fact that little attention was paid to the mechanics of the gun. e.g. off face - wiggle on the hinge; top lever past 6 o'clock; forend not tight to frame & barrels, etc.

Dean has that one right. I paid top dollar for a 32" hammer gun that was described as "this gun shows little sign of having been used".... whew. Outside it was stunning. Gorgeous refinished twist bbls, very nice stock refinish-tru oil I think. When I pulled the locks and firing pins it was a corroded mess that had not been touched. The locks were unsafe with mangled sears and every screw was loose. I had to have the sears welded and redone by Al Edge. The firing pins/springs...at least the one I was able to get out since someone had peened the other in that had likely stripped...was a mass of rust. I can only assume the other pin is the same but I'd have to file the breech ball down to get the screw out or drill it out. I can't imagine someone taking a gun completely apart for such a nice cosmetic refinish and leaving that mess internally. What kind of a moron does that?? I was not happy and did not get a sympathetic or acceptable response from the seller. What I was told was, "Well, IF what you say is true....", this from someone half my age at best... I'm sure you can imagine what I was thinking at the time....

Much depends on who did the restoration and when. Some early restorations were done at the Parker factory in Meridan and later in Ilion. IMHO factory restoration would not detract from the value nearly as much as one done by an unknown restorer. Early restorations by DelGrego would be valued at close to original condition. IMHO

Best Regards, George

A sad fact, guns get worn out from use and abuse, both cosmetically and mechanically. Obviously a "collector" is looking for best original condition possible. The more so the more it's worth. What about guns that are "shooters", or good deals due to some wear, or family guns with some wear. Refinish or restoration is now the owners choice. It might be a full blown stem to stern restoration by DelGrego or Turnbull. Generally I don't have to go that far and I like to leave as much that is original as possible. Usually it's a spot repair such as rebluing or rebrowning the barrels, or freshening up the checkering, or it might be mechanical such as putting a gun back on face. Sometimes one might have to undue previous work or damage such as new screws or recase a blued reciever as some examples, or you might have a stock bent to better fit you. Another case is a gun with broken toe is better cut and recoil pad added. I think I have learned to see the difference between a collectable gun and a shooter, I lean towards shooters as I intend to use them and use them a lot. I don't look to recoup my money on repairs or refinishing, I do those things because part of the gun is simply worn out but I intend to keep and use the gun. The idea of restoration to increase value is rarely going to work. I don't spend my money with that intent. I also keep notes on what I have done, who did the work and when and what I paid. Most of my shooters have been functionally and cosmetically improved with the work I have had done. Maybe some day they will be worth as much or more than I put into them, in the meantime I am having a real good time making them go bang. Bottom line is some guns are old, worn and abused, the question is do you want to bring it back and why are you doing it. No matter what is done or who did the work, don't expect a Parker shotgun that has been repaired, refinished or restored to be worth as much as anything that is 100% original.

Does anyone know what a new Parker looks like? I think not. We may know what an untouched, "new" gun looks like after being stored for 70-100 years, but does anyone really know what it looked like when it came out of the factory? Perhaps the colors have faded a bit, or the wood finish is less shiny, etc.

Here is one that has been kept of the sun , not used and handled infrequently since 1928. Another Nebraska gun.

Probably about as new as you will find.

( not mine)

Many years ago a fellow walked into a gun show where I was set up. He carried a cardboard box marked Parker Bros. Meridan, Connecticut. Inside was a 16 gauge VH Grade wrapped in brown paper. He told me that his father had bought the gun before WWII for home protection and to his knowledge it had never been fired. From all indications what he said was true. I bought it for, I believe $150. I wish I still had it! The case colors and barrel bluing were perfect. It even still had the hang tag.

Best Regards, George

I think some of us have a pretty good idea...

There are those, George. Quite a few years back, I visited with Ed and Nancy Muderlak at their farm outside Durand Ill. Ed showed me a late Rem Parker Trojan still in the box, still in the wrapping paper, never been put together. That gun was sold to Mark Vollinger who sold it a year later at the Julia auction.

There are those guns out there that are still new in the box, a good friend has several.

I admire the "perfect" guns that we are permitted to see on our website--knowing that my redone Parker (which I thoroughly enjoy)will ensure that I will always finish out of first place in any "my gun is better than your gun" contest. So what? I bought it for me.

Bruce just posted the best statement on this subject I've ever read!

Dave

I agree..An excellent statement. But I will impose a question here. In the truest sense of the word.Is it possible by anyone to restore a Parker to "Brand New Condition"? I may be wrong here but I think no. If for not for any other reason. I don't believe anyone has perfectly captured Parker Bros. case colors.

Me too. My old grab and go is never going to win any prizes, but it was grandfather's and I've refinished the stock, recheckered the forend, reblued the barrels, reblued the trigger guard, replaced all the action springs, recut the sears, rebrazed the forend lug. Its not restored by a long shot, but its the one that is always with me.

Here's one that will never be restored as long as I own it... I enjoy using it too much to make it a safe queen.



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That does it Dean. You guys back east get all the fancy guns and we have to work hard out here to find a few good ones.

Nothin' fancy about that one. It's just my shooter 16 ga. 0-frame.