How to clean 1903 VH12
 

http://https://www.icloud.com/photos...#A2G4TcsmN9xP2Would appreciate advice for cleaning this gun to shoot and enjoy?
Thanks


https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A2G4TcsmN9xP2
https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A2G4TcsmN9xP2

paul if the barrel wall thickness is ok looks like all you need is some good gun oil and rags and some elbow grease...several of my shooting guns looked close to this when bought and are still shot almost every day during hunting season and they shoot a lot of pop cans out of season... charlie

Thanks Charlie ,
What's best for the grime on the stock? I ordered replacement butt plate. I like the look of the polished wear on the black grip and butt plate. Also I'd like to seal the stock chip that was renailed to place years ago .
Thanks

Paul, try some rubbing alcahol,tooth brushes and rags on the stock. A 55 gallon drum of elbow grease isn't a bad idea either. A lot of scrubing and you will have a much improved stock. Just staw away from any sandpaper or steel wool on the wood.

https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A2G6XBubJt2UM8 Here are pics after using Minwax Refinisher (promoted as cleaner and won't remove finish and patina). Then I used Watco Danish Oil. These pics are before oil dried. I think I will apply more coats of oil then Minwax Paste Wax. The Minwax Refinisher quickly dissolved the years of gunk and grime, applied with clean rag. I wanted to see more wood grain but leave some dark areas. Much like a guitar sunburst finish to my eye.https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A2G6XBubJt2UM8

see above

https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A25nhQSTGdAXX5"]https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A25nhQSTGdAXX5

Nicely done Paul. It matches your shoes very nicely.:whistle:
No realy, it looks good enough to shoot.

My last coats after the Danish Oil were Minwax WipeOn Poly Satin. I'm gonna let dry than wax with Renaissance polish.

Interesting that the forearm piece does not take the semigloss so far like the stock has. I did sand the forearm today with 400 grit sandpaper and wiped with mineral spirits before applying poly. The poly wipes on nice but then dries dull?
I did recondition the stock today with Minwax Refinisher( because old finish had not completely dissolved), then applied Danish oil, then Minwax Poly.

This gun seems to have had mid barrel site that is missing. Anyone know about these?

https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#...A-E7EFD67F440D

Finished with Tru-oil and polished satin finish.

Paul it looks like your gun might have had ivory beads on it at one time . The front one appears to be cracking and the mid one gone. They are easy replacements. I don't know how bad the crack is coming off the receiver but you should watch it.i had a similar crack on an old Philly fox and there was a chunk of wood on the ground after the fourth shot. You might want to look at the RST website for lite loads, I use them in all of my older guns. Best of luck with your Parker and the great memories you will share with it

Clean up recomendations
http://www.lcsmith.org/faq/cleangun2.html