Original Barrel Color?
 

Hello,

I recently read a small article regarding a restoration of a Parker Hammer Gun, including the barrels, which were laminated steel. I believe they said the original barrel treatment black and white, which looked very good. I was under the impression however, that the originally the barrels were browned.

I have an 12 gauge Hammer gun with browned barrels, laminated steel. although they have been re-browned, I have seen many that appear to have their original color, and they too have at least some browning on them.

Any thoughts on this?

Kind regards,

John Feldes

Hello John,

Take a look at my albums, specifically my 16 ga, 0-frame Lam 1 hammergun no. 74625.
This gun is believed to be unfired and has 99+% of its original finish. The barrels are what is described as "plum" in color, which certainly isn't black & white but closer to browned.

I don't know but a friend told me they will kind of turn brown after time in the right condition. Mine under the forend look black and white. NOT to say Dean's arn't plum. Just my 2 cent's. best ch

This is a nice example, courtesy of Carl Brandt, of Twist barrels that have turned 'plum' but with the original 'black & white' apparent underneath the FE

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../306366701.jpg

Parker D3

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../395729637.jpg

More examples of now more than 100 year old colors are here
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17227428
and http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/19025099

The black FeO will oxidize over time to the plum toned FeO2.

Thanks for the input. Much appreciated!

Beautiful hammer gun Dean...

Best regards

No forend 'scar' on the barrels of this one.



.

that gun aint been used to much if any...nice gun dean... charlie

I was looking at a few of the other threads. Admiring the Laminated Steel barrels. As I mentioned earlier, the barrels on my 12 have been re-browned and have a solid plum brown "wet" look to them. Would much rather have the original. Is this something best achieved through a professional restorer or can a regular guy like me return the barrels back to their original beauty?

John, please post some pictures of your gun.

They can be redone for around 300$ Like Dean says pictures please.

Dean: Thanks for the pictures of your gun and barrels. The color is nearly the same as on my 16 gage and I can use the rest of the pix to restore the checkering on the butt and finish quality. Thanks again ever so much!! Lee.:)

Lee, keep in mind that the checkering on the lower grades of 0 and 1 had flat top checkering... not perfect pyramids like grades 2 and higher..

Dean: Thanks and I understand the flat top which is what I will do plus the mullering. Probably at 60 degrees on the checkering. The forend has enough left to pick up and recut. The butt is a different story. I am 74 years stupid and have been building stocks since I was 14 and want to do this as close to original as possible, but I will not pass it off as original. I had to rebuild the stock that came with it far enough to use for a pattern. I don't know if the stock that came with it was original to this gun, but I'm certain it was an original Parker stock. It has the checkered grip cap and dogs head plate that is comensurate with a lifter and the serial number is not under the trigger guard. However, there is a piece of tape under the buttplate with initials and an '93 date so who knows! I am planning to do an article for the "Parker Pages" on this gun when finished as it was a unique repair job that existed when I bought it. I just hope to do it justice before I pass in on to another Parker collector. I'm thinking of getting some Briley 28 gage sleeves when I get it finished so I can shoot it LOT'S. Thanks for the correspondence, Lee.:bigbye:

Have you priced 28 Ga. shells lately? You could buy a ton of RST's for the cost of the 28 gauge adapters and 28 gauge shells.

I figure on doing both!!! Lee.:)

Hi Dean, ch,
If you go to my post "Parker Hammer Gun # 32762 Shell size" on 01/17/2011, I have some pictures there. I'll try to get some updated images soon. Thanks for the interest.

It's a great old gun, with tight lock up. The wood is in great condition, although I think it's been refinished. A little dark around the receiver, which raises some minor concern for shooting strength. The checkering is very sharp. Some pitting in the barrels, but still very shootable. I've been shooting RST shells to keep the pressure down and the cleaning a little easier, but I do sneak in a BP shell every once in a while for fun.

Sorry I don't have any pictures to load today. Let me know what you think. I really enjoy having her around.

Kindest regards

John, I remember your post and just looked at it again. That's a nice gun and looks like it is in great condition. They really are fun to shoot.
I have two ther 16 ga. 0-frame Grade 1 hammerguns - one has barrels 26" and the other has barrels 28". I love to hunt grouse and woodcock with the 28" gun and it's so easy to carry.

Thanks Dean. I would love to see your guns. Sounds like you have a nice collection. I haven't taken my to field yet, but hope to do so one day soon. The long barrels add some weight to it, but it's no problem. Biggest barrier for me is skill. Working on honing this. Have really only shot rifle before I fell in love with this Parker. Difficult to get the hang of it. But, I plan to solve this problem this year at the local range.

Thanks again

Keep at it John - Practice makes.... well, it helps us to work on our shooting faults ;)

Dean and John : Here are some pix of my 16 gage hammer gun barrels. There are no "weep" holes to drain a boiling water stop on a recolor job. The markings on the barrel flats are sharp, clear, and slightly raised as are those on the Parker, Meriden, twist, roll stamping. The barrels are 30" with the usual 1/8" gap at the end and ring like a church bell. The bores are unfortunately rough but are original size and wall thickness of .036/.038 and choked full and full. There are a couple dents near the muzzles that look like a punch mark not an indentation that could be raised by a dent remover. What do you think guys, original maybe or a great refinish of old sometime? Happy hammer gunning! Lee.

Barrel Color
 

These barrels are off a 16 gauge hammer gun, they are black and white, just thought you all would like to see the contrast. some photo's better than others Gary

Too tough to tell without having the gun in hand... and even then it is sometimes impossible to know for sure.

I've been away for a while. Thanks to everyone who responded to my post.

I'm in Oregon. Any suggestions on a good barrel refinisher?

I believe Keith Kearcher is right there in Oregon. Ask him to see some of his work.

Keith is in Bend, OR. I have not had him refinish anything but he did work on two guns I own and he did a great job. I highly recommend his work. He also had the guns back to me in record time.

Doug Ranes in Banks, Oregon has also been recomended, and does nice 'Black & White'.
503-357-6302
I believe Keith only does 'Browning', but could be mistaken.

Dean, that 16-gauge 0-frame hammer gun of your caused me to drool all over my keyboard. That is one very fine looking gun.