New Member From New Hampshire, HELP!
 

What did I get myself into...

Anyway, name is Derek Iske and was at Cabela's in Scarborough Maine this past weekend and I picked up this 12 gauge. Ever since I picked up an old Savage B-SE SxS I have fallen love with the side by sides. Browsing through the isles at the gun stores of old american made SXS with Damascus steel barrels, I knew I had to get one. Another inspiration was after watching Larry Potterfield's restoration of an antique Parker Bros. shotgun. I have always enjoyed a project. So here I am with an older gun. I have done some research on this shotgun. So far I have concluded that is was made in 1896, Grade GH #2. The barrel lock up is tight I would think. Removing the forward grip off the shotgun and shaking the gun by holding it by the barrels reveals no clinking. Ringing the barrels reveals no odd vibrations, only a monotonic ring

Few questions:

1.) Is it safe to shoot smokeless powder shot shells through this SXS? No intention of heavy loads, only shot sizes of #6-8.

2.) How bad does the rust look on the barrel? No deep pits, sandblasting it and sanding will smooth it out I am sure.

3.) Tell me something I haven't figured out!

Obviously I jumped on this purchase, but I am looking at a beautiful shotgun. Be truthful, give it to me straight, what did I get myself into! A little nervous now.

Needs some work, going to take me a long time. Going to do a lot of research, I will be posting a more because I will need some help to complete this for sure.

more photos

You will need to check the wall thickness to determine if it is safe to shoot. It looks rusty, but these old Parkers can often times (but not all the time) take a lot of pitting and still be safe. Yours is a No. 2 frame, so that is good

Looks like it was made in 1896. If the barrel walls check out, RST shells are the ticket

There are a good number of NH guys in the PGCA who are all pretty savvy on Parker guns. Where in NH are you?
There will be a New Year's Day shoot at Major Waldron's in Barrington.... whatever the weather. Bring your Parker and get ready to see some real Parker eye candy.





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Dean, Thank you for the update! Is there a particular time that this thing kicks off at? I live in Nashua. Barrington is less than an hour away.

I will bring new Parker and see if anyone has information to offer!

Thank you!

I'm sure several of us can give you information and advice.

See you there.





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People usually start rolling into the parking lot around 8:30 - 9:00. There will be coffee, donuts, snacks people will bring in the club house. In the club house before the shoot, this is where we catch up with friends we haven't seen in a while, share a few hunting stories, and handle (drool) some real nice Parker shotguns people unveil removing them from the gun case.

I suggest you go so you we can take a look at your Parker. Assuming the barrels are okay to shoot, I have no reservations using Winchester White box light loads, 1 oz of shot and 2 3/4 dram. They sell them at Kittery. Bring enough shells for 5 rounds to shoot trap, skeet, and Annie Oakley back up.

Check in the main forum "Shows, Events and Conventions" and look for New Years Day Shoot to get updates on times, etc.


Frank

Derek, you may want to hold off on sandblasting any of the metal, at least until you meet up with some of the guys and they can give you some advice. For the metal, Frontier 45 pads and hoppes #9, or your favorite gun oil, can clean off a lot of that surface rust without damaging any metal or remaining finishes. Some of the Frontier pad wrapped around a bore brush can clean up the bores and chambers too. As Mills said if the barrel wall thickness is good you may end up with a nice shooter there. Best of luck.

Thanks for the responses Gentlemen!

Frank and Dean, I will see you there!

I would never really recommend any sand/bead blasting on barrels or any gun parts for that matter. All you will do is be removing the loose/red rust. it will do nothing for the pitting that is present. If restoring the surface properly is what you are going for, hand filing/polishing is the only way to remove the pitting that is there from the rust.

Based on your couple photos, the gun has some good things going for it. And it looks like it needs some work too. Mostly related to the barrel finish.