Wall-hanger or shooter?
 

A while back I bought an 1874-made Parker Lifter but had it shipped to Turnbull for inspection and a resto-quote. They said it had too deep of pits in the chamber to be safe, and that it was only a wall-hanger.

Aren't those old stub twist bbls thicker than most? If not safe, I have a near complete parts gun that is mechanically excellent.

Opinions please?

If they told you it was unsafe, then it is unsafe.

I don’t know what else I, or anyone else on the internet (without inspecting the gun), can tell you.

If you doubt the professionals opinion, then there is nothing left to do than take it out and shoot it and find out.

I will second guess a lot of people but not Turnbull on a Parker.

as they say, don't ask the question if you don't want an answer

there are guns relegated to the wall for good reason, and you got the reason from someone who knows what he is talking about. So, keep your fingers and hang it up, or try and find new barrels to be fitted to it - but unless this one has some special value- that is likely a loosing proposition

Deep pits in the chamber is a lot different than pits half way down the bore.

Wall hanger or shooter??? Let's review what we know so far. After examining your firearm, an expert; with education, training and experience that far exceeds your own, has offered an opinion that your firearm is not safe to shoot. What else needs said???

Thank you all; as I said, I just wanted some opinions.


Enjoy your holiday weekend.

There’s nothing wrong with getting a second opinion. Send the barrels to Kirk Merrington in Texas. Many consider him the top barrel man in the country.

Absolutely! Worst case scenario, you have the BBLs lined, and step it down to a smaller gauge.

I should have mentioned that there is only one deep pit that I can see in the chamber. Over all, the bbl is shiny and not pitted much. However, I suppose it only takes one deep pit to cause trouble.

Is it possible to spot-weld a single area?

Thanks again.