Reproduction Restoration
 

Just completed this Parker Reproduction restoration. The gun had been left in its hard case. The engraving had to chased in numerous spots. The left side of the receiver was in terrible shape and had to be recut using pictures because we couldn't get a good ink pull with all the pitting.

We used our laser engraver to cut the fine repro style markings on the left side of the barrel. Skeleton plate, trigger guard and barrels were blued in house. The owner wanted repro style colors so the receiver was molten salt colored by the famous Doug at Bowler Hat Classics. Hope you enjoy some before and after pictures.


https://i.postimg.cc/VNvG3KHs/repro-before-1-5.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/pdSGxKgs/repro-before-2.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/VNhG1X3W/repro-before-3.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/0N4Wx7L7/repro-before-3-5.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/25tcmnPt/repro-before-4.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/JnBThGL6/repro-before-5.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/ZRyfqCSM/repro-before-6.jpg


https://i.postimg.cc/PqJ3BSF5/repro-after-engraving.jpg
Engraving touched up, ready for coloring

https://i.postimg.cc/Qd0Y42mS/laser-engraved-bbl.jpg
Barrel after laser engraving

https://i.postimg.cc/Hx7SLVgK/repro-left.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/fL0HbJsL/repro-right.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/T3CN7z07/repro-after-1.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/8ztXK24X/repro-after-2.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/dV4NHb64/repro-after-3.jpg


https://i.postimg.cc/XYQ1HRx7/repro-after-5.jpg

Channing,
looks great, care to explain the difference between the molten salt vs. charcoal case coloring. Is it done at the same high temperatures, just different medium?

I am pretty sure many Repro owners keep their guns in the case. Do you have any idea why there was so much corrosion? Moisture in the case or on the gun when it was put up? Temperature changes causing moisture formation? Sorry it happened and the gun looks good now.

The new coloring process Doug has developed is very durable. Sounds like it’s much safer than the old cyanide salt method as well. I am not sure what temperatures it runs, but he said it’s safe to use on modern steels. We would never run an original Parker this way but if you’re looking to color a Parker reproduction or a modern firearm it’s a great choice.

Great work!

I can't say exactly what the cause was in this Repro case, but a few years ago we did a batch of partial restorations for one of the larger SxS dealers in the midwest. They had a client who stored about 100 firearms in Jeff's outfitters cases. While pulling a gun out for pictures he noticed some rust on it. When he started opening the other cases there was rust on most all of them, some very minor and others worse than this reproduction we just did.

It was bizarre in that the rust didn't form on contact points like this reproduction did. It was mostly on unfinished steel parts like rim cuts, extractors, triggers, and non-hardened parts like trigger guards and barrels. The only thing they could figure was the cases were off-gassing from the adhesive or possibly the felt inside the cases and that reaction was enough to attack the soft/bare steel.

I keep my Repros in closed cases, but the room is continuously dehumidified and no rust has been experienced in thirty plus years.

I bought some of those cases from maybe who you are talking about and had a Damacus Ithaca in one closed for about 2 weeks when I opened it up one day I about sh......t my pants never again and the case still had Jeffs paperwork in it. I think the case was the problem no other gun has ever rusted in that room