[Bruce Day]

An attempt at Parker appreciation. Its for those who are interested in pristine Parkers and indicators of originality.

Here is a substantially unused, original condition GH 16ga. These are the case colors that are so difficult to duplicate and the blue-black nitre bluing.
Note the standing breech, which is a dead giveaway to use. Shell ring marks appear on the breech face after use and and they and primer pits will show through re-color case jobs. If an attempt is made to file out the rings and pits, then poor fit will result. This gun shows few marks on the breech face, demonstrating its little use.

Also, look at the barrel breech ends for the radial filing ( damascening) marks. All grades of Parkers that I am aware of were finished this way. These marks wear with extensive opening and closing of the gun. They can be refiled during restoration but it must be carefully done or else poor barrel/face fit will result. Even V's were done with radial filing; I don't know about Trojans.

The case colors show better on a lower grade gun; that is, one without lots of engraved surfaces. Engraving does not hold the case colors well. Correct Parker case colors are light, almost translucent, and enhance the engraving rather than hiding engraving.

The left barrel looks like its been fired a few times, the right barrel not at all.