[TARNATION !!!]

Yes there is always a new disaster to be found. Of all the things I have learned in life, this one invariably stands me in good stead - If something is getting difficult, you are doing it wrong The design engineers usually made things as simple as possible. I think Parkers are very well designed and easy to work on. I am no gunsmith, just a guy with screwdrivers (hollow ground of course), a couple punch pins, a variety of wood dowels, a light amber/rubber hammer, a pair of vise grips (just for the top lever spring and only after lifting it gently with a small screwdriver blade in the very convenient location the engineers made for me to do that). Open to better methods any time but I don't have any qualms over cleaning the innards. There is no such thing as "patina" inside the frame. Cheers, Jack

PS: Tomorrow is the opener for pheasants. I'm ready and will take three new to me guns to try out. The VH 12 and Darne 20 get to digest old paper Canucks. Don't have any for the VH 16 so that one will be treated to new Gamebore 2.5" #6 shotshells.