Matt, for what little an opinion's worth, I'd focus on your dad's age. As much as I dislike pointing out the obvious, his time with us is short. Throw an industrial-grade cleaning on that old shotgun, order a few boxes of the RST shells, and get all y'all out into a thicket somewhere and do some shooting! If you're especially concerned with the old gun's shootability, load it up, lay it across an old car tire, and pull off several rounds with a string from a safe distance. Parkers are extremely solid, well-built shotguns and most all the surviving examples will work just fine with appropriate shells. You can worry about what you'd like to do as regards refinishing after your dad's gone. Grab this opportunity while it's still an option and you won't come to regret a chance not taken. Don't even bother asking how I learned this...
Those "brisk fall days" scar a man's soul, don't they? And in such a wonderful way.
|