[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Stephen,

Having to wait a few years before restoring your family treasure may well be good fortune. We all have our favorite gunsmiths who we would recommend to restore your historical piece of art. Take your time learning about Parker guns. Get to know the members of the PGCA and they will share information with you. Attend a big SxS shoot or two per year. I go to Hausman's Hidden Hollow in northeast Pennsylvania where there is a large band of Parker guys and gals that readily accept new guys like me. The Southern SxS in North Carolina is a bigger event held in April and would closer to you than Hidden Hollow. Anyway, having face to face conversations with Parker collectors where they can examine your gun will be a great investment in time and money. Plus, if you do not have a great time at these shoots you are not human!

Ask the more experienced collectors of who could restore your Pigeon Gun accurately. For certain your gun needs to be restored accurately to how it looked when it was sold. Also inquire about the cost of such restoration and the time required. A year for this gun would not be unreasonable. Most good gunsmiths are backed up 6 months to years for their restorations. I do however think that most would fit an AAH Pigeon Gun into their schedule because your gun is so rare. As for cost, once again ask the PCGA members. An inaccurate or mediocre restoration would be a waste of money because anyone that could afford a restored Pigeon Gun would want it to be accurately restored so that their peers would marvel at how the gun would look like it had just left the factory at Meridian. Remember the for restoration to consider the factors of Skill, Accuracy, Time, Cost, and to a lesser degree, Market Reputation.

So, take your time. Do not let any gunsmith touch your gun, even for a simple repair, unless the "Parker Guys" approve of their work. Do no damage. By the time you have saved enough to pay for a restoration you should have gained enough knowledge and have a few Parker mentors to guide you toward making the correct decision.

Respectfully,
Mark