Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Masciarella
I have read many threads on the virtues of restoration and have some thoughts as a relatively new Parker gun collector. Over the years, it seem I've collected every at one time or another, ie furniture, cars, etc. (I'm not a high end person so I collected what I could afford). Problem was I ended up with furniture I wouldn't sit on and cars I didn't drive because I worried something would happen to them. So I now collect Parkers because I can go shoot them! When I do, it doesn't matter whether they are restored.
When it comes to unrestored items such as cars or furniture, the unrestored "survivors" are with a lot of money because there are so few. Generally, partial restorations do nothing to add to their value with the opposite effect more likely. I think a Parker survivor is best left alone regardless of who may have owned it in the past. But what is a "survivor"? Most Parkers are unrestored so they are not as rare in this condition compared to other collectibles.
If a Parker has no color, worn checkering, 50% barrels, etc., why not restore it-if that's what hits your hot bottom? Not everything that exists is a survivor. A collectible "survivor" might be defined as a Parker that has a certain level of originality and condition. I make no attempt to define what that might be. But anything below that, may warrant restoration to bring back it's former glory provided the restoration brings it back to it's original factory condition.
It seems to me that, while recognizing it can only be "new" once, a worn out Parker remains a worn out Parker, and restoring it isn't so bad (in most circumstances) so long as you can still go shoot it! I'm trying to shoot mine now but the duck hunting is so slow down here I took my iPad to the blind to give me something to do and now you fellas are stuck with this thread!
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It's a personal decision only the individual can answer. The gun in these pictures is an 1894 Remington CEO grade that was my Grandfather's, purchased for him, I believe, as a 50th birthday gift in 1902. When my dad gave it to me it was very, very rough and he told me he wished it could be "fixed up" some time. I had Doug Turnbull do a complete restoration and do not regret it at all. Some would call it an unwise investment, or say my family's dings and other abuses added character, etc., but I know my dad would be pleased. He is no longer with us and unfortunately did not get to see it completed. It was and is a family gun and I carried out my family's wishes. When I use it, I do so with pride. -plc-