Hello Everyone,
My name is Jay, and I am a new member and have really enjoyed learning about Parkers on the forum and website. I live in North Carolina and am happy to be a new member of PGCA.
I just bought my first Parker 2 weeks ago. It is a 1901 GH 12 gauge with 28” Damascus barrels M/F on a #1 frame, SN#104209. The gun is in very nice shape. Most of the case coloring is gone, but every screw looks unturned, a few small scratches on the barrels and stock, nothing major. A beautiful gun and I love it! I have already sent off for the Parker letter.
I couldn’t wait to shoot it and put a box of RST low pressure shells through it shooting clays. The gun performed flawlessly, though I need some practice getting used to the full choke(I can work on that). After I got home from shooting I notice a small piece/chip of wood missing by the butt plate. I went back and tried to find it but no luck and I knew the odds were slim to none. Please see pictures below.
This is something I would like to get fixed. In the second picture you can see the rest of the stock is in good shape. I wish I could let it go, put some oil/finish on the exposed wood and forget about it…but I don’t think I can. The rest of gun is too nice in my opinion not to fix it. However, if everyone says let it go and enjoy the gun I'll understand. This is something I would not take on myself. I have seen some good examples on the forum of stocks that have been refinished.
Any recommendations? I am leaning towards shooting it over the next couple of months and then having the stock and forearm professionally refinished and recheckered over the summer(when I am fishing mode). I would leave the rest of the gun as is. Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated. This forum is a great resource and I am glad to be a new member.
I have been so impressed with my first Parker that I know it won’t be my last.
Thank you,
Jay