Engraving ?

[Harold Ward]

Good afternoon all, I have a question that needs answering by people more knowledgeable than I regarding Parkers. I am brand new to The Parker brand, and loving it. I have a Trojan circa 1917 w/ 30 inch barrels which to me is just gorgeous although pretty well all o the case color is gone. The gun is tight as a tick, everything is straight and squared away on this gun, as far as I can tell anyway, and with great barrels. I am an amateur engraver and I am pretty confidant in my skills and I would like to engrave the gun with some Parker style scroll work and hunting scenes. I saw a DH I believe it was the other day and the style of scroll work is actually my favorite style to design and cut. My question is, will engraving hurt the value of the gun? I love the gun and plan to keep it but I am hesitant to do anything to alter the original condition. Also, what are your opinions on redoing the CCH on the gun? Thanks in advance to everyone, I look forward to reading your opinions.

[King Cobb]

Originally Posted by Harold Ward

Good afternoon all, I have a question that needs answering by people more knowledgeable than I regarding Parkers. I am brand new to The Parker brand, and loving it. I have a Trojan circa 1917 w/ 30 inch barrels which to me is just gorgeous although pretty well all o the case color is gone. The gun is tight as a tick, everything is straight and squared away on this gun, as far as I can tell anyway, and with great barrels. I am an amateur engraver and I am pretty confidant in my skills and I would like to engrave the gun with some Parker style scroll work and hunting scenes. I saw a DH I believe it was the other day and the style of scroll work is actually my favorite style to design and cut. My question is, will engraving hurt the value of the gun? I love the gun and plan to keep it but I am hesitant to do anything to alter the original condition. Also, what are your opinions on redoing the CCH on the gun? Thanks in advance to everyone, I look forward to reading your opinions.

More knowledgeable people then I will surely follow up, but the long and short of it will be this:

"It depends" :
-On the originality of the gun-if it is very original and in good shape it could have good collector value
-who it originally belonged to. If it belonged to someone famous or someone known in the parker world it could have great collector value
-Engraving will remove most if not all of said collector value
-Your skills as an engraver. I am going to assume you aren't some well known famous engraver who's name will add value to the gun. Therefore, any value added would be with respect to the visual appeal/artistic quality of the engraving. You would essentially be owning an engraved trojan with no real collector value. That would mean for someone to pay more then a shooter grade trojan would be worth it the engraving would have to appeal to them. Plus, remember it would still have trojan wood and checking. So in all likely hood, unless this gun is not in collector condition at all currenly, self engraving it will likely hurt the value, again unless you are very very good at it.

[Bruce Day]

For most Parker collectors, extrinsic value is dependent upon closeness to originality An average Trojan is not a high value Parker. Value of an engraved Trojan is likely to depend upon the quality of the engraving. There have been lots of them done with varying degrees if skill , from attempts at folk art to very well done.

[Pittypatdugan]

Dont do it, you cant make a Trojan an A1 Special as they say

"IT IS WHAT IT IS"

respect how it was made

[Harold Ward]

Thanks for the quick responses, your answers were pretty well inline with my gut feeling but every time I pull it out of the case to drool over it the artist in me see's that blank canvas that just begs to be worked on. How about redoing the color case hardening? Is that a complete no-no like the engraving or does it depend on the quality of work?

[B. Dudley]

Engraving on any Parker that is not original would hurt or destroy the actual collector value. Unless it is a recut of original engraving in the event of a restoration. Or a very well done upgrade that is correct to the Parker style.

In order to engrave, the parts should be annealed, engraved and then re-hardened.

If your Trojan is nice in all other aspects than worn colors, don't engrave it. Unless you are fully restoring it, I wouldn't color it either.

If you want frames to practice your engraving on, let me know. I have tons of various grades.

[Steve Havener]

Harold it is your gun far from rare with no historical significance with not much value in it's current form other than it's utility. If it makes you happy do it and let someone else worry about the value.

[Fishtail]

A far better canvas would be any Winchester Model 24. No amount of drool will hurt one.

[C.O.B.]

At the end of the day it's your gun to do with what you please. If your going to pass it down the family line then your personal touch with the engraving will be appreciated by your heirs. If it's something you will keep and use to the end of your days I say do what makes you happy.

I took a VH 20 ga and completely redid it. I made a straight grip from a pistol grip and completely had the gun engraved and restocked. Look up the thread Gunner's Parker to see what I mean. I couldn't be happier with it and have had no regrets.

My avatar is Gunner with his gun.

[Bill Murphy]

A well worn 12 gauge Trojan would be a wonderful canvas for an engraver. You should know that the shape of the receiver is part of the artistic exercise. File and polish the action to the shape you like before you begin. I'm sure you understand annealing, so I won't mention that.