Was it always black & white ?

[Double Trouble]

Were the damascus barrels on GH Parkers always "finished" with the "black & White" contrasting colors ?

And - as they aged & were used, did the "black" turn brown ?


I ask because I recently saw a decent-looking GH 20 for sale, and it looks great, but the damascus barrels are brown & grey (a very light brown !)instead of the very dark brown & grey I'm used to seeing...

A definite sign of a refinish ?

...or just normal aging/fading ?

Thanks !

[Dean Romig]

First attempt failed miserably but, Try, try again...


These are the barrels John is referring to.

Opinions?

[Chuck Heald]

Thanks for posting the pictures Dean.

John, I have two GH guns. One was in low condition, but the barrel finish was clearly b&w under the forend. The other gun was in much better condition and all areas were b&w. Every original example I've seen was b&w.

Your barrels look very even in tone/color, which is an indicator of refinishing when the rest of the gun is that aged (brown frame, etc).

[Parker Bachelder (Brad's Profile)]

I agree, those barrels have been refinished at some point. The brown color is due to not boiling to convert the rust to black.It is often done to simulate an aged patina.Aged black & white fades definition and tends to appear brownish due to the white "steel" rusting and staining. the area under the forearm on original barrels will confirm that the barrels were finished to be black and white.

Brad

[Dollar Grade]

I spoke with the seller several months ago about that gun. For some reason I was thinking that Dale Edmonds did those bbls. If you get the serial number you can call up Dale and ask if he did them. They look more grey than brown to me. Compare the color of the barrels to the brown patina on the action. I have seen a few barrels that didn't give a very good contrast. Some barrels just don't give up the goods.

Kurt

[Bruce Day]

1. Dale's refinished barrels

2. Original Parker barrels not turned to brown.

3. Original Parker Bernard barrels with the top one still b & w and the bottom one turning to brown.


I have a different thought about your 20ga G barrels. Although a picture of the underside showing where the forearm covers the barrels would be helpful and likely determinative, my initial thought is that those barrels were pretty well dark with age and have since been cleaned up, removing the contrast, and without refinishing. If they were mine, I would get them refinished and while waiting, I would get the oil out of the stock head. Just my thoughts.

Your photos are not sufficiently detailed, but if they have been refinished, the technique was not adequate to bring out much contrast. If they have been refinished as Brad suggests, you should see a sheen to the metal surface from the fine carding. If barrel surface is dull and shows lots of scratches, they are likely worn and cleaned up originals, as I believe they are. The frame of the gun shows oxidation darkening from not beng properly protected, not case colors, and I suspect the whole gun was cleaned up but nothing else was done.

[Double Trouble]

Thanks guys ! (I would have posted the pictures myself, but I must be one of the most technically challenged persons on the planet - I can't make it work !)

My EH 10 ga. has the black & white barrels, faded/worn in all the right areas. The fact that this 20 g. didn't look the same just worried me a bit. It's certainly still a great little gun, but I realy don't want anything that's been refinished.

Thanks again to all !

John

[Dean Romig]

I'm in agreement with Bruce and I don't think the barrels are representative of Dale's work.

[Parker Bachelder (Brad's Profile)]

Bruce and Dean, I agree from what I have seen of Dales work, I don;t believe that he did them. I believe he coats his barrels with a poly to give them a sheen. I think the subject barrels were chemically stripped. If you look at original, or properly redone barrels, you will notice a black buildup around the hanger lug and by the rear rib. This buildup if caused by the rusting agent. when carding it is almost impossible to remove this excess. All of the original barrels have this present, reguardless of grade.

Brad

[Bruce Day]

Brad, its certainly possible that those barrels were chemically stripped. They've been cleaned of the brown oxidation somehow, but not refinished, in my opinion. I do not have any hesitation with properly refinished barrels, damascus or fluid steel. I don't like them when they were not carded properly and in sequence or when the engraving or rib matting is carded off.

Dale uses BriWax and I have recommended BriWax, Renaissance Wax, any high quality clear wax to others.