My Grandfather's Parker Trojan
My grandfather bought a Trojan new. Based on the serial #, it was manufactured in 1913. My father inherited it from him and he gave it to me when I was about 20, 40 years ago.
The metal is in good shape - a small dent in one barrel, but no rust, no pitting, shiny inside, and tight. The wood-to-steel fit is a little loose now, but not terrible.
The grip has the classic Parker crack. When I first got it decades ago, I poked epoxy in the crack. It held for years and I hunted and shot skeet with the gun using low brass shells. Unfortunately, I used an epoxy that's light and very visible.
I took it skeet shooting a few years ago and discovered both barrels simultaneously discharge - even with short brass.
Anyway, I'm giving it to my son. I figured it wasn't doing anyone any good sitting in the cabinet if it can't be shot and doesn't look great anyway. And I know it's worth a lot more to us than as a collector's item.
So I bought an unfinished, milled stock & forearm and gave it to him for Christmas along with a TruOil and a bluing kit. I took it to a gunsmith for the double discharge. I have not tried the fit, but the new stock looks good.
But I have a couple questions and would appreciate your advice.
- the metal looks good, I think cold bluing might be a mistake. Should he leave it as-is?
- I saw a Parker Brothers butt plate, reproduction I assume, and plan to tell him to get that rather than a recoil pad. Make sense?
- The new stock has no checkering. Can checkering be added after it's finished?
Any other advice?
Thanks in advance.
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