Are opinion changing on restoring a shotgun?

[Bruce Day]

Ray, there is a huge difference between quality of so-called restorations. I really think that to fully deal with your question, you should go to several Parker meetings, talk candidly and non-publicly to people and inspect for yourself a lot of Parkers. I think it will be exceedingly difficult to learn about these matters without hands on and face to face discussions. You see a number of assertions on this forum that experienced Parker people would take issue with in private.

From my view, some restorations are spot on, but most are not. The main problems are in case colors and stock work. I have attempted to provide forum viewers with examples of original or mostly original Parkers and a person can compare those to some of the restoration work that is seen.

[Double Lab]

Well said Bruce and King. I agree Bruce, the case coloring done today will never match original Parker coloring, although some of it is done by some very talented people. I have a late P grade with original case, wood and bluing. The gun looks as if it had been placed in a time capsule. When I handle a refinished Parker it feels to me as if the soul of the gun has been removed. That's just how I feel, as I'm not a true "collector", I feel as though I'm just taking care of these guns for a while.Their originality is what I love about them.

[C.O.B.]

I have a GH 20 with 30 inch damascuss barrels which in itself is a rareity. Doug Turnbull completely restored this gun to include recutting the engraveing. This was all done befor I bought the gun but I considered it in my offer which was substantilly less than the asking price but we came to terms and its a very nice gun. i see no harm is cleaning up an oil soaked stock, refinishing it and recutting worn checkering or haveing the damascuss barrels redone. Most of these guns are 100+ years old and a little TLC IMHO doesn't hurt them.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

I have a GH 20 with 30 inch damascuss barrels which in itself is a rareity. Doug Turnbull completely restored this gun to include recutting the engraveing. This was all done befor I bought the gun but I considered it in my offer which was substantilly less than the asking price but we came to terms and its a very nice gun. i see no harm is cleaning up an oil soaked stock, refinishing it and recutting worn checkering or haveing the damascuss barrels redone. Most of these guns are 100+ years old and a little TLC IMHO doesn't hurt them.

Rich, that is probably the most perfectly refinished Parker I have ever handled. It almost had me fooled completely.

[Alligator]

Guys they don't make them anymore! I have a Parker lifter 10 gage with some issues but mechanically it's all there. It's an 1878 with the keyed forend and beautiful fiddle back wood. The back end is about 70% and I plan to have Kirk Merrington work the barrels over only to the point of making it shootable. It is not going to ever be an as new restoration only enough to bring it back to 100 year plus old character marked rarity. Lee.

[C.O.B.]

Originally Posted by lee r moege

Guys they don't make them anymore!Lee.

Thats exactly why a little TLC will keep them around and serviceable for another 100 years.