Are opinion changing on restoring a shotgun?

[Ray Masciarella]

You know, Paul made a poimt I did not think of earlier. Many guns were sent back to Prker to effectively be "restored" completely or partially. No one in the collector community seems to have any problem with that. For example, early gunswere routinely returnedor the installation of ejectors. They required new stock, and heck, while they were there some were rebrowned. One caims that restoration devalued the gun, do they? Or am I missing something.

Question: If a parker was sent back to the factory to be restored and is now in 50% condition, is it worth less than a gun that was not sent back and is in 50% condition? If not, how could properly restroing it now have an adverse affect on its value?

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Ray Masciarella

Question: If a parker was sent back to the factory to be restored and is now in 50% condition, is it worth less than a gun that was not sent back and is in 50% condition? If not, how could properly restroing it now have an adverse affect on its value?

If it is documented Parker or Remington work then it is considered 'original' and not done by some "unknown" whose methods and thoroughness cannot be supported. Untold numbers of Parkers have been very nicely cosmetically refinished but we so often see checkering patterns that are not true to original patterns, or LPI, or peaked diamonds as opposed to flat topped diamonds (according to the grade) as well as poorly done color case hardening and Damascus finish. We've also seen a good number of Parkers that, once again, have been cosmetically refinished nicely - even paying close attention to keeping as close to original regarding the features mentioned above.... but have paid no attention to mechanical issues. Certain guns come to mind and have issues with the following after being refinished.... loose at the hinge even to the point of being off face.... safety issues - doesn't always work (which to me means it has no safety).... trigger or sear problems - the gun doubles or has a "hair trigger".... cocking problems, opening or closing problems, ejector problems, etc., etc.

There are a few exceptionally skilled craftsmen out there who will restore your Parker in each and every respect to exactly how Parker would have done it and their prices reflect that attention to detail.... and there are other people who will refinish your Parker very handsomely.... and there are some in between.... 'nuff said.

[C.O.B.]

Harry I face the same delima..no kids to pass them down to and a wife who wouldn't know what to do. I could (and have considered this) narrow this down to a couple of deer rifles, a 16ga, Gunner's Gun and the VHE 28 skeet and sell the rest. I could use the money to go hunting somewhere instead of leaving it behind. I have one more year to work and have picked out the PArker that I'll sell upon retirement to feather the financial nest. I have always thought of the guns as a subsidy I just hope I'll have the fortitude to see it through.