Del Grego Refinished Guns

[Opening Day]

Originally Posted by Kevin McCormack

Art Wheaton recently wrote and had published an article on Odis Odom. I forget whether it was in Shooting Sportsman, Double Gun Journal, or where? The article described his and Jay Bunting's last visit to Odis and the purchase of a nice Parker they had been chasing from him.

Kevin I get SS and I don't remember that article in there so I would suspect it was in DGJ. I would enjoy seeing that article.

[Mills]

It was in DGJ a few issues ago

[Jon Sheets]

For whatever it's worth, I like the work Del Grego did for me. Am I a purist? Certainly not, but he brought new life into a pair of old, worn guns (this Wallflower Trojan and an '01 VH 12) so they can face the next 100 years of service.

[Pittypatdugan]

Jon

Incredible wood, and I love the straight stock

[B. Dudley]

I would prefer to see checkering that at least somewhat, in the least bit, resembles original patterns, but hey... Thats just me...

And i sure hope that stock is reinforced somehow in the wrist. The grain goes right across it by the looks of it.

[C.O.B.]

I'm not a fan of their case color process but would it deter me from buying one...no but I would do as Bruce suggested and mute the colors.

I had an Otis Odem gun that was a 28ga upgraded to a BHE and it was a nice gun. I currently have an AHE upgraded 28 two barrel set but I don't think Otis did this one. I think Bill Murphy knows the history of this one.

[J.B. Books]

I look at DelGrego restorations as really nice "shooters". I also think there are differences between older and newer restorations. I don't think anyone should look to have any restoration done to increase value, it won't, I think it should be done to prolong life into what are nice guns that were rode hard and put away wet. I have dealt with them directly and have had work done. I am most happy with my first and most personally nostalgic Parker, a 12ga Trojan I have had for 31 years. I should have taken some before pictures, 24 seasons of salt water hunts, boat rides chasing down crips, laying in muddy corn fields and hunting beaver ponds took it's toll. They brought it back with partial restoration as I left the frame alone.

FWIW If you do have a gun restored try to get some documentation of it. If you sell a gun to a gun store most of them know the name and think it's special resulting in a better trade/sale price.

Upgrades are another subject.

[Jon Sheets]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

I would prefer to see checkering that at least somewhat, in the least bit, resembles original patterns, but hey... Thats just me...

And i sure hope that stock is reinforced somehow in the wrist. The grain goes right across it by the looks of it.

Del Grego didn't do the stock, just the metal. The stock is as purchased. Sorry if I didn't make that clear. I did in the article in the recent issue of Parker Pages, and have not altered it for the reasons stated in the article. Maybe someday it will go back to original.
I have relied heavily on this gun every season since 2005. It sees a lot of use, without any wrist problems so far. I appreciate your concern though.

[Double Lab]

Jon;
She's a 20ga. Parker and looks great with the stock. Hope you have many more seasons with her chasing "partridge" up north.

Nice article in PP by the way.

[Jon Sheets]

Thanks. The way this season went, they can only get better.
Thanks for the kind words about the article. Yes, it's a 20, light and lively.