What Damasus pattern do you like best?

[Dean Romig]

Refinish barrels only.

The gun should be appreciated in all its glory. Even some original owners were known to send guns back to Meriden to "rebrown barrels."






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[Carl Baird]

I'd like to hear from members on refinishing or not too? I think in terms of bringing guns back to keep them alive. Case in point, a VH in very poor condition but with all the parts. Is is original when the project is done, nope...but it's beautiful again and will live on!
The other side of the coin is a gun that's nice but showing it's age gracefully. I think leaving it alone is more appropriate. Thoughts?

[Dean Romig]

I think it is a personal choice and should certainly depend on the condition of the individual gun.






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[todd allen]

I had a conversation with Brad Bachelder a while back about refinishing a P grade hammer gun, that I had posted about. An otherwise very clean little 16 gauge, with zero finish on the bbls, and just a trace of color on the receiver. The conclusion was that a proper refinish of the bbls would enhance the value of the gun. As is, the twist pattern is virtually invisible.
I have to agree with Brad. I'll take the color, over the silver. Just waiting for the money to come around.

[Carl Baird]

True, there are a lot of VH guns out there, so that has to enter into the equation. Let me qualify it a bit, a few years ago I came across a Parker 12 ga. hammer gun that was very nice but very used. Had a maple stock and walnut forend and 32" barrels. The gun was sound and with the exception of the stock, all there. Should I replace the stock? What about the receiver and barrels? Well, I ended up replacing the stock and cleaning up the bores. Not a complete restoration, but it looks like a factory gun, but it's not original.

[Carl Baird]

I wish you luck on your P grade Todd. My hammer gun has a ton of color on the barrels, it was the tiger maple stock that drove me crazy. With my plain jane replacement walnut stock,(appropriate for the grade) the gun is just the way I want it. What size is your receiver on your 16 ga.?

[todd allen]

This is the 16. I don't want to mess with the rest of it, but I would like to restore the color to the bbls.
http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=11695

[Roundsworth]

My 1907 GH has barrels marked 'D3'. In my limited experience, I noted that the number next to the 'D' was the same as the number grade of the gun, thus, my GH should have had 'D2' barrels. Is that how the system worked, or am I reading too far into it?

[Craig Larter]

I am a Parker collector in training but I believe most G, D and C grade hammerless guns were marked D. DD is normally found on BH and AH grades.

[Dean Romig]

D and 3 together, normally the numeral is above the letter, indicates 3-blade Damascus. Grade 2 flats were not marked with the grade number. That started with Grade 3.






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