New member from Brawley, Ca

[Harold Pickens]

Dave Fjelline in Lincoln, California may be your closest. Plus, he is a long barrel, hammer gun affecionado, and would give you a good honest answer--but any of the other names mentioned are also top knotch.

[Craig Larter]

My vote would be for Breck Gorman to refinish the barrels he does beautiful work that equals original Parker colors and craftsmanship expect to pay $400. plus for a barrel refinish but you will not be disappointed, laminate barrels refinished will knock you over. Removing the blue is pretty simple, I would highly recommend Brian Dudley but I'm not sure if he would take on this type of work.
I have a 36" 7 frame top lever D that weights 15 pounds and I have shot many ducks with the beast so I would encourage you to shoot and hunt with your baby 5 frame. Craig Larter

[B. Dudley]

A major concern with this gun that I see is of the barrels have been hot blued or not. If they have, you may have a LOT more work than a simple refinish in store for you.

They need to be evaluated closely to know what may have been done to them in the past and how to take it forward.

With a gun like this, it is rare, but it is also a low grade. In most cases it does not make financial sense to restore such a gun. But if you are not interested in financial gain, then it doesn't matter. And that is really the better place to be so that the proper work can be done to it. You do it for the gun, not the money.

[Edward Hale]

Craig, Do you use a turret? I carry a 60ies model 51 12 ga Winchester autoloader with a fiberglass barrel (steel lined) and an aluminum alloy frame. I guess I'm spoiled. Ed

[Edward Hale]

Mr. Dudley, I hear what you're saying and it's good advice. Financial gain from this gun is not my motive. Spending money foolishly is not my motive either. I will take the advice of the members here and go slow, learn as much as I can about this gift, and if I feel that the restoration work enhances the value of the gun or my enjoyment of it, I'll go forward with restoring it. Thanks and regards. Ed

[B. Dudley]

Well, if the gun owes you nothing, that is a great place to start.

[Edward Hale]

Well, I received my letter from the Parker Gun Collectors Association. My gun started life as a grade 1, 10 gauge hammer gun, with laminated steel 36-inch barrels, both full choke, LOP 14 inches, capped pistol grip, 4-inch drop at the heel, and a weight of 12 lbs 5 ounces. It was ordered by Mr. George E. Kohler of Tombstone Arizona Jan 21, 1891, and shipped June 17, 1891. The price paid was $80.00 (equivalent to $2,274.09 in 2020 dollars), Mr. Kohler, among his other ventures, was an auctioneer who sold furniture in Tombstone, he was also a founding member of the Freemason's in Arizona, serving as the first Grand Patron. This shotgun was ordered ten years after Sheriff Virgil Earp and his brother, deputy Wyatt Earp shot it out at the OK Corral on October 26 1881. Several of Mr. Kohler's relatives are buried in the same cemetery as the outlaws from the Ok Corral shoot out.

[Milton C Starr]

Originally Posted by Edward Hale

Well, I received my letter from the Parker Gun Collectors Association. My gun started life as a grade 1, 10 gauge hammer gun, with laminated steel 36-inch barrels, both full choke, LOP 14 inches, capped pistol grip, 4-inch drop at the heel, and a weight of 12 lbs 5 ounces. It was ordered by Mr. George E. Kohler of Tombstone Arizona Jan 21, 1891, and shipped June 17, 1891. The price paid was $80.00 (equivalent to $2,274.09 in 2020 dollars), Mr. Kohler, among his other ventures, was an auctioneer who sold furniture in Tombstone, he was also a founding member of the Freemason's in Arizona, serving as the first Grand Patron. This shotgun was ordered ten years after Sheriff Virgil Earp and his brother, deputy Wyatt Earp shot it out at the OK Corral on October 26 1881. Several of Mr. Kohler's relatives are buried in the same cemetery as the outlaws from the Ok Corral shoot out.

I have been to Tombstone before and Bisbee , my little brother was stationed about 20 miles from there . Thats some neat history , I wish I knew what these fellows had on their mind when ordering these large frame 10 gauges .

[Edward Hale]

Me too! There is not a lot of waterfowl in that area. They did have lots of outlaws and Indians! Interestingly on the same order, Mr. Kohler also ordered another 10 gauge gun with 36-inch twist barrels, The LOP was 14 1/4 inches, but this gun only weighed 10 1/2 lbs, he also ordered an extra set of 12 gauge 36 inch barrel's for that gun.

[B. Dudley]

4" drop! Wow!