Recut checkering on Parker forend

[Cameron Thraen]

I have cleaned the finish from the fore end and I have identified a split in the knuckle end ear that I will have to close up before proceeding with checkering.

There is a small amount of oil in the wood at the knuckle end that I would like to extract as much as possible without discoloring the wood. Any and all suggestions welcome. I have removed oil on another project gun (Lefever) but in that case I was able to work with the entire fore end wood and not just one end.

Fore end with finish removed:


Fore end split at the knuckle ear:

[Campchair]

On the oil soaked stock, Whiting, mixed with just enough Acetone to make a thick slurry or paste, will draw it out. Acetone is not a solvent for shellac. Shellac has the ability to "layer" very well, so that any patching of thin or worn spots will adhere very well. Use the "De-waxed" flakes and mix in a glass screw-top jar. It can be mixed ahead and seems to keep for quite a while. Use an inexpensive pure bristle brush as the acetone WILL destroy almost any synthetic bristle throwaway brush. It doesn't seem to affect natural dye type stains that much, but try it in an out of the way place first.

[Cameron Thraen]

Well, after a long, cold and snowy winter followed by a hot-cold-hot-wet spring then the same for summer here in central Ohio, my 1893 Parker GH project is now completed. The barrels are back home, looking top-shelf fantastic, reunited with the recheckered fore-end, mullered border, all lines recut with fresh shellac, and the cleaned stock/receiver. This was a fun project and now it's back in the safe until autumn.

Here are a few photos to close out this thread.

Pheasants starting in September and woodcock in November await. Quail to follow next April. To all who helped with advice and encouraging comments along the journey, my hearty thank you.