DH 1927 HOME PROJECT BEFORE AND AFTER

[Bill Murphy]

A few years ago, I bought the identical gun, except that it is a DHE. It was brown and pitted on the action and the interior was so full of gunk that the firing pins would not fall and the triggers would not return. It also had swivels like yours. I bought it in a local retail store for $1600. Dewey Vicknair cleaned out the inside and I cleaned the outside. However, I did no work on the wood to speak of, left the period swivels intact, and did not reengrave the receiver. Your gun is definitely nicer than mine. Who did your engraving?

[J. A. EARLY]

Bill,

All of the hardware for the sling swivels was gone, they were not original anyway and the stock hole was drilled incorrectly just a fraction of an inch below the initial oval, so I only had three holes which were filled.

I sent the engraving work to Thierry Duguet. He does incredible work. It would not make sense to have this gun completely reengraved so Thierry just did the dogs, grass around the dogs, Parker Bros. and the forend latch since that had been buffed so much.

Check out his work: http://www.engraver.net/index.html

[Bill Murphy]

I have known Thierry for many years. He did a wonderful engraving restoration on a sadly neglected prewar Browning Midas Grade. I selected him for the work because he is so experienced in gold inlay. My old Midas had quite a bit of missing gold. This gun is my most successful project. I purchased the gun for $1100 at a Baltimore auction. On my trips to his shop to check on the progress of the Browning, I would drop off a Craig Steketee skinner for him to decorate. I ended up with a great shotgun and three lovely engraved Damascus knives.