Original vs TLC

[David Noble]

Rich, that is a wonderful and beautiful Parker.
I'm with you on swapping the pad. You don't want that original pad falling apart on you from continued use. Put it away and stick a nice new replacement on it. The new pad will be more pliable and thus easier on your stock and shoulder.
I don't know how the finish is on the rest of the barrel but the breech end looks very nice.
Unless they're freckled like a redheaded Dutch girl, I'd be hard pressed to redo them. (No offense to freckled redheaded Dutch girls, I think they are special and beautiful, I just don't like my barrels rusty and freckled.)

[Bill Murphy]

For true collectors, replacement of this pad would be an expensive mistake. I don't care if it does self destruct in the next seven or twenty seven years of use, it would be better than a fresh Silver. If the pad to be replaced is a Pachmayr, that would be different.

[John Truitt]

that is one dam fine looking gun.

make of her what you want her to be and enjoy her. you will do fine either way.