Was it always black & white ?

[Bruce Day]

1. Dale's refinished barrels

2. Original Parker barrels not turned to brown.

3. Original Parker Bernard barrels with the top one still b & w and the bottom one turning to brown.


I have a different thought about your 20ga G barrels. Although a picture of the underside showing where the forearm covers the barrels would be helpful and likely determinative, my initial thought is that those barrels were pretty well dark with age and have since been cleaned up, removing the contrast, and without refinishing. If they were mine, I would get them refinished and while waiting, I would get the oil out of the stock head. Just my thoughts.

Your photos are not sufficiently detailed, but if they have been refinished, the technique was not adequate to bring out much contrast. If they have been refinished as Brad suggests, you should see a sheen to the metal surface from the fine carding. If barrel surface is dull and shows lots of scratches, they are likely worn and cleaned up originals, as I believe they are. The frame of the gun shows oxidation darkening from not beng properly protected, not case colors, and I suspect the whole gun was cleaned up but nothing else was done.