Fathers Guns

[J. A. EARLY]

I would do the VH differently. If my father gave me a 70 run of the mill Chevelle, original with a good interior but poor paint and I wanted to drive and enjoy it, I would paint it.

Thus with a gun that has the rusty and look to be slightly pitted outside barrels, I would have them redone. Probably between $300 to $500 depending upon who did them. Then the barrels would match the rest of the gun, in good shape. Someone put them away with sweat or wet. This would greatly increase the value in my opinion, and to your next generation.

[John]

not much of a hunter, but do love to shoot. typically not older guns.
I am not sure what I am going to do with the guns other then keep them safe

[OH Osthaus]

most of us shoot clays with these old guns

call RST http://www.rstshells.com/ and get some short shells and try a round of clays with that hammer gun - its a blast

[John]

thank you all for the information. Great site

[John]

Do you have any suggestions on who to use. I would love to get the gun back to pristine condition. I live in NC if that make any difference.

[J. A. EARLY]

Rather than promote one shop over the other you can go to the home page and go to LINKS at the bottom. I believe everyone on there is on there for a reason, they should know what they are doing. You can price shop from there by calling them.

If you are in N.C. consider coming to the Southern and there several can look at the gun, give opinions on your choices so far. Just search for the Southern on the forum and info will come up.

Good luck.

[John]

thank you and I will research links.

[Harold Pickens]

My first Parker was a VH 16 1 frame with 28" barrels, still have it. That little heavier weight does make them shoot nice, but on my all day grouse marches, I much prefer the 0 frame or my little VH 20. I think that rust would clean up fairly well with some Hoppes and a frontier pad or scotchbrite pad. The hammer gun doesn't appear to have a rust problem.

[Alfred Greeson]

Just cleaning sounds good. Trying to remove the rust is not that difficult. Whatever you use to remove it, not much pressure and you will not hurt the original finish and getting the rust off will stop it from pitting or doing further damage.
Would those guns have belonged to a grandfather or other relative? They are a real treasure and if you shoot them, you will probably discover why we love the old doubles.
Just a personal note, I have some of my Father's guns and knowing that most of the wear on them is from him enjoying them through the years makes me want to keep them just as they are....you can never put the old patina and wear back and in my case, that is just the way he left them and a good reason to keep them just as they are but whatever makes them so you enjoy them. Nice guns. Keep them in the family.

[J. A. EARLY]

If you decide to just clean them, the Frontier 45 pad is the best way to go. No steel wool, since as much rust as you have you will need to scrub hard. It will remove no finish, just rust. Price them by the dozen and sell/give them to your gun loving friends. They are very cheap that way, and remove rust from anything.

http://www.big45metalcleaner.com/