Bachelder's work continues to be stellar

[Dean Romig]

Put any label oe name on me that you want to Edgar, but I guess I’m just ‘old school’.

If I send a fine American classic side-by-side - that never had a weep hole indiscriminately drilled either new or if sent back to the manufacturer for re-browning - to a reputable shop for accurate RESTORATION it had better NOT have a weep hole drilled in it during “restoration.”
These are valuable guns that we take a great deal of pride in and we don’t expect shortcuts to be taken in restoring a gun to original condition.

If your comment wasn’t directed at me.... it doesn’t matter - I still feel the same way.






.

[edgarspencer]

No Dean, My comment wasn't directed at you, or anyone, specifically.

I do not think any gunsmith does anything, to use your term, indiscriminately, to our valued American double guns. If he feels he can refinish a barrel with a possible side effect of subsurface rust, or he can refinish it with a guarantee of no subsurface issues, I don't find an unobtrusive hole any more troubling than you adding a cute little woodcock to the trigger guard of that 16 lifter.
In over 50 years of playing with SxS guns, I've only refinished 6 barrels sets. The one I like the most are the 30" 0 frame Damascus barrels that Parker Bachelder did. Is there a weep hole? Honestly, I don't think I ever looked.
The rivet counters never had an issue with the small block chevy in my '35 Ford pickup, and I doubt they had an issue with the bondo under their paint jobs either.

FWIW, you know perfectly well if I had an issue with you, as I'm often likely to do, I'd pick up the phone and call you

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

No Dean, My comment wasn't directed at you, or anyone, specifically.

FWIW, you know perfectly well if I had an issue with you, as I'm often likely to do, I'd pick up the phone and call you

Hmmm... no call yet. All’s well that ends well I guess.





.

[Woodcock survey]

I have a Greener that I can hear some thing roll back and forth in the space between the barrels. A video posted a few years ago on this site of the ribs being soldered by an english maker shows a good chance of a lot of debris winding up in this space, flux and solder. Your example I believe shows this and it would hold a lot of moisture if it had a way in and a liquid will find it if it is there.

[Bindlestiff]

Thanks Robert, very informative. Those pictures are worth a thousand words!

[BRDHNTR]

I don't weep over any of my holes

[Mills]

Could this thread please be allowed to die?

[BRDHNTR]

I second that motion Mills.

[Parker Bachelder (Brad's Profile)]

For what its worth, we do not drill weep holes unless necessary. I do NOT consider it an acceptable thing to do to a Parker. With the quality of the these barrels, very few exhibit severe rib separation. Though almost all barrels will allow moisture into the ribs to some extent. Keep in mind it is impossible to finish a set that is leaking as it constantly hampers any attempt to maintain clean applications, meaning the leak must be insignificant. Once finished, the problem of remaining moisture is mitigated by submerging into displacing oil bath and put under mild heat to evaporate any remaining water. The barrels are also put under heat after every application so that there is never a chance rust can occur through the procedure.

We have in the past drilled weep holes on Parker's when deemed necessary under the directive of Brad. I could not tell you particularly why, I imagine Brad was simply not as fussy about having a drain hole as its standard practice across virtually every other double brand, of course there are always exceptions.

Occasionally we get barrels that have holes drilled from previous refinish. Obviously this was never done at the factory. I don't recall if the CHE posted had a hole originally or not. That particular set was refinished months ago as part of a multi part job.

As of the last two sessions and going forward, any set refinished under myself will not have a drain hole.

[King Cobb]

Thanks for the participation and insight as always Parker!