Restore Serial 87251

[Darrell Sanderlin]

Inherited serial 87251. Based on serial was manufactured in 1897. As you can see in the attached photos it needs some TLC. Where should I start? Local gunsmith with great reputation would need to craft new stock and forward grip as well as reblue but that would change gun. More of family heirloom not annual hunting use.

Thoughts and/or suggestions

Darrell
North Carolina

[B. Dudley]

Well, it is not a functioning firearm now. So, if you want a usable gun, you only have one choice.

Just please protect your investment make sure that any work done is done properly.

If the bores are good and the barrels sound, that gun could be made to look like new if that is what you are going for and if you want to sink that kind of money into it. Or, do what it NEEDS and have a functioning shooter.

Just a note about your gun. It is a relatively early GH grade. But it has VH (vulcan) barrels. Given that the barrels are serialized to the frame and also have the post-1910 bolt bite, it is a good assumption that the gun was rebarreled by Parker after 1910. The gun would have originally been Damascus.

[Darrell Sanderlin]

Thanks that is excellent information. Are there any records surviving the could accompany your assumptions? Would love some history. In my family for about 70 yrs. Also would you happen to know where to find good examples of stock finishing?

[B. Dudley]

There are records to be able to get a research letter. However, repair records may or may not be available. If they are, it will be in the letter.

[GH-16]

The best help I can give based on years of experience with these old guns comes down to two words--- Money Pit!

Some guns are just so far gone that it can be cost prohibitive to bring them back from the brink. The inheritance part of this one might make it a more difficult decision on this one, but you are the only one that can answer the question of how much time & money to put into it.

My suggestion would be to call Brian Dudley and talk to him about it. He's one of the best in the business for bringing a gun like this back from the brink, his advice on it is pure gold & once you get it, you can make good decisions based on sound information.

[BRDHNTR]

Darrell, for what it's worth...I inherited yrs ago my grandfathers 16 ga Parker. My dad hunted with it. I grew up hunting with it. By the time I inherited it, the stock was split and at the head it was oil soaked. The wood was punky. I made the decision to get it fully restored about 13 yrs ago. I took it out to larry DelGrego and dropped it off. He called a yr later and said it was done. All new wood, new case colors, barrels reblued. Cost me then $3,000. I've never regretted it. This gun has so many fine memories, I just had to restore it for my continued use and to pass it on to one of my grandsons. I've never regretted my decision to restore it. And use it to this day.
If your gun is a family heirloom and you want to preserve it whether for show or use, then consider restoring it. I did and $3k was no small amount 13 yrs ago but I've never looked back. Everytime I pick it up, it speaks to me. Best of luck. Oh, and Brian is
the best.

[Darrell Sanderlin]

Thanks to all especially Mr. Dudley. It is at the gunsmith and pending some more research we will assess the restoration. Looking to match original look as close as possible so collecting photographs of era Parker’s. Any photos would help.

[Bob Jurewicz]

Darrell
If your Gunsmith doesn’t know what an original Parker looks like you have the wrong Gunsmith
Bob jurewicz

[Darrell Sanderlin]

Well the issue is the finish stain on the stock. But I do hear you. That is the reason for waiting and making sure we have all the original information we can have.

[Researcher]

With the 1910 bolt-plate and the Conn. in the barrel address we can place the rebarreling between 1910 and 1919.