Steve's new GH

[Stepmac]

I just picked up my new GH. I can't seem to be able to post more than one picture at a time and they come out very big. Her number is 83930. Made in 1895. This first pic isn't very good, others will be better.

[Stepmac]

The gun is totally untouched. All of the checkering, expecially that one the splinter Forearm is worn nearly smooth. The gun was used. Locks up like a safe. Look at the birds. Are they flying? I think they are on the ground, dead. Ducks. Quail on the ballance of the piece, and on the other side.

[Stepmac]

Damascus colors are better on the underside and underneath the forearm, but it is very clear and only a spot or two of rust which is shallow. I have not tried to remove any, not wanted to shine up the finish. Stock is not cracked and original too. Butt plate is like new, a little discolored.

[Stepmac]

Bore looks fine. A little light rust maybe, can't tell. It has not been honed. It was shot a lot and I suspect with modern shells. It is broken however. It does not cock when dropped open. Looks like a GH. No ejectors which I prefer. I just pluck out the shells and put them in my pocket.

[Stepmac]

Barrels look pretty thick. I don't know what the chokes are. I'm thinking about having it bored mod and skeet, which will work for clays I think. Both muzzles look the same size. It's probably Full and Full. Don't know. A dime sets the same in both and doesn't fall in. All of my other old doubles are Full and Mod and I shoot modern shells in them. Here I'll reload my own, but first I'll buy some Polywad or RST's. Nor do I know the length of the chamber. If it is short I'll just shoot 2.5 inch shells in it. Unique. That's neat.

Looks like the bead has been pounded down flatish. I may replace it with ivory. First I have to have the cocking mechanism repaired. Has a little too much drop maybe, but the LOP seems perfect. Haven't measured it yet. I just brought it home.

Paid $999 for the old Parker. I think I did okay. No chips or serious dings, nice bore a little case color, nice damascus colors, looks like plenty of steel in the barrels. These Parker shotguns are very neat, aren't they!

[10 bore]

Originally Posted by Steve McCarty

Barrels look pretty thick. I don't know what the chokes are. I'm thinking about having it bored mod and skeet, which will work for clays I think. Both muzzles look the same size. It's probably Full and Full. Don't know. A dime sets the same in both and doesn't fall in. All of my other old doubles are Full and Mod and I shoot modern shells in them. Here I'll reload my own, but first I'll buy some Polywad or RST's. Nor do I know the length of the chamber. If it is short I'll just shoot 2.5 inch shells in it. Unique. That's neat.

Looks like the bead has been pounded down flatish. I may replace it with ivory. First I have to have the cocking mechanism repaired. Has a little too much drop maybe, but the LOP seems perfect. Haven't measured it yet. I just brought it home.

Paid $999 for the old Parker. I think I did okay. No chips or serious dings, nice bore a little case color, nice damascus colors, looks like plenty of steel in the barrels. These Parker shotguns are very neat, aren't they!

the bead is factory, it is perfect, i would not change it,

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by scott kittredge

the bead is factory, it is perfect, i would not change it,

Thank you. I won't mess with the bead. It is a 2 frame. I didn't post a picture of the water table. It's pretty devoid of marks. A lug on the bottom of the barrels also is marked with a "2". So are three digits of the serial number.

Where the shooter's fingers rubbed against the barrels, just over the forearm, the barrel's are rubbed silver. The rest of the barrels show nice black and silver/white demascus pattern. The serial numbers along the bottom tang are nearly worn smooth. This gun was shot a lot! But well cared for.

Steve

[Ed Blake]

You did great. Nice gun. In regards to the chokes, leave them as they are and shoot it before you take that step. Then decide. There are some great published 7/8 oz. Low pressure loads. Easy on the gun and you

[StubTwist]

I think you did very well Steve. Nice honest wear and character. Love the figure of the wood. GH's seem to always have a nice piece of wood on them. You can clean up the exterior of the Damascus barrels with some Kroil Oil and 0000 steel wool. Check the archives in the Damascus section to how to do this. After Kroil and steel wool, a coat of Forby's Tung oil help bring out the black and white pattern and protect it as well.

I also have to chime in regards opening chokes. Ed gave you some good advice. You mentioned you are going to reload anyway and by doing so you can load up some spreader loads to open up the patterns.

Congratulations.

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by Frank Cronin

I think you did very well Steve. Nice honest wear and character. Love the figure of the wood. GH's seem to always have a nice piece of wood on them. You can clean up the exterior of the Damascus barrels with some Kroil Oil and 0000 steel wool. Check the archives in the Damascus section to how to do this. After Kroil and steel wool, a coat of Forby's Tung oil help bring out the black and white pattern and protect it as well.

I also have to chime in regards opening chokes. Ed gave you some good advice. You mentioned you are going to reload anyway and by doing so you can load up some spreader loads to open up the patterns.

Congratulations.

I'll do it! Is Kroil Oil a hardwear store find, or gun store? I've never heard of it. I suppose that Forby's Tung oil is in the paint dept? I've got a few shallow worm holes in the stock. Have to do something with them too.

I'm going to enjoy this project.

Everyone suggests that I leave the chokes as is, and I'm going to take their advice. In bright sunlight one can see quite a lot of rust and staining. Pitting too here and there. Not much I can do about the pitting, but I'll touch the rust and stains some more with oil soaked 0000.