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02-28-2013, 05:07 PM | #13 | ||||||
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Every time I pull the bottom plate off an old Parker, I'm reminded of Marlon Brando's famous line at the conclusion of Apocalypse Now -- "the horror, the horror."
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The Following User Says Thank You to John Campbell For Your Post: |
02-28-2013, 05:17 PM | #14 | ||||||
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That's right Kensal. Brad indicated that from the looks of the internals, the gun had never been taken apart and cleaned. Good news is only the springs will have to be replaced, everything else inside will clean up fine. What's that they day? You can't judge a bok by its cover". It may have looked to most from the outside, a decent honest gun, but unless you know the history and how previous owners took care of it, I think you play it safe and have a competent smith' like Brad (there are others for sure) tear it down and check everything out. We can't forget that it's not the 60's anymore and these guns are only 30-40 years old, most are more than 80 years old today! They're not indestructible, they wear and tear.
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02-28-2013, 05:55 PM | #15 | ||||||
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That's the catch basin for all the field chaff and crud.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Dean Romig For Your Post: |
02-28-2013, 06:53 PM | #16 | ||||||
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You know Dean, the irony of all this is the from the pictures previously posted and a visual inspection of the VHE would generally support not 'touching it much'. You just don't know what underlying problems exist with these old guns until to you a detailed takedown and cleaning. And it really helps to have professionals like Brad and others who participate in this forum (as members) and who support the goals and objectives of the PGCA available and working with those of us who want to preserve thes guns for future generations.
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02-28-2013, 07:44 PM | #17 | |||||||
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Quote:
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02-28-2013, 07:53 PM | #18 | ||||||
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I'd be happy to take a lesson from anyone who knows what they're doing.
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02-28-2013, 08:55 PM | #19 | ||||||
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If a person is completely honest with himself, he'll know if it's within his capability. The average shade tree mechanic will probably bugger the screws before he knows it.
The best Snap-On screwdrivers can be tossed back in the toolbox. Goes without saying that the Sears tools aren't for this job either. If you're comfortable with fine detailed mechanisms, invest in a quality set of gun smithing screwdrivers from Brownells or Midway. English and European guns have finer screw slots, but if you're only working on your American guns, a good 20 piece set of fixed blade drivers is all you need. Removing the sear pin isn't necessary for the end-of-season maintenance. Just removing the trigger plate will get you to everything that needs a good rinse and lube. If the hammer springs need to come out, you're better off sending it out. I have done instrument repair as well as supporting my other hobby of clocks, watches and music boxes. My Land Rovers take an entirely different mind set. Barrel rusting, dent removal, putting a gun on face; they go out. Even I know when to hand those jobs off to the pros. If toaster operation and ink cartridge changing is the limits of a persons level of machine work, send it out. |
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The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to edgarspencer For Your Post: |
03-01-2013, 07:41 AM | #20 | ||||||
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Edgarhas just raised an important aspect of Parker preservation. Maintenance therof.
How about a new section in this Forum that deals with (how to) maintenance of Parkers etc. It might help those Parkerphiles who while maintaining the external features of their doubles routinely may be less familiar or comfortable getting inside the frames etc. |
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