DelGrego Restoration

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Patrick Butler

One last comment- How do you value a documented Parker factory restoration? To me that is an original gun.

I agree wholeheartedly.

I once had a CHE Double Trap made in 1929. It was an exceptionally nice gun but it had Remington repair codes, a 'Remingtonesque' splinter forend (almost the same width from one end to the other) recut checkering with the Remington-style borders on the forend as well as the grip, and cyanide case colors (but nicely done, not tiger-striped). All in all it was a very nice Parker and, though redone by Remington well after the Meriden days, I considered it factory work.

Value on this gun?...... I sold it for a PILE more than I paid for it.

[C.O.B.]

Value is determined by the agreement between seller and buyer. I would rather have a nice original gun that shows it's age gracefully than a refinished gun that looks factory new. I have had stocks and Damascus barrels refinished to either bring out the pattern in the barrels or take 100 years of dirt and oil build up out of the stock. I have a CHE Damascus 20 that the barrels fairly shine and have considered having them redone but as they say "it's only original once" and I have decided to leave them as is.
At the end of the day the value is what your willing to pay for it and if you like it than that's what counts.

[John Taddeo]

2 cents worth... Just like anything , if at any time a particular item becomes "the thing to have" and the availability is outweighed by the demand then the price tag and collectability will follow no matter what the beliefs of the past may have been.. Think back on what you "could have bought" and at what price.. I guess diversity in the old gun safe portfolio isn't always a bad thing, and speculation is what it is, because the prices very seldom drop and you never know when the old dust collector might be tomorrows fad.. People bought pet "Rocks" at an astounding rate for Gods sake..

[B. Dudley]

Last year I looked at a Twist barreled PH 12g. that a gentleman I know had recently acquired. It was built in the early 1890's and had exceptional metal finishes (95%), but a little more wear to the wood and wood finish. And the Case colors were not of what would be seen on a 1890's gun. More like what would be on a gun built in the 1920's. Closer inspection showed a 1910 type wear plate installed in it which pointed to the fact that the gun had been back to the factory at some time after that point. I concluded that the gun had to have been re-case colored and barrels re-blackened by Parker when it was returned.

So, it was a factory refinished gun. Like Bill stated, I would lean more towards considering it to be an original gun.
But I will tell you what, it was a PERFECT example of what Parker factory finishes looked like. And there was no mistaking that they were factory finishes.

[Patrick Butler]

Originally Posted by John Taddeo

2 cents worth... Just like anything , if at any time a particular item becomes "the thing to have" and the availability is outweighed by the demand then the price tag and collectability will follow no matter what the beliefs of the past may have been.. Think back on what you "could have bought" and at what price.. I guess diversity in the old gun safe portfolio isn't always a bad thing, and speculation is what it is, because the prices very seldom drop and you never know when the old dust collector might be tomorrows fad.. People bought pet "Rocks" at an astounding rate for Gods sake..

You are right there are fads. I knew Gary Dahl (Pet Rock) in Los Gatos, CA and he laughed all the way to the bank...

However, I do believe that the movement from restored to original objects will continue and as an investment an original high-grade SXS like Parker is the way to go. Given the fact that anyone can have a well-worn Parker fully restored for say $3,000, there tens of thousands that could be produced.

I agree that demand is fickle, but price always reflects demand and the number for sale. I do remember a recent comment from DelGrego that his three generations have worked on 60,000 Parker guns. Given that many Parkers you wonder how many have been passed as original by other individuals, especially as DelGrego Sr. had the original Parker parts to work with...

Regarding Parkers as an investment, I plan to keep most of mine, but I'm, like many members, well over 65 and I wonder if in the next 10-20 years James Julia and the like will have a lot of great high-grade original Parkers (you know, the ones we never sell) at auction?

Back to the price equation of demand and numbers, what if the next two generations have much less interest in these incredible guns? When I shoot sporting clays, all you see are autos, nice U/O and I'm asked, is that a reproduction? Perhaps Parkers will be a long-term fad. I sincerely hope not.

Patrick

[B. Dudley]

Trust me... The Delgrego shop has not seen 60,000 Parkers.

And, no gun with the typical striped Cyanide case colors will pass as an original gun.

[Mike Franzen]

Look at the "Centennial Parker" that Gary Carmichael had restored. That gun is worth more after resto than it was before it was sent out. Restoring to enhance value can be a tricky call though. Low grade guns of little collector value probably can bring more on the market at large than the same gun that shows 100 years of wear and tear. That being said, a low grade resto probably won't sell for what the total investment was to bring it back. Picture two 30" PH 12 gauges side by side on a dealers table. One has a hundred plus years of original "patina" and the other is a quality resto. Neither have collector value but the resto will probably bring a little more from the shooter market.

[Patrick Butler]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

Trust me... The Delgrego shop has not seen 60,000 Parkers.

And, no gun with the typical striped Cyanide case colors will pass as an original gun.

Yes, that is a huge number, even given the some 60 years they have been in business.

However, it was just an off-hand phone remark that I probably should not have passed on. OK, strike probably.

Patrick

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Patrick Butler

Back to the price equation of demand and numbers, what if the next two generations have much less interest in these incredible guns? When I shoot sporting clays, all you see are autos, nice U/O and I'm asked, is that a reproduction? Perhaps Parkers will be a long-term fad. I sincerely hope not.

Patrick

Adding to this thought, I suspect when the day comes that lead shot is banned demand and price for classic doubles will fall off a cliff for all but the high condition high grade guns and even those may be effected.

[John Taddeo]

Ok.. just one more cent.. When a restorers name is featured in the "Parker Story" and has an interview on CNN and is the title of this thread I have got to say it will and is used as a selling feature (just watch an online gun site) and whether we like it or not does affect price.. Is it still a restored piece.. Yes.. But does "Joes gun restorations down the street" ever appear in a description or in a publication.. Nope... The others are either a Turnbull, or a "well done restoration".. I have to say I love em all and have no bias to ones choice.. Look on the bright side, its pretty damn hard to butcher "Joes Restoration..