Mullering Tool

Jerry Andrews · 03-18-2011, 07:00 AM

Does anyone know for sure how Parker cut the mullering border on their guns? I can do it but I'm jumping through hoops. Did Parker have a checkering tool that did it all in one pass? I've studied this under a loop and can't find an evidence to point me one direction or the other. Maybe the info is one of the many Parker books? I have them all, but can't find it unless I've overlooked it. I just bought a Trojan 16 with untouched wood, in top notch shape and studied that border hard. Still...no evidence one way or the other. From a stockmakers point of view, man did they ever have their act together! And the older the gun the better the quality. Jerry.

Bruce Day · 03-18-2011, 07:08 AM

Jerry, I thought you were an L C Smith man.

I've never seen the information in any book and I am not aware that anyone knows. I know how its done today, but whether that is the same, no one knows. You want awestriking quality, look at an upper grade, turn of the century damacus gun like some I have been showing. And amazingly, that same quality and attention and attention to detail can be found in the G's and D's of the period. That's why I just shake my head when somebody comes on here and asks whether $2500 is too much to pay for an unbutchered, nice condition DH with skeleton butt and damascus barrels.

Jerry Andrews · 03-18-2011, 07:25 AM

Bruce, I'm a Smith man for sure but you guys have turned me on to these older Parker guns and the quality is just unreal! I get Parkers in for repair from time to time and I restock several a year and being anal retentive on the stuff I'm just curious as to how it was done originally. Someone must know. I use a tool from Brownells, the round bottom cutter, after using a 26 LPI cutter to put a light line where the bottom of the mullering will be, then add the border line with the regular tool, cut the mullered portion, go back and clean up the lines inside and outside of the mullered area. It looks like the Parker style mullering but I'm really jumping through hoops to get there. I'm not against the process taking so long when the results are good unless there is another way that still retains the quality. Jerry

Smoothebore · 03-18-2011, 07:31 AM

Jerry, Let us know if you find or devise a mullering tool. I've done it with a beading tool for the groove each side, followed by a small gouge for the center cut. If there was a single tool it sure would be easier and more accurate.

Dave

ch · 03-18-2011, 07:37 AM

I'm still lookin for all those 2500 dollar nice d grades the one i liked was 6500 and i can't find it anymore.

Bruce Day · 03-18-2011, 08:45 AM

Exactly right Calvin. That's why we have always recommended that a person know his guns, know what to look for and then when the right one is found at a rational price to move quickly and not quibble much because you might lose the deal. Just like buying land. Just remember that when you are looking at guns on the internet , everybody else is looking at them too.

A good show to go to is the spring Tulsa show. I can go down and back in a day, although it might mean an overnighter for you. There is probably the best selection of Parkers there of any place in the central US, but even so, there are not a lot. You might see 50 Parkers for sale, some rationally priced, some the dealer is dreaming.

Big Friend Ten (BFT) · 03-18-2011, 10:32 AM

An older friend taught me, "You can always sell but you cannot always buy!"

Remembering this I snatched up my 2nd HE Super Fox from an Internet auction last Sunday at a very, very reasonable price

The gun shop owner told me that he had had a few callers who wanted to stop by later in the week and look it over. What were they thinking?

Jerry Andrews · 03-18-2011, 02:32 PM

I silver soldered 1/2 of a 26 LPI cutter to a round bottom tool. I ground 1/2 the 26 LPI cutter off, took two of them actually as you need a cutter on each side. I like to travel left to right when I checker so my left side is smooth, it doesn't cut as it needs to ride in the border that was cut when the pattern was cut. It works great! It's a pain in the rectum to make however, took nearly 4 hours! I have it now however so I guess it's worth it. This thread prompted me to give it a go and it turned out pretty darn neat! Jerry

GH-16 · 03-18-2011, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Ouellette

An older friend taught me, "You can always sell but you cannot always buy!"

Remembering this I snatched up my 2nd HE Super Fox from an Internet auction last Sunday at a very, very reasonable price

The gun shop owner told me that he had had a few callers who wanted to stop by later in the week and look it over. What were they thinking?

Your a lucky man. If this is the H.E I'm thinking of. I had just open the posting for that H.E. I looked at the pictures and before I could mash the buy now button it sold while I watched.

I knew it would sell quick and I decided to take the chance & buy without asking questions & you still beat me to it.

Good luck with it and all the best!

Big Friend Ten (BFT) · 03-18-2011, 08:56 PM

Thanks. I didn't need to look for long.

Sometimes even I get lucky!