Warden Callaway Posted February 11, 2018 Posted February 11, 2018 (edited) As part of a three project gun purchase, I got a Parker DH 12 gauge shotgun without barrels. It was a jigsaw puzzle with a couple of parts missing. Having no experience with a Parker shotgun and already disassembled, it was a challenge to get it back together. I've been searching for a set of barrels for this gun since I got it. The only advantage I had was that it was a 12 gauge built on the most common frame size for that gauge. Two weeks ago a set came up on eBay. By exchanging messages with the guy that had them up for sale, the critical dimensions looked like they should fit. I opted for the "buy now" deal rather than wait for the auction to close. Last Thursday they came. They were in great shape inside with less great finish outside. It looks like rust had been brushed off. But the ribs were solid and had the extractor and other small parts that made it complete. It was anxious wait for the barrels to arrive and for the moment I could tell if the gamble was going to pay off. The "lump" on the replacement barrel was a few thousandth thicker than the mortus of the action. Just a few thousandth, but I proceeded with caution and used hones to take the with down until they finally snapped shut. What a sigh of releaf. The next part of the puzzle is fitting the forend. It is REAL close but I'm not decided where a little metal needs to be taken off. I'm not rushing it. When I get the puzzle finished, I'll decide if it will be worth having the barrels professionally refinished or try something myself or just leave them as they are. The action still has a great amount of color case and the wood is excellent. Edited March 6, 2018 by Warden Callaway Quote
John Boy Posted February 11, 2018 Posted February 11, 2018 Warden - don't you just love it when a plan and a source come together? I had a similar barrel issue with a SKB 500 O/U - ribs completely gone and a bulged barrel. Found a website in AZ that sells barrels - they had a barrel. And would you believe the serial number was 23 digits off the serials on the shotgun? Tad of honing on the cross bolt - fit perfectly Quote
Mud Marine,SASS#54686 Life Posted February 11, 2018 Posted February 11, 2018 I congratulate you on purchasing the Parker. I really enjoy the 8 gauge 4-1/4" that belonged to my great, great grandfather.He lived to 112. He passed away as a result of the pneumonia he contracted during duck hunting when he jumped into our creek to rescue his retriever. Quote
Warden Callaway Posted February 13, 2018 Author Posted February 13, 2018 A ta-daaa! Milestone today. I've spent a lot of time with small files and stones fitting the barrels to the action. I just got the forend fitted this afternoon. The old gun is missing 4 small screws but I have found a source. The next step is to decide if I want to get the barrels refinished or not. They are solid and shine inside but have had rust outside that has been wire brushed off. Next test, load some brass hulls with black powder and see if it shoots! Quote
Warden Callaway Posted March 2, 2018 Author Posted March 2, 2018 (edited) I got the last 4 screws yesterday. I was able to fit and time 3 of the four with only a little work and patients. The hammer screw lock screw on the left side bottomed out but was still proud about 10/1000. I was taking it out to see if there was something under the screw or if the head needed shortened when half the head broke away. CRAP! I put it up for the day. I know better then keep going when things go wrong. Afrer "sleeping on it", I took a fresh look this morning. I had backed the screw out a good bit - enough I could get a small pair of vice grips on it and screw it out. Wanting to get something that looked better than an empty hole, I took the smallest scope base screw in my assortment and turned the head down and cut back the underside to the right thickness. Then ground the threads off and reduced it to a diameter small enough to drop into the threaded hole. Basically, I made a "faux" screw. Obviously, it doesn't screw in but fits nicely and looks good - kind of like a glass eye looks better than an empty socket. Edited March 2, 2018 by Warden Callaway Quote
watab kid Posted March 3, 2018 Posted March 3, 2018 warden , that is one fantastic looking shotgun , be proud of that save , most of us would not have that fortitude - it looks too nice to shoot Quote
Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life Posted March 3, 2018 Posted March 3, 2018 Wonderful work. An old Parker deserves to be saved to shoot another day. Quote
J-BAR #18287 Posted March 3, 2018 Posted March 3, 2018 15 hours ago, Warden Callaway said: it doesn't screw in but fits nicely and looks good - kind of like a glass eye looks better than an empty socket. No one but you would ever notice it. Well done! Quote
Warden Callaway Posted March 3, 2018 Author Posted March 3, 2018 7 hours ago, J-BAR #18287 said: No one but you would ever notice it. Well done! It won't pass the Parker collector's sniff test!. I posted the same picture over on Doubleguns forum and was quickly told the two screws I just put in were supposed to be aligned with the slots horizontal, not vertical. I have a 77 Corvette and use to go to the big Corvette show in Bloomington Illinois. There was a standing joke that the judges would sniff the air in the tires to see if it was from St Louis and of the correct year. Quote
Imis Twohofon,SASS # 46646 Posted March 4, 2018 Posted March 4, 2018 Warden I think ya did great. A brave thing you did bringing the Parker back from near death. Now go shoot the stuffin out of it and dont let the tire sniffers near it. Imis Quote
Warden Callaway Posted March 6, 2018 Author Posted March 6, 2018 I got the Parker DH done and shot it Sunday afternoon. Here is the video of the event. Quote
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted March 6, 2018 Posted March 6, 2018 Absolutely Dynomite!! Way too cool to see the old gun come back to life. Quote
Warden Callaway Posted March 8, 2018 Author Posted March 8, 2018 This morning the sun came up and the wind stopped howling so I took the old Parker over to the guy I'd gotten it from to show him. He had a big smile on his face when he handled it. He got his lit magnifyne glass out to check the details. He gave me a passing grade. The part he liked best was "snick" sound it made when the barrels were closed. I learned some more history of the gun. He had had it for over 30 years and had the receiver re-color case hardened and new wood made but the project was put on hold for lack of barrels. The guy he got them from had already destroyed the original barrels in an effort to rebuild them with new steel tubes. I think he was having someone make a set of barrels but they passed away before getting them made. It's not really warm out but it's comfortable enough to go shoot the old gun. Quote
Warrior Ridge Rambler Posted March 9, 2018 Posted March 9, 2018 Congratulations! Beautiful work on putting the old gun back together. Just gotta love those vintage side by sides... Quote
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