doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Restoration Fork in the road

I have seen a good many guns in far worse condition being proudly owned and shot. The majority of work costs you only time, but the laser welding costs, time, fuel and money. Is the financial return if you sold the gun really worth all the aggravation? It's your call at the end of the day but knowing you, I reckon it will be two Grants cch'd, how about the cost of re-inlaying the gold SAFE on two guns???

Heh. I know, knowing me I'm going to go for it, but I'm just taking stock..quite literally. I can get the gold inlay done cheaply enough I think Salopian. Laser welding I can probably get done for 60-70 quid cash...and the rest...as you say is my time...if I'm lucky and get it right then they might look quite nice all CCH'd etc.

Composed pair of best Grants in original double case with label? You tell me...

T

How much of that patch of pitting below 'SAFE' actually shows with the safety button in place and in the 'safe' position. It might be covered.
Or in the least what little shows can be filed & polished out.
Perhaps the remaining areas on the top tang can be filed out and recut w/o welding too.
If you do weld around the gold inlay,,remove the gold first so it doesn't melt and flow into the weld.

They're beautiful, quality shotgun(s), I think they deserve the work to put them right.

If they're going for re-sale, those pits will be a tire kickers delight especially if other work shows on the guns.
Restore them IHMO. Then you'll never have to make an excuse for the pitting when showing them.

Thanks Kutter. I tend to agree with you. All views gratefully read and considered.

T

Tony: If those were my guns I would vote for restoration esp if I could convince myself there would be no warpage in the case hardening process. In fact I believe the English have the right idea on this restoration process because the English look at it as proper gun maintenance. In America a renovated gun is considered 'not original' and is looked down upon.....which I think is just poppycock. For example, I would much rather have a pretty old reconditioned Parker, on face with nice case colors than 'an original' worn out piece of junk. Many collectors would disagree.

tony: my money is on you the results will be excellent
and look as it should. my best

If it were my gun I'd be fixing the pitting and having the engraving repaired. As for the case colors I'd likely have them done also. The problem is this is not cheap or simple. If I were welding it I'd have everything annealed first. Not doing it could lead to porosity in the weld area and make welding the edges without any undercut more difficult. As for the weld process I am a TIG welder for nearly 30 years so that would be my choice. You don't need any special equipment just experience. Choose someone who is familiar with gum repair not just the welder in the neighborhood. I really do not know anything about laser welding and I do not know anyone who does it so I can't tell you if it is a good choice or if it is cost effective. Having said all that in the end you may well have to anneal the parts again after welding in order to reshape and polish the parts. The engraver will need the parts soft also. The parts will need to be re hardened after all is restored. To have case color or not is up to you but either way it is one more heat treatment to add to the cost. I believe that the gold inlay has already been mentioned also. Another cost. If you decide this is all a waste of your time you can send the guns to me and I'll put them in my scrape bin for you. Good luck with the project. Post some pictures when it is done.

Bill G.

Hi Buzz, yes agree. Pod, many thanks for the confidence.

Bill, I do all the filing and colour ase hardening myself. I will anneal the action too before laser welding. The laser welding will be done by probably the best in the business over here and he does a lot of other gun parts for the trade in Birmingham. He is in West Brom himself. So in terms of cost it's just my time..bar the laser welding. I've also got my engraving contact at Price Street. I'm lucky that they have become friends to a certain extent and they are just great.

Seems I'm swaying towards the full restore!

T

Collectors aren't interested in worn out pieces of junk Parkers unless it's so rare they have no choice.

Come on jOe...you know what I mean...a redone Parker, no matter how well done will have very little collector interest as compared to original.