Glad to hear the thumb is healing. Nice work as always David!

That is one amazing piece of craftmanship and an amazing restoration job! Do you know when it might have been built originally? 1850's or earlier?

Shotgun refurb..........
 

Very nice job! What condition are the bores in? Damascus barrels, but are they good enough to shoot some black powder shells? On another topic, some poor Frenchman probably went back to the haystack later to retrieve his grandfather's shotgun only to find that it was "hors de combat"!

Fred I wouldn't shoot it. It was nice looking but not solid enough to shoot IMHO.

Any idea of its value?

Nice work. That is a really nice old piece and the detail is amazing!

Peter I would put it's resale value low, like $4-600, given it's condition and the fact that you can't shoot it. Well not if you are a reasonable person.

Beautiful work Dave.
When can I put something fun in the line?
I have a Brno 22f with double set triggers and butter knife bolt handle well worth your magic touch. Very little repair, mostly cosmetic.

Hi Henry, You may send it any time you like. Currently I have 15 ahead of you but if it's just cosmetics I can squeeze it in between jobs. I'm working on an insurance job from a house fire that needs to be done on time. You know the shop address.

How did you fix the stock?

Nice work!

It was "repaired" before. It's always fun to re-do somebody's handy work. I had to heat it to soften the old glue and separate the two pieces. I planed them and used acra glas tinted to join them. Then an airbrush and violin fret board dye to match and blend the repair to the rest of the wood. You can see it but you have to look hard. That was the hardest part of the job.

Very nice work.

Any interest in doing a "working" resto on a Colt 1903 or an FN 1910? They've been in my collection for a while and they get shot regularly, but they're both in need of some lovin' that my meager skills can't provide.

Henry Schmidt has a guy that does fabulous work on those old Colts. Get him to get you connected. Or you can send it to Colt. They will do it for around $250 or so. I don't do them any more as I cannot duplicate the original finish on them.

My friend has a MAS-36 rifle that he got from his father. Pretty rusty, and I haven't looked at the bore. I don't believe that they're worth too much.

I've looked at making an electrolysis tank to remove the rust. I don't know how deeply pitted the rust is. Have you done this before? Is it easy and worthwhile?

That's a military weapon. Those were pretty rough hewn to start with. I would glass bead it and throw it in the bluing tank. The wood is your choice. Military guns are worth more "as is".

love the craftsmanship, both in the original, and yours in bringing it back.

Thanks Bird
The BRNO is heading your way today. I'll send you a tracking number when I have it.
Cheers

10-4 that.