I went to an auction 'up north' just before Xmas and picked up a few cheapies that I have been runningthrough the workshop.
To my surprise I managed to get a plain boxlock by William moore and Grey for..... £5!
The barrels have a few pits, the horn buttplate is abit perished, the wood is a bit (lot) scratched and dented and it was very dirty. however, it was on the face, in proof, rib sound, all workingetc. I have it stripped and cleaned, next I'll re-blue the barrels and re-finish the stock, fit a new butt-plate and take it shooting. all in I recon I'll have spendt about £10 to get it shooting.
I also splashed out on a very nice Charles Ingram boxlock for £45. This is much better qualty with lovely engraving and well-figured, dark walnut stock. Also a bit pitted and dirty but in-proof, sound ribs and on th face. I'm well into fixing this up already and hope to shoot it before the end of teh month.
Even better, I found a nice 30" damascus barrelled hammer gun for £38. Black powder proof, nice engraving, bar-action locks and Jones underlever. I took it out the next day with BP shells and killed three woodcock with my first five shots!
To cap the day, I paid £30 for a nice Walther .22 rimfire. I stained the stock, gave it a Tru-oil finish (I only use Tru-oil on rifles) and slipped on a scope and moderator I had laying around.
I love it that you can still pick up stuff like this and with alittle time and effort get them looking good and shooting birds.
Now you know how i spent my Xmas holidays!
Happy New Year.
