FINALLY got back from Mexico City (What NICE "next door neighbors" we have!) and got my "new" 333 out of the California 10-day waiting period "gun jail."
Metal is about 95%, with minor wear on sharp edges, and one little spot of surface rust on the side of the top barrel under the forend wood (bronze wool and Kroil made it go away). Ejectors work great; selector selects; bores are pristine; no nicks or dents in the rib.
Stock is an amateur (I hope) restock with what for some reason screams "Fajen" wood to me. The wood itself is of just-less-than-exhibition grade, with the "sunburst" burl grain in the comb radiating toward the pistol grip but not to it or in the wrist (properly laid out blank). American black walnut; medium brown. Has a Fajen metal grip cap. Forend is a reverse-taper to a rather clubby rounded forend tip; I think I remember that Fajen advertised this style for skeet guns, which this one apparently was.
I say that the restock is "amateur" because the fitting is not quite up to even my rather low standards. My other Valmets, stocked in Finland, are a low-end gun for them (the original "Lion" 27 1/2" 12), another 333 (a 28" 12), and a 330 "Magnum" 12 w/30" barrels. All have closer wood-to-metal fit than this gun. The Pachmyer pad is also ill-fitted. Stock is uncheckered, which is not a problem for me at all.
That's the "bad news". HOWEVER, for what I paid for this gun and what I want it for (a beater) it seems like a very good deal. There is PLENTY of "meat" to reshape this (did I say "clubby"?) stock into a neat sporter, and a new pad is easy. Only question is whether I can do the job myself to my own satisfaction???? Gonna take some planning and figuring, and elbow grease if I take it on.
BTW, the seller, Michael Murphy and Sons of KS, was excellent to deal with. I'll cruise their site regularly now.
