This is all very good advice and I thank all respondents.

I have been offered a 1904 H&H Royal that was restocked in 1980 by H&H and the price seems reasonable. Before I have it sent to New England Custom for their professional opinion, is here anything I should be wary of in a gun of this age?

Everything is tight and it hasn't been peened or any other nonsense. It was gone over by H&H at the time or restocking.

I'm not looking for a trap gun to put thousands of rounds thru it but rather a nice-handling English game gun. I am particularly fond of H&H Royals both in appearance and the way they feel to me. And this one fits!

Are there any snakes lurking in the grass with Royals of this age?

Many thanks