Most of us mortals cannot afford to pay someone to put the action engraving on the old guns that show up from time to time.

I was taught to look for:

Engraving 1st, barrels 2nd, stock 3rd.

Wood can be restocked /repaired.
Barrels can be sleeved or replaced.
Engraving is a priceless lost art that cannot be replaced.

Buy the action, fix the rest.

My 2 cents.

Joe