This is my first post on this great board.
After many years of looking at pictures and reading about the Darne sliding breech and its great handling characteristics, I finally got my hands on one. It's a sweet little 20-gauge R15 made in 1970 and imported by Firearms Center, Inc. a few years later. With 25.5" barrels and a sunken rib, it weighs 5.6 pounds and points about like you'd expect. It has a few battle scars, and the fit, finish, and engraving all fall a bit short of the best R15s from either the old Darne or the current Bruchet-Darne production, but I love the gun and expect it will be near the top of my modest grouse-quail-woodcock arsenal for the duration.
My question is whether anyone can recommend a gunsmith with experience working on these guns. There's an issue with the safety that clearly needs to be resolved, and I'd like it given a general check-up, cleaning, and lube. I know of at least two smiths with national reputations and have emailed both. One didn't return my email, while communication from the other has been inconsistent and spotty enough to lead me to seek other options.
I'm in Nashville and would love to find someone in or near Tennessee, but the main thing is finding a smith who knows these guns who will answer emails and give straight answers to basic questions.
I'd be grateful for any suggestions!
