Gil,
I've seen some Darnes (and other types of shotguns, truth be told) that were worn enough I didn't consider them safe to fire.
This one has no perceivable wear. The dovetailed face plate is still straw colored, no signs of gases leaking past the primer at all:
But, all is not well. I'll tinker a bit. Looking at a dismantled gun with a bunch of different numbers on the bits sure gives me a sick feeling. I do know it has sat in a closet in White Bear Lake, MN, since WWII with zero use or maintenance.
And the closet had pale green paint on the walls.
Reality is I don't need another gun, but, another project will keep me out of the pool hall.
Best,
Ted
