doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com New project

Thanks for all the advice - it looks like i may have to be patient on this one.
The wood work is nothing special - better than a good many but i have seen much better as well - so i suppose 'middle of the road. The checkering is still reasonably good - so i think i will tackle all the other issues before thinking about the wood work. I am very aware of over restoration of the wood - i think a few dinks and scratches gives a gun character. I certainly don't want to try and restore this to 'as new' condition. Someone has already started to rub the barrels back but there is a fain image of the damascus left under the forend showing nice pattern - so it looks promising.

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbt...2248b253a439780

Oldfarmer:
I just completed a restoration to shooting condition of a vintage L C Smith Grade III gun that was built in 1893. I had it restored along the lines you laid out which is NOT to brand new condition. You'll find some pictures in this thread.
I agree with your approach and will be interested in seeing the final product. I am quite pleased with how mine turned out.
Jim


http://doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=453059#Post453059

Is that a Westley Richards top lever ?

Daryl, I am not sure but I don't think so. The Westley top lever I am familiar with has a sort of cam operation and a sliding piece - This one just rotates but it does have a similar appearance. It looks like a pretty standard double bite locking up action underneath - I'm afraid I am no expert.
I can see there has been a bit of repair carried out to the top of the action and it has been ground off - taking a little of the fence tops away - not sure what all that was about? Looks like someone decided to convert it to percussion and then gave up - now that would have been something - a percussion breach loader??????
John
PS thanks for the info on reloading pin fire.

Someone did try to convert it, but it was to centerfire, not percussion. You see many original pinfires, that had angled firing pins fitted where you see the work done on yours. That would explain the missing hammers as well. They either tried to modify or replace the originals, and that is most likely why they are gone. Probably in some long gone gunsmith's junk box never to be seen again.

I am sure you are right - there is evidence on the breach faces of a repair plugging, what would have been, the pin holes for centre fire. You have to marvel at the trouble some one has gone to to take a pin fire, remove the hammers, drill it to convert it to centre fire - abandon the project but then take the trouble to have the holes filled in to return it to a pin fire - less it's hammers. If you were going to hang it on the wall the holes wouldn't show from underneath. I'm afraid that I don't have any history other than it came from a dealer in Devon or Cornwall who considered it beyond economic repair.
John