If nothing else, the walnut stock and fore-end are worth saving as repair material for other restorations of late 1800's to early 1900's weapons. Grain and colour will match better when making splices and grafts than trying to use the faster grown post-WWII walnut.
most of these old break open shotguns will feel loose, try an old full legth shotgun shell, likely it will tighten right up with a shell in the chamber,
years ago,
i tackled the same sort of project for a dear friend, when i got the the action tight,..then i couldnt get it to close on a live round. lossened it back up,,worked fine...
hard to explain...but thats how it worked, i wouldnt re plate that shotgun, likey its cast steel, and the reason the plated it in the first place, when you strip cast steel, it will open up pores on the surface, and you will never get them to go away...
hate to say it...some oil, and hang it on the wall.....that ol girl has earned the retirement.
warpath metal finishing contact info. molinenorski@msn.com
720-841-1399 during normal bus, hours.
BTW, the chamber is likely shorter than 2 3/4"! There are speciality ammo manufacturers that do the old time short shells such as 2" and 2 1/2"(?), but you won't find them in most stores.
you can find the short brass shells available on some cowboy action sites.
i found a few for a customer a while back, you have to do some digging, but you can find em
warpath metal finishing contact info. molinenorski@msn.com
720-841-1399 during normal bus, hours.
Thanks for all of the input from everyone.
For now I will do a good cleaning and oiling and leave her as is until my schedule eases a bit.
I wish that I could have been more involved with the attempts to ID the old girl and apologize for not interacting with you all for the last couple weeks. Work has been very demanding lately and I’m averaging 70 to 80 hours per week.
They are even asking us to work Christmas day!
Look at the bright side, with all of this overtime I’ll be shopping for my next milsurp.
What do you all think of the unissued Yugo M24/47 Mausers that are going for a couple hundred bucks lately?
I have a weakness for old Mausers. My 1950 FN Mauser in .270 Winchester has killed more big game (Bear, Deer, Elk and Antelope) than I can remember. It just plain hits everything that it’s pointed at.
Anymore I just point the FN in their general direction and they surrender.
I’ve tried a few fancy new rifles over the years but always go right back to my trusty FN Mauser.