Grade 3 10 Gauge
Posted by Kris Kehl on December 2, 2019, 3:56 pm
This weekend I was able to buy my "new" 125 year old Elsie in a Grade 3 10 gauge. I believe it to be unrefurbished in 70ish % condition. Several questions and comments to all of the knowledgeable people out there. 1) Is it a Snipe or a Woodcock? Left plate. Quail on the right plate. (Did people really use 10 gauges on Snipe/Woodcock and/or quail before the turn of the century?) 2)She has a little age to her. There is one crack on the right side beginning near the 2nd trigger running into the checkering. The wood is "loose" but there. 3)There are two small cracks near the screw closest to the trigger guard that are tight cracks that run into the checkering. Both tang screws are a little buggered. Perhaps it was opened up years ago without fixing the external cracks. Now for the 10 cent questions that is always asked... 4) Do I fix the cracks? Or do I let the guy who buys it at my wife's auction worry about that? The Elsie will probably not be shot by me. Do I make it shootable by fixing the cracks? Do I have the stock "head" glassed, if necessary, to make it shootable, (Perhaps a 10 gauge light load down the Damascus tubes for turkey hunting...recommendations accepted) and everyone's question: Will it negatively affect the value by making only repairs, not a complete refurbish job? I believe I read that only 51 Grade 3 10 gauges were made. I want to do what's right for the old Elsie. Thanks for reading my ramblings.
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