Hi, First I wanted to say what a great resource you all have here. I inherited 4 double guns that belonged to my Grandfather and great grandfather. I have been able to find out much about them from here and last weekend near Gettysburg I took a 1939 Field Grade 12 gauge and killed 2 pheasants with some of the loads I inherited with the guns.

My great grandfather was a physician and avid bird hunter according to my father. In the lot was a 1906 16 gauge grade 2 with crown steel barrels in decent shape. Quail on one side and woodcock on the other. The left side has a small ding barely visible about a 1/5th way down the bore and a very small patch of pitting inside the breach on that side. Other than that those barrels look pristine to my eye and the gun seems solid.

I would like a bring all the guns to a localish smith that knows what they are doing and have this gun inspected, serviced, glass bed, and perhaps elongate the chambers so I don't need $160 a box 2 1/2 shells. I have a old box of paper shells the gun came with, but they are 2 3/4 inch and although they fit perfectly I've read they are not for this gun...!

I would like to offset the cost of this restoration a little by selling the field grade featherlite 12 gauge and other 12 Ga American arms hammer gun. Both of these are unsafe to shoot by my eye from pitting and stock issues. I would love one day to pass this heirloom 16 on to my son and hunt with it a bit in the meanwhile.

I am a hunter mostly not a collector.

I live in mid Northern Maryland and would like to find a good smith in driving distance that can help me with all that.

thanks again,
Greg

gregaragan@hotmail.com