16ga VH - Good restoration candidate?
I dug this one out of an estate auction and it may need a bit more than a little TLC. 1907 16ga 0 frame. Mechanically excellent, wood is in good shape despite having a metal pin insert and a newer recoil pad (probably from the last 30-40 years). The stock crest is missing or was removed (don't understand the logic behind that move).
Bunch of the screws are a bit buggered and the blueing is in poor shape - someone obviously took a brush to the receiver and barrels to remove surface rust (an evidence of pitting remains). Barrels have some pitting right at the end of the chambers (or gouges from shooting 2 3/4 shells in a 2 1/2 chamber?). Brace on the trigger-guard is a bit messed up.
Regardless, I have never had any sort of restorations done with any of my doubles (I really relish the history of them). I'd like to get it checked out, have the barrels evaluated and have a partial restoration done so it can be a good working piece for me. I'm looking for some recommendations on how to proceed or what you might want to do and some good smith recommendations.
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