Live Bird Guns
 

It would be my opinion that a seriously owned and used live bird gun with no alterations to stock or pad would be among the scarcest of the rare. Take a look at some of those Iron Men of Gundom; rags wrapped around the wrist, rasp marks on the comb.
I have a safety less VHE live bird with the same engraving covering the safety slot patch. It has had its monte carlo removed and replaced, the toe adjusted and at least two pitch adjustments still show. I shot it for several years in my club trap league, and filed a little on it myself.
Best, Austin

The gun seems fine for the price you paid if the barrels are OK. Get a PGCA letter. The provenance will determine how much you put into the restoration. You may come up with an original owner who was a famous shooter. Let us know about the letter.

recieved letter today, started as a pistol grip, and proceeded as follows. According to order book 94, the gun was returned on Dec. 18, 1915 by J.H. Stevenson in wisner Ne.to restock with straight guard1 1/2 by 2" take off safty (free) and clean out barrels. now the question is who is J. H. Stevenson