That's why I asked if the forend was a replacement. Plus the color is different.

5 birds on the floor plate. Serial number was already checked and its a C as well according to the book. The engraving just doesn't show a lot of variation from Ds in early C guns.

Yes, forend wood is non-original replacement.

The engraving on this gun is pretty typical of most C grade guns. Generally speaking.

Every C has a little bit of variation from gun to gun, but this one has the normal amount of scroll work and border treatment that is normally seen on the grade.

The two major features that start showing up in C grade guns is the use of heavy border designs and the use of organicly shaped wrap-around checkering on the wrist.

I have decided to pass on this gun. Mostly because when I took it out with me on a site visit to the pecan orchards on the north end of the county, there just wasn't any connection made between me and it. It would make a good shooter, but my budget constraints make me a little more picky on guns I get. It is on its way back home as we speak.

The VH 16 ga led a very rough life, monoblocked 20 ga 0 frame chokes were bored out by Marty the blind gunsmith Crooked bore job, off face bad when the forends off! vertical split in restock at metal interface causing very proud wood...your right I should sell it.

What shows on the watertable, above/below the serial number - that will tell you grade.

The grade has never been in doubt. It's serials as a C, it has 5 birds on floor plate like a c, it had titanic barrels, it has wrap around checkering on the stock, it has a 4 and a C on the water table. That has never been in doubt.

I gotta ask..... what is that on the front face of the lug in the close picture of the barrel flat ???

Really thick grease of some kind.

In the picture of the barrel flats there is a "K" stamped close to where the barrel steel type is usually located. Does anyone know what that stands for? Krieghof?