A fellow PGCA member, Phil Yearout, took some photos of the Trojan 20 gauge, for me this weekend. He and others have identified some things that need fixing. As I am finding with this gun and any that are not demanding top $ prices, there are things that drive the seller to a lower price point. In several cases they are obvious, and some of these are more subtle to this novice.
First, let's look at the obvious; the forend, which has hardware that is s/n matched but my untrained eye suggests this is not original wood.
Second let's look at the possible crack in the stock near the trigger guard/action.
Then we must look at the dent/ding in the right barrel.
Next, the screws are out of index and buggered up.
We also see the top lever a little off of center.
We probably also have some oil saturation of the wood surrounding the action.
The extractors are so gummed up we spent 15 minutes getting them working well enough to put the gun back together so I would expect the same from the rest of the "innards".
For now let me say that I believe all of these things are repairable and most can be done by mere mortals with basic knowledge and skills of a gunsmith. I am not that person but am on a journey to add those skills to my repertoire. What I can't beg someone to help me do, or can do myself, I will farm out to professionals who do know how to do these things.
My intent is to show that someone with minimal skills, even less $, can with the help of some good friends (the afore mentioned ne'er do wells), take a gun that is really in need of some TLC and turn it back into the wonderful tool it was initially manufactured to be.
I told "the guys", over an adult beverage, while on a hunt this fall, that they had me hooked on Parkers. That I was now looking for a gun. That I preferred a small bore in 16 or 20 gauge. And that I wanted it for cheap.
I realize that last statement is relative. But hey, I could run to my local box store and get a synthetic stock parkerized barrel gun and be hunting by dark! Don't forget the camo face-paint. Now what would be the fun in that?
Come on a long it will be even less expensive for y'all, 'cuz by-standing is free.