Robert - thanks for the information. It's nice to know the specifics. I'd thought about ordering the PCGA letter, but couldn't get the computer here to cooperate. Will try later on the laptop.
Jack - you're correct about its history. It was originally owned by E.L. Essley. He was born in western Illinois, and wound up in Chicago having started a machining company around 1910. He enjoyed hunting and would often come back to the family farm to do so. He tried to introduce pheasants to this area in the 1920s, but they didn't "take." He eventually gave the gun to my grandfather, who didn't hunt and it's been stored since then. (probably 70-80 years)
The bores are generally shiny; the left one appears to have some pitting and a score at 9 and 12 o'clock and the right one may have a few scratches or it may be dirt. There's got to be a cleaning kit around; will ask my brother where it is.
I'm kind of torn about what to do with it. I have no children. My brother has two young daughters who I doubt would have much interest, and their lives will be changing so much over time that they wouldn't want to drag it around with them.
We could donate it to the local museum that the original owner endowed, but then it would just hang on the wall and gather dust. Seems a shame for it to end up that way. We're in no hurry at this point, but we do need to get a decision made some time.
With its age, is this something that could actually be used in the field? I remember lots of brass shells in the attic, but those have been gone for years.
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