[Vlad Vladykin]

Thank you, guys, very much for all the comments and advise.

I am posting some more detailed (?) pictures of the engravings. As you can see, I am done restoring the stock. Looks good to me and should hold on the range (fingers crossed). Had to spend some time filing the wood/epoxy for the precise fit. I ended up making the back through-the-stock screw myself : it looks like it was replaced before and the hole was so badly damaged from all the drilling the bits out that I had to re-cut it at 10-32. Then I just got regular flat head bolt, grinded the head to make a close fit and cut it to size. I don't think I could have done better with replacement bolt there: the hole would have been too big for it to grab.

George, Gregory and Harry, THANKS for the pointers, I'll contact Mike for sure for a refferal to a good gunsmith, hopefully, closer then Duluth.

Kevin, thanks for the WD40 advise. I soaked the action for some time in CLP -- seemed to help. The bores are nice and shiny, no pitting.

Next I plan to order the letter and contact a good local gunsmith for an inspection.

By the way, I found couple of sourses for black powder shells online. Ouch, they are expensive! $32 for 25 shots? Any better deals out there?

Thanks again.

Vlad