Help - Broken Splinter Fore End

[Billy Gross]

This is a good news - bad news story:

I just bought the gun I have been looking for: 20 Ga Parker Repro, 28" Barrels, PG, SST, and a Splinter FE in apparently excellent condition.

I got home from the gun store this afternoon excited about my acquisition and wiped the gun down, cleaned and oiled it. Upon reassemble, the Splinter Fore End broke in two where the release lever is. There must have been a hidden crack or weakness there. I just used normal finger pressure to engage the latch and snap. There was no sign of a previous repair. I called the gun store manager and am bringing the gun back tomorrow at 9:00 to decide what to do. This is a reputable store and I am sure that we will work something out by either returning the gun or repairing it. I would prefer to keep the gun and get the fore end replaced, being it is a nice gun that I got at a fair price (assuming it didn't break).

Now some questions for the sage consultants:

1. Should I get the Fore End repaired or replaced and about how much would that cost?

2. Who would be the "Go To" person for repair or replacement?

3. Does anybody have a 20 Ga Fore End for a Repro that I could buy? Either a Splinter or a Beaver tail would be OK.

Thanx,
Billy