Something To Play With

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Gary Laudermilch

However, it is severly off face probably due to the crack and being out of square. That is the big question. Can it be repaired.

Gary, I'm reasonably sure this gun is a Two Hundred Fifty Dollar Grade, and while you haven't said, the SN is likely well below the 4000 range.
This frame crack in the early dollar grade lifters is not at all uncommon, and has likely been seen, repaired, and returned, with a radius intersection, by better gunsmiths. In my opinion, this should in no way scare off a serious collector. The investment will not be an inconsequential amount, but the gun warrants it, and it will be money well spent.
The breech face to water table is never truly square. If it were, the gun won't open. The longer the water table, the closer to 90 degrees they get, and vice verse.
Without a research letter, you won't know for certain what the original barrel length was.
A very beautiful Grade 3, 12ga. Lifter followed me home today, and I have long been a lover of shooting these beautifully balanced guns

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

Gary, I'm reasonably sure this gun is a Two Hundred Fifty Dollar Grade, and while you haven't said, the SN is likely well below the 4000 range.

This was supposed to say 14000 range, but cat hair and graham cracker crumbs occasionally interfere with the 1 key, actually a bunch of the keys in the top left.

The SN of the subject gun is right about where I expected. There was some over lap between the early frame, without the reinforcing rib and sharp corner, and the improved one. See TPS, Page 102, and pictures, page 104. There were many other changes in addition to this one, but it was all in the high 13K to 16 K range.