Joseph Lang restoration complete

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

I love the rib pattern. Nice contrast to the barrels.

[Hammer Fan]

Thank you for the compliments everyone. It was a fun project and I learned a lot. About the only way I will ever be able to afford a high end gun is to buy them "junked out" and do the restoration myself to get them back into shooting condition.

Fortunately, Atkin, Grant and Lang still have the records on Joseph Lang guns, and I was able to get a research letter on mine. Not nearly as thorough as our Parker research letters, but records still exist as to the date it was completed, basic gun configurations, and the original purchaser.

Now on to the fun part. I am hoping to get some serious shooting time with it in the next couple of weeks, then off to the grouse and woodcock coverts this fall.

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Forrest Grilley

Thank you for the compliments everyone. It was a fun project and I learned a lot. About the only way I will ever be able to afford a high end gun is to buy them "junked out" and do the restoration myself to get them back into shooting condition.

absolutley nothing wrong with that, I like it when one is saved from wearing away.

When I did a lot of French and Indian war reenacting met I one of the founding four of the Vintagers, he was actually a pretty talented gunsmith (got to handle a 20 bore double flintlock fowler he built new - really nice) - he laughingly called his process "bottom feeding"

[Setter Man]

Now that's a shotgun. Gotta love English guns. Even the lower tiered manufacturers produced guns with better engraving than 99% of the American manufacturers, including Parker.

[Alligator]

IMHO their ain't anything lower grade about a Lang, at least none of the sidelocks I've handled. Of course he was related to the Purdeys by marriage. Lee.

[Mike]

Beautiful work!!

[Paul P.]

Very nicely done. You have much to be proud of.

[Steve McCarty]

What a wonderful finish on the stock and the browning is perfect. Just great work! You could hang out your shingle...very, very nice indeed.

[Setter Man]

Originally Posted by lee r moege

IMHO their ain't anything lower grade about a Lang, at least none of the sidelocks I've handled. Of course he was related to the Purdeys by marriage. Lee.

I certainly did not mean to imply Lamgs are lower grade guns.