George,

You have taken a very sound decision in more ways than one. Christian Ducros, one of France's finest gunmakers, uses Baikal actions (which he modifies heavily, of course) to build some of his masterpieces on. I also keep hearing about a planned project in the UK to rebuild Baikals and offer tough, budget price but fancier guns there.

The Baikals are superbly reliable guns and some TLC is bound to make them much more attractive. Prof Higgins and Eliza Doolittle, if you ask me.

Good hunting!