I posted this rifle some years back when I joined the forum. After trying it, I found it was seriously cross-eyed and balked at the cost to bring it to standard. Now I think its time.

The rifle is a well-worn Thomas Turner Jones underlever, with non-rebounding hammers, floating firing pins and cross wedge for the forestock. Chambering is in .500/.450 No 1 BP Express 2 3/4".

The first flaw was a crack through the wrist, hidden by glue and freshened checkering. Three of the four fingers of wood between the locks and tangs were coming adrift. I have just collected the rifle from having this repaired by Ken Davis of Perth.

Understand that this is not a museum piece, so my aim is to make it a working rifle and not to perfect it. I had thought this rifle might have been restocked because the wood-to-metal fit was poor at the top tang and there was no rear sling swivel to go with the front one. It has a horn buttplate in fair condition, which is right for its age. Ken thought it may have been the original stock; the poor fit was caused by the fingers of wood coming adrift. Ken used solvents to remove the accumulated oils from the wood which weaken it and make it unable to take glue. He then used machined holes and keyways to add wooden pins and keys to bring the stock into strength and integrity. With the finish, it is not an obvious repair despite being very invasive.

The woodwork changed the relation of the triggers and locks, and that will need correction as what was a perfectly good lock wont stay on cock now. This is likely to be fixed by altering the trigger blades and sear projection.

The other major problem is that the barrels are unsoldered for six inches from the muzzles, and they shoot badly cross-eyed.