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A quick update:

Yes the Paradox arrived into my hands!

As I suspected from the photos before the purchase, it was covered with a layer of brown dried oil applied over the many years since it was born in 1893.

My judicious and very careful cleaning cleared away that old cruddy dried oil to reveal a like-new, unused masterpiece underneath. I haven't posted more photos because I haven't had the time to photograph this stunning example of art. But I will!

Well, I guess I did take one quick photo after cleaning. Here it is, but not well done. You can get an idea of how fabulously beautiful this gun really is without its brown coat of old dried oil:

Here's the "before cleaning" picture:

And here's the "after cleaning" picture, similar pose, very poor light with a lot of glare. All the original colors are there.

Quite a change, wouldn't you say?

I've spent a good deal of time gathering information about the Paradox guns and about proper techniques for loading ammunition for them. I bought a copy of Paradox, Vol. 1 by David Baker and Roger Lake and have read most of its interesting information also.

A prominent "gun person" who has an extensive collection of Paradox guns and much experience shooting them inspected my 10b and pronounced, "If you ever want to know what one looked like the day it was delivered from the Holland & Holland factory, this is the one to see." He was kind enough to supply me with a few bullets cast from his mold.

My "enabling friend", Watson577, and I cobbled together eight rounds for the gun and took it to the range on August 20, 2016. I let him do the honors of the first shots. Here is a video he made as I fired my first two shots from this gun:

Curl fires his first 2 rounds from his 1893 H&H 10b Paradox.

You will notice I got konked on the nose by my thumb knuckle on the first shot. My long ape arms and long neck prefer a little more wood!

My first two shots were fired at a target set at 50 yards. For never having pulled the triggers prior to those shots, the gun did reasonably well. Here is my target. The first shot (right) is in the black. The left was pulled a bit to the left. Load development and more shooting will refine my skills and the proper load.

I have ordered a mold, which I hope to have this fall. Watson577, the wizard who started this mess, has promised to help me with loading dies. It will all come together in due course and should be a passle of fun.

470evans, I wish I could take it afield in search of pigs. We don't have those critters in my neck of the woods. Maybe I will bowl over a white tail deer.

Stand by for more pictures, coming soon.

Curl