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With this talk by some of all of the trashy Brit rifles around I thought I would start a thread about what to do if you find one. What to look for and how to go about repairing it and what the costs should be.

I don't know exactly where to start but lets assume that you have found a Boxlock Brit rifle that was of good quality. If you are looking at it personally what do you look for?

First bit of advice is to not get emotionally involved. I know it's hard but it can make any rifle seem worth more.

I first look at the overall appearance. Does it show obvious signs of being refinished? Many older guns have been refurbished, some quite a few times. The mark of a good job is that it is not apparent. Look at the screws and see if they are crisp and clean, not buggered by a poorly fitting screw driver (turnscrew). Do the slots all point in the same direction along the longitudinal axis?

Has the action been reblued? Has the engraving been polished? Any rust pitting? Is the blacking wore on the barrels? Are the sites in the proper place or off center?

How is the stock? Originall recoil pad or a replacement? How is the replacement fit? Is it a bad fit or is it flush to the wood? Is the stock original or replaced? If original is it oil soaked around the pistol grip? Are there any chips or repairs? Where are they? Any cracks? Why would it crack?

If a new stock do the forend and butt match? How does the grain run? How good is the inletting? How fine is the checkering? Does it fit you for lop? What is the finish, oil or plastic?

Any thing I have missed on the outside appearance? What else?

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Lovu Zdar
Mick

A Man of Pleasure, Enterprise, Wit and Spirit Rare Books, Big Game Hunting, English Rifles, Fishing, Explosives, Chauvinism, Insensitivity, Public Drunkenness and Sloth, Champion of Lost and Unpopular Causes.

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