It's a top lever gun. Here is the note from my friend
"I received that John Krider SXS. It is a Top Lever, the only one I have ever seen. The others were front stuffers. This SXS is in very good mechanical condition, locks are tight, B lock up tight, wood is very solid with all the diamond point checkering being very sharp with few dings or dents. , the engraving is quiet extensive and is done by a 19th century master..very tight, fine and well executed, the bores are still shiny with just a bit of pitting in the right bore from storage issues.
The down side to this one is that it was poorly stored and the gun was crusty before it was sold. the engraving for the most part is still very sharp and not damaged. The wood is a dark black walnut. The B show a lot of exterior pitting and staining. The Receiver shows mostly staining and even some case in the protected parts. This gun was not shot alot and was mostly taken care of until at some point someone really neglected it and let the exterior get rusty and crusty.
I am ususally against restoring or refinishing a gun, but in this case I would not be adverse as I think restoring correctly would enhance its value. John Krider guns are very valuable as he was a high end maker. In this paticular gun the fit of wood to metal is flawless. The water table on the B is marked ML and has an 84 stamped on them. I think the 84 is for 1884. There is no SN so this is a one off gun.
Anyway the Receiver would have to be recased and the barrels would either need to be rust blued or black/brown and white?
I am wondering if the stock could be bleached in some fashion to see if the figure in the wood can come out, the stock is very dark as if oil has penetrated it...however I am not sure about that? The major question is the cost of a restoration and its value once done. I would also like to be able to shoot light BP loads through this one. As I am very fond of Kriders work this is a keeper. "
all I got.
Last edited by dubbletrubble; 11/06/09 05:57 PM.
