I amazes me that I still manage to turn up guns that have been sleeping for decades. Sometimes it seems like everything has been through the trade several times. But not so.....
Just came back from Scotland having picked up a pair of 1898 Joseph Harkom boxlocks in their original blue lined case, lovely gold washed internals and lots of condition. One is a bit thin in the barrels but perfectly shootable and they are lovely. External finish is mostly in tact on the metal work.
On top of that I took a punt on a H. Holland 12-bore hammer gun, turns out that the walls are thick and the pits will come out. I'll nitro proof it in London for 70mm chambers, re-finish the woodwork, brown the 30" damascus barrels and off we go. I love finding grime encrusted old guns and peeling off the crud to find the quality underneath and inside.
It was made in 1870. Dirty fingernails, happy afternoon spent stripping and cleaning the old thing.
I wonder what will turn up next?
