Anything worth real money, lets say over 1K, gets sent straight to Kirk Merrington, prior to the seller sending it to me. I've discovered this thing called the UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, that will deliver, and, return, for a fee, all my guns that need an inspection, which, is anything with two barrels, that wasn't purchased locally. I can't remember the last gun I bought locally, but, it would have been sent to Kirk before I parted with cash, anyway. Hence, not having a 'smith I trust in the neighborhood is a moot point.
You should try it.
What never ceases to amaze me are the things a good gunsmith can find wrong on a double gun I've looked over already. Barrels that ring pretty really don't tell you a whole lot.
If the seller is unwilling to have the gun inspected, at my expense, he can keep it.
The other stuff, say, anything that pumps or autoloads, I can handle the inspection process OK, going by past results.
Best,
Ted
