In America we buy old guns based on the barrels. Simply put unless the barrels are good it does not matter about the stock or action. It just becomes a endless or at least a very deep money pit. There is no sleeving option for a few hundred dollars. If the barrels are bad the gun is most likely not worth the effort or price to fix.
So first thing to do is look at the bores. Are they pitted? Do they look like the craters on the moon or the inside of a sewer pipe? How do they look on the outside? What is the wall thickness? You need a setup the check this or have it done. Are the ribs tight? Do they ring like a church bell? Are there any dents? Have they been cut short by some one? If the barrels are in good shape there is always hope.
Next does the action work properly? Does the gun function? Will it go bang? If a hammer gun are the hammers a match or even the correct ones? Saw a nice hammer gun last month with replaced hammers which would not even hit the firing pins. Looked great but not a functional gun anymore.
A gun off face can be put back on face in several ways. They range from a few dollars to many hundreds. Proof loads are not readily available here.
So just look at the gun and go down the list. If every thing is a yes it might be worth doing if you can do most of the work yourself. But before you dump big money into a project gun look around and see what a decent shooter would be worth in a Baker hammer gun. Perhaps $300-500 so do not put more than that much into the best one of your guns.
