Hey Canvasback, good to meet another Ontarian on here. What neck of the woods are you located? I'm up on the North Shore of Superior, in Thunder Bay.
I'm seriously considering doing as you say, its a minor risk with their nice guarantee. I would love a recommendation of who to take it to - with Nick gone, and our local guy retired (he was a rifle guy anyhow, this would have been out of his wheelhouse), I'm lacking in the gunsmith dept.
Pat, I'm down along the shore of Lake Ontario east of Toronto, town called Port Hope. Pretty much 900 miles from you by highway. Although I'm pretty familiar with TB. Originally from Winnipeg, and a lot of time spent in NW Ont. Sold one of my project Foxes to a fellow up there who, with some gunsmith friends of mine, turned it into part of a match pair of Fox 16 and 20 gauge.
If you have used Nick in the past, you are used to sending the gun out. Because there is no one up there. I'm sending you a private message.