The only piece of advice my gunsmith ever gives on prospective purchases is, "buy the barrels, everything else can be fixed."
Your gunsmith is wise. He uses the exact same words that the late Jack Rowe, Birmingham gunmaker used in all his lectures on British guns. Look at this example that your gunsmith would tell you to buy as what needs to be done is the buttstock which you could have the famous gunstock painting artist here in America fix for you (for less than $1,000.00) or you could have a new buttstock made for 4-5 thousand dollars by the renown Birmingham stocker Malcolm Cruxton before it is sent to you.
Graham Mackinlay who sells more Dickson round actions than any gun firm in the UK and always has round action bargains listed. My guess is this gun can be purchased for £6.000.00 ($7.260.00)
Here you have a gun that has much desired 29 inch barrels with exceptional bore condition and acceptable .022" wall thickness that with careful use will last for when your grandson is shooting birds. The engraving looks like it was done yesterday and the guns internals are perfect.
https://www.gmackinlay.com/product/12g-round-action-by-john-dickson-son-29-x-2-1-2-barrels/
