I dunno, Joe. Depends on whether or not you intend to hunt it. If you do then I'd have the 'metallic pistol grip' removed. Document it, of course, just because & keep it in a baggie or something tagged so that can be tied back to the gun if ever needed. Looks to me like someone was trying to make it work for a person with a small hand or one who prefered a pistol grip. People at that time tended to be smaller in stature, so could have been man or woman, but I'd suspect the former. Just thinking out loud, not always the most intelligent choice on a public forum, but you asked.
Have you checked on Mike? Holed up in the cellar w/five dogs and no whiskey sounds to me like an invitation to more trouble. My own dog just said to me that he should take lessons from me in digging holes. We be holed up in the back, not having a cellar. Just as well that he does not drink, no tellin' whot he'd be tellin' me then.
