I have this old gun...

A friend asked me to take a look at some old guns that had been in her family and no one was quite sure what they were or what to do with them. We got together last night and pored over things.

The last time I played this game, I ended up being handed a Volcanic Volition repeater - which by chance had been discussed in previous month's issue of "American Rifleman".

This time around was similar, except that instead of a Volcanic, I was handed a complete receiver group for an Eddystone Arsenal US Model of 1917. No stock, and the barrel had been chopped just in front of the chamber (need to dispose of that, come to think of it). It's not clean, but it's mostly there. Bolt is complete, trigger and safety seem to function, ladder sight is there. Ordnance stamps on the receiver and bolt handle are there. Fair bit of surface rust, but it really does seem to be just surface. The floorplate and follower are both in the magazine, but there's no spring.

It's not a museum piece, and my friend has no interest in it. I *think* it would make a fine basis for a project gun if someone is interested, and the 1917s have some nifty history behind them. If anyone wants more details or pictures, drop me a line - it is for sale.

Other pieces that showed up:
- a J. Stevens Model 1915 single-shot .22. Some pretty nasty rust on the receiver but it can be cleaned up. Seems complete and functional otherwise; she's probably going to get it cleaned up at some point and give it to her nephew.
- a Baker Gun Company "Batavia" double in 20ga (I think; I didn't drop a shell in to check) with damascus barrels. Pretty good shape overall, the stock has years of field dings in it. It'll make a beautiful wall-hanger for her.
- an unidentifiable muzzle-loading double shotgun. Roughly 20ga, external hammers for percussion caps. Rusted almost solid, the hammers only move with serious force. Questionable value beyond wall decoration and maybe not even that.
- a freakin' gorgeous LC Smith/Hunter Arms 12ga double. This was pretty clearly a bespoke gun: fancy walnut, extensive engraving, color case-hardened receiver, a fitted leather case - and the owner's name engraved on the trigger guard and a brass plate on the case. Little touches really make this one stand out: an ebony inlay in the fore-end, engraved screwheads - on the inside of the fore-end where they're rarely seen, and the buttplate... it's not a buttplate per se, but an adorning ring. The center of the plate is cut out, the end grain of the wood is flush to the plate, and checkered. The ring/plate is essentially a 3/8" wide strip of engraved metal around the checkered wood.

... and here's the down side: it looks like the owner fell on the gun at some point, because the stock is broken in half right at the wrist. *sob* If anything was worth restoring, it's this one. Obviously, Doug Turnbull would be first choice - but he's big bucks. A long-ago friend's father runs a smithy nearby and I may get in touch with him for a price. The metal needs some love, but not much - most the case hardening is worn off.

I don't have pictures right now, but I'll ask for permission and see if I can post a few. For the nonce, everything was wiped down with a silicone rag and is now residing in my safe.