General question

[firehawk]

Hello, when my Uncle passed away his basement was full of stuff. My aunt recently found this and I think it is PART of a muzzle style gun, but not really sure.

All I can make out on the side of the stock is M Vance I think. Unfortunately, it does not have the barrel and I think part of the wood is broken.

I'm not really sure if this has any value or can be restored, too far gone, worth doing?

I just happened to find a post on here with the same name and am assuming this is a muzzle loader type gun.

Any information, thoughts you can supply would be awesome. This is way beyond my knowledge of guns.

Thank you.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

You might look around for the barrel, it's probably there.

 

[firehawk]

According to my aunt he wanted to restore it but he loved his work and never really took time to do stuff like this... I don't know if she has the barrel. I'll try to get a better picture of the front of wood to show damage later.

 

[firehawk]

You might look around for the barrel, it's probably there.

Pictures of damage...

 

[Dude]

You're right - it's a muzzle loading gun with a percussion lock. It looks worth saving to me.

 

[hanshi]

I concur.

 

[firehawk]

Sorry I don't get much time to respond. I'm in Commie Jersey. Does anyone know if there are any gun experts in this area that I can bring this to and evaluate it?

Not even sure if there is a specific name I should be looking up. Muzzle loader gun Smith, old fashioned gun restoration? Any thoughts?

 

[wiscoaster]

Sell it to somebody here on the forum. There are people here capable of restoring that gun, and happy to do it. I doubt if you'll find a gunsmith that would care to take that job for any price.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Find the barrel and get a new stock

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Sorry I don't get much time to respond. I'm in Commie Jersey. Does anyone know if there are any gun experts in this area that I can bring this to and evaluate it?

Not even sure if there is a specific name I should be looking up. Muzzle loader gun Smith, old fashioned gun restoration? Any thoughts?

It has no value and can't be fixed without the barrels.

 

[James Kibler]

Find the barrel and get a new stock

Why in the world would you want to "get a new stock" ?

 

[SOLANCO]

The quality of the checkering and the ornamentation on the lock plate suggest a good or high quality gun. I concur that searching that basement for the barrel is your next step. There are people on this forum who are capable of the work. Would also suggest you find a copy of the now defunct Double Gun Journal. A number of excellent smiths advertised in it. Doug Turnbull Restorations is one that I recall.
You had best really like the gun, because this will not be cheap.

 

[springfield art]

Hello, when my Uncle passed away his basement was full of stuff. My aunt recently found this and I think it is PART of a muzzle style gun, but not really sure.

All I can make out on the side of the stock is M Vance I think. Unfortunately, it does not have the barrel and I think part of the wood is broken.

I'm not really sure if this has any value or can be restored, too far gone, worth doing?

I just happened to find a post on here with the same name and am assuming this is a muzzle loader type gun.

Any information, thoughts you can supply would be awesome. This is way beyond my knowledge of guns.

Thank you.

Wood can be repaired. No point in replacing anything if it's going to cost more that it's worth. Kind of like Davy Crockett's tomahawk: the handle has been replaced three times and the head twice. Now it's not really his tomahawk. Many old guns are just that, decorators or parts items. Other than nostalgia or family heirloom value, little reason to bend over backwards to 'restore'.