Parts gun? Or just needs TLC

[imfuncity]

Hope his reserve is low:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =268212010

[81police]

That's a shame because overlooking the issues the rifle isn't that bad at all. The initials looked like they were well done once upon a time and the lyman rear sight is worth some $$.

[Wildgoose]

Tell you what guys. That is really a pretty darn nice rifle for someone looking for a hunter/shooter. No need to baby it or leave it a home if the weather is bad. Stick a tang sight on it with the fold down leaf already in place and its good to go hunting. But, for all that in my book shes a $300-$350 date at best. Too bad about the lettering indeed Cam. Left alone it would have been rather attractive and given the rifle some nostalgic flare.

[Western]

This might be a good gun for refurb and gunsmithing. With the obviously ruined blue, it looses its "as is" historical value (at least until it ages another hundred years) so you could afford to strip it down, blue or durakote it, replace its original barrel it it needs it, and have a nice and unique shooter. Post 1900 pre-1964 weapons had two advantages. After 1900 metal smithing technology produced some of the most over-engineered receivers, springs, and moving points with none of the metal flaws that existed in carbon steel pre-Krupp. After 1964 most gun manufacturers used advanced statistics to enable them to reduce the durability of the weapons they sold, making them safe to shoot but last a shorter lifespan.

The beauty of an old 8 is probably similar to the beauty of a Mauser action made from 1901-1937. They are strong precisions items made with modern metal working technology, but have not suffered the economy efforts that gun manufacturers used to reduce weapons costs.