Original Pistol Stock problem

[izee2]

I picked up an original French duelling pistol. The main-major problem is that the stock has dried out to where the shrinking has caused the trigger guard, barrel tang and lock to become raised above the stock. It even shrank enough that it is allowing the trigger to rest upon the sear to the point of it not being able to engage the full cock notch. My question is...Is there any way of reversing the drying out. Or should I ask, What would be the best way to restore this stock?
Thanks
Izee2

 

[Henry]

Like with any antiques , the first question
sould be " What is it worth now "

Should you have a WW I Luger chromed ?
Should you have your Da Vinci plastified ?
Should you install

 

[Dave Poss]

More questions...are you intending to shoot the pistol or will it be "show-and-tell"only? Are you concerned with resale value if you alter the wood by releaving the areas that bind?

 

[izee2]

I plan on shooting it so I'm not to worried about the resale/collectible value. I purchased this pistol for less than half of what a new Pedersoli Lepage pistol would have cost. Besides loving a challenge I bought this pistol because the bore is nice and once the lock is outside of the stock it works great. Hooked breech, 40 caliber, no set trigger.

I thought about recessing the wood so the parts would fit better but I just wanted to see if there is any other option out there.


I don't know the Maker. There isn't any signature on the barrel or lock and the bottom of the barrel has a bit of old rust scale that has covered any mark that might have been there. The only marks are the # 1 on the top of the barrel near the breech and the trigger guard. There looks like ,in small uppercase lettering, The letters PE inside a rectangle on the base of the trigger guard. It is tough to really see them well. Otherwise no other markings. There is a good possibility that it is a belgin copy but I really don't know. I should have said it was a French "Style" Dueller.

Thanks Again
Izee2