Got the rifle today...
Very pleased.
The bore is like a mirror.
This carbine has no collector value at all, I think. That is fine with me because it is going to be a shooter.
It has not been restored, it has been lovingly upgraded. I am relatively certain it started life as a rifle. I say this because the receiver does not have a saddle ring rail, nor does it have the empty holes where a saddle ring rail once was. The stock has a sling swivel and there is a barrel band with a swivel. In addition the vendor said that the "EP" on the left side is a mark of Egyptian Contract rifles. AFAIK there were no carbines in that contract. In addition, there appears to be the remnants of a crescent on the left side of the receiver just forward of the "EP". The serial number under the stock is 6777.
The metal parts have been refinished to the point where nearly all markings are gone. The markings on the barrel are missing but that is because this is a recently installed Douglas barrel. The action is nice and tight. Springs are robust.
One of the online demonstrators (I think not Duelist but someone else) complained of original trigger pulls of a ridiculous 18 pounds. I measured this one and it is right at three. Very visible bead sight on the front.
I am not in love with the finish and so I may be taking it down to metal for cosmetic reasons. The butt plate, stock swivel, barrel band and band spring have not been fiddle with. They retain what appears to be an original patina. This gives me even more reason to take the existing finish off and go down to a more historic look.
The stock and forearm have been refinished including some filling of wood which is obvious but not terribly offensive.
I like this rifle.
