Things I would recommend looking for when buying a hatfield:
Barrel/Rib Fit and quality (yes I have found many hatfield with misaligned ribs, and one that had metal imperfections in the Barrel steel)
Barrel Release Fit: When pulling back on the trigger guard to open the barrel, check to make sure it is not overly difficult to operate
Barrel to Frame fit: When the gun is open, fold to make sure the barrel is not binding on the frame anywhere, it shouldn't be tough to open or close
Wood quality: I have seen several hatfields with cracked stocks, be sure to carefully check over the entire stock for major imperfections
Things you probably won't see:
My most used hatfield has a misaligned Forearm retaining nut, so reassembly can be a bear at times.
You may not be able to test trigger pull in store, but if it is too heavy, there are tutorials online to lighten the pull weight a little
The Finish is not good at all, and with you're first cleaning, wiping the exterior of the gun will wipe a lot of excess finish off, I promise it's not grease, I'm still wiping finish off my gun whenever I use a little bit of oil.
That's pretty much it for my Hatfield buyer's guide. As I said, I have had a few for lender/beater guns. A good Hatfield seems to shoot alright, but there's a lot to have to look for when buying, especially since these are NIB and not used.
