I've been there Patrick. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. If it disappears out of the estate, even with it -and your name- written in the will, and you go looking for it, and then get informed he "gave it away" to someone else on his death bed you just got screwed. That's what I learned about wills. Of course this Belgian Auto 5 20 gauge won't be discovered to have a price tag deemed by others to be worth the effort so you will most likely get what your friend does will to you, but this is experience talkin' here.
Nice stock repair! This technique would be good for all sorts of wood repairs, not limited only to stocks.