Rifler 99s comments on the Leblond Regal series are accurate.
Leblonds are generaly regarded as well made machine. Probably a notch below Monarch and American Pacemaker, but better than most others of the same era.
The issues with old lathes are simple.
They were designed around high speed steel tooling. That means they were build for low speed, high torque cutting. They are simply inefficent with carbide tooling to be money makeres in modern job shops. They also tend to have small spindle holes. Larger 3 phase machines are usualy inexpensive because there is little demand for them.
If your looking for a gunsmithing lathe, what you want is enough distance between centers to turn barrel profiles.
A short enought head stock to pass a barrel through it and support both ends.
A large selection of thread feeds.
A steady rest is nice.
A taper attachment is nice, but not needed.
The bearings and gears need to be in good shape or your surface finishes will suffer.
As to parts, if the machine needs major mechanical parts, buy it for scrap iron or wait for a better deal to come along. Replacment of major parts is probably not cost effective, and indicates the machine may have been abused.
Try to find a well tooled machine with a modern tool post and tool holders, 3 & 4 jaw chucks, collet closers are a bonus, and a #2 or #3 Morse taper in the tail stock, with a live center, bull nose center, and drill chuck. Its easy to drop a grand tooling a machine up, but tooling usualy adds little value to used machines.
