If you're concerned about whether or not it's safe to use, I'd highly recommend finding a local gunsmith (you're in Texas, that shouldn't be difficult) and having them inspect it. They'll be able to properly disassemble, inspect, and reassemble it, and can point out any problems and/or fix them for you.

I'd also recommend trusting your gut if you feel uneasy about them being safe to fire right now. That's not something you want to just hope for the best on.