[gizamo]

Doing some restoration to this 150+ year old 12 ga...The locks are now tuned and retimed as are the trigger group. Been working on bringing the wood back to life....and getting the rest of the gun presentable:)

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l163/Gizamo1/SXS008.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l163/Gizamo1/SXS006.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l163/Gizamo1/SXS009.jpg

Now working on load developement...and patterning.


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l163/Gizamo1/Gizamo_newgun_005.jpg

giz

[hunter25]

beautiful stocks.

[Searcher1970]

Looks great!

[Ratdog68]

I love the stock on your scattergun !!! Very nice !! :what:

[messerist]

Got to the drool bucket in time! LOVELY!!:what:

[Fingers McGee]

:scrutiny:

WOW is right. Beautiful shotgun.

[4v50 Gary]

Nice restoration.

[Cpt. America]

That gun is more than just presentable. The wood work is beutiful. It is a true work of art in its finest form.

[BCRider]

You obviously had some great raw material to work with but you definetly have managed to bring out the best in this old gun. It looks absolutely amazing.

I can only imagine what you felt as it progressed and you discovered the figure in that wood. Sure makes you feel like you just won the Big Score, eh?

[AussieTH]

Quote:

"Been working on bringing the wood back to life...."

Better stop work mate! If that wood comes any more to life it will bite somebody.

Real great gear there

T.

[cyclopsshooter]

wow! you have inspired me to restore my old double barrel... been tripping on it for years and never knew quite what to do with it- didnt think it could ever fire again.

think store bought target loads would be ok once the lock work is back in shape?

[gizamo]

To answer the question above...

Have a competent gunsmith look over the condition of your breech and barrels. If he determines that it is fluid steel, not damscus ~ and that everything is in good order....Then ask him to proof test the gun before giving it back. Typical of proof testing he will put a much higher then standard load through it, in a destruction test.

I would take the gun apart and start soaking the internal wood areas with a light penetrating oil before taking it to the gunsmith. Take the buttpiece off and do the same with the endgrain. The idea is to get the wood to absorb enough to help it be less brittle. Again, ask your gunsmith to look over your stock for deep checks and cracks.


Sounds like yours is a shotgun shell gun. Mine is a muzzleloader and has the over pressure plugs in the side. These are designed to blow out in a overpressure event. Modern shotguns generally do not have this feature.

Anyrate, I shoot my older ones at reduced loads with ffg and clean between shots....No sense in pushing these up to heavy loads. I have modern guns for that chore:)

giz

[mykeal]

Overpressure plugs? You wouldn't happen to have a picture of one of those, would you?

[madcratebuilder]

That is some nice wood!

[gizamo]

mykeal,

The breeches are fitted with vented platinum blow out plugs. The vented plug is believed to have gone out of fashion in the 1840's.


http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l163/Gizamo1/Gizamo_newgun_002.jpg

giz

[scrat]

wow that is one nice shotgun

[Speedo66]

Is that birds-eye maple?

Beautiful wood, nice job.

[BHP FAN]

just beautiful.