The next one belonged to my great grandfather. It is a 20 ga double made sometime in the late 1800s or early 1900's. This is the gun dad gave me to learn to hunt with. I used it for several years before figuring out the damascus barrels probably weren't up to modern loads. It hasn't been shot since the 1970's. I'd like for my kids and grandkids to shoot it, but have decided it isn't worth the risk.
You might think about reloading some light loads for it with a powder similar to the old "Bulk Smokeless" for your old damascus shotgun. As I understand it, it burns quicker than smokeless powders, reducing the pressure in thinner parts of the barrel. Don't take my word for it, ask a gunsmith who is up to date on the matter!!!!
This old 12 ga. Remington Mod. 1900 was my Dad's duck & goose gun, given to him by an uncle. He used it w/heavy loads until the late '40's when he learned about damascus barrels.
I can remember early during the war, Dad sitting at the dining room table opening up whatever shotgun shells he could get, replacing the smaller shot with (steel) BB's for goose hunting. (Air rifle BB's seemed not to be so scarce?) His hand folded "crimp" seemed to hold up well enough, as he brought home quite a few birds.
I shot my first duck with it when I was 7 or 8 years old. It fits like a glove, and no wonder. According to some very recent research, I found that Remington had acquired the patents on the 1900 from Parker and manufactured them between 1900-1910.
In the mid 50's, with the help of a gunsmith friend, I began loading light loads with "Bulk Smokeless" powder so that I could hunt dove with the old Remington.
Then plastic shells came out and I was of the impression that I could not crimp plastic shells with the antique loading tools given to me by a friend of Dad's when I was a teen, so the old gun was once again retired.
Just recently, I discovered the old crimper
would work on 3 1/2" cut down plastic (see lower right hand corner of pic. above). Actually, cleaner crimp that I was getting on the old paper hulls. I'm sure the old Bulk Smokeless is long since obsolete. Wondering if something like a light load of Unique, or ??? would work. No shotgun components available right now anyway, but once this shortage is behind us, may see what I can learn and maybe get the old 12 ga out of the safe once more!
My Dad bought this Eastern Arms (made by Stevens) 16ga. from Montgomery Ward just prior to WWII for Mom when they hunted geese. Couple of years ago, I placed it too close to the Goldenrod in my safe and destroyed the plastic furniture, so had a walnut stock put on it.
Never cared for plastic anyway and the wood stock points much better now anyway.
I was 8 years old in 1958 when my grandfather and uncle took me hunting Upstate NY in the Catskill Region. We visited with my uncle's friend Charlie. Charlie gave me a 22 rifle to drag around and I dragged that rifle up and down those mountains. No ammunition but I had a rifle.
Afternoons down by the pond I was given a box of ammunition and they taught me how to shoot
This old 510 was my very first firearm, given to me shortly after Mom passed in 1947 by a good family friend.
Later mounted a B4 Weaver on it and taught the wife to shoot, and later cut the factory stock and barrel to make it manageable by my son.
In the early 80's I mounted Lyman aperture sights, dropped it in a surplus 513T stock, & cut it down to fit some of the younger shooters in our club's DCM Jr. rifle marksmanship program.
Taught two grandkids how to shoot in that configuration and it has since been passed on to them. Still one of "my" favorite rifles, even though I no longer own it.
Regards,
hps
