I was helping a friend run some new wiring in an old barn on the property he just purchased, when I was up crawling through the rafters I came across an 'old', rusty .410 single shot break open shot gun. There is no sign of manufacture anywhere on the gun. The butt stock and forearm appear to be walnut with checkering on both sides of the of the 'pistol grip', but none on the foregrip. On the top of the barrel on the port side of the rear groove sight(?) is stamped " -410 BORE-FULL CHOKE-BARREL AND LUG FORGED IN ONE-" Just below that just in front of the break is a 'football shaped' stamped with "chambered for 3 in. shells" inside. the hammer spur is deeply checkered as is the break release lever. The barrel is trim and delicate with a brass bead front sight. The bottom tang is stamped with "14303 XH", presumably the serial number. The gun is in very rough shape, the butt plate is missing, the forend has an old repair that runs the entire length. The metal has heavy surface rust, but there is more than a hint of chase hardening left on the receiver. the barrel looks as though it was 'painted' black at one point over the original bluing. The forend is loose and I can see a flat 'tongue' that runs up the inside of the forend, but there are no external screws or any visible release for the forend/barrel.
I am looking for any information anyone might be able to help out with, especially how to remove the forearm without further damaging same. Of course if you know the manufacture of the old shotgun, that would be awesome, seeings how my friend sent it home with me cause his wife won't allow firearms in the house.
I am looking for any information anyone might be able to help out with, especially how to remove the forearm without further damaging same. Of course if you know the manufacture of the old shotgun, that would be awesome, seeings how my friend sent it home with me cause his wife won't allow firearms in the house.
