Does anyone shoot......

[KevininPa]

.......a black powder shotgun from the late 1800s? There's one for sale/trade in a local forum. Has Belgian proof marks, needs lock work on one side, a repaired crack in the stock. As far as the lock work, I'm not far from Dixons black powder shop. Some Pa people from this forum might recognize the name. As long as the crack holds up for a little I'll be happy. Know a woodworker who can replace the stocks. Just wondering if anyone still uses a vintage double barrel?

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

If it were me I wouldn't make a shooter out of it. Maybe take it out once just to say I did. I would like it to be functional, but would rather make a wall hanger / conversation piece out of it and preserve what structural integrity is left.
As for a shooter, may I suggest considering a much newer Pedersoli double? You could hang the real antique on the wall and appreciate it's history and beauty, then take to the field to enjoy the safe and reliable Pedersoli without worry.

 

[Curator]

There are a lot of these old doubles still in use. However, before you buy one to shoot there are a few things you should know. Many of them were made with "Damascus" barrels and may not be safe to shoot.A good gunsmith can check this out for you, but even if solid, only low-pressure loads should be used, Another issue is that most of them are chambered for 2 1/2" shells, not the modern 2 3/4" shells even though they will fit. Firing 2 3/4" shells in a 2 1/2' chamber will cause very high pressures as the folded crimp portion of the longer shell has no "chamber area" into which it can unfold, restricting the flow of shot and wads.This is the real cause of many of these guns to be damaged with modern shot shells. Additionally, factory-made paper hull shot shells did not become commercially available until the mid 1890s and all early breech loading shotguns were chambered for "all-brass" shells which were thinner. Guns chambered for "all-brass" shells will usually have chambers too tight to accept modern shells. I have a couple of old-timers that I load using all-brass shells and black powder. People at the trap range are always surprised that one of these old guns will do everything that a modern one will do. The boom and cloud of smoke is quite impressive!

 

[243winxb]

http://subgauge.com/articles/grampas_shotgun.html A good read. The one i shot , after proof testing, didnt break clay birds well.

 

[KevininPa]

Curator- this is a front stuffer. Sorry to all that I didn't mention that.

My only intended use for it would be to try to occasionally bust a close up clay or try to use it for some close small game as a change.

243- will check that article when I get home, ready to run out the door for work.

I have been intrigued by the idea of a front stuffing double barrel for a while. Seems like a science in itself, much like findinding that "sweet" load in a .50 cal flint or percussion. Been getting back into BP a little more these days as just throwing lead has gotten boring and expensive( had to change jobs due to a health problem). Now I shoot just enough modern stuff to stay proficient. For some time now I've been reading up on BP shotguns and it sounds like fun. Every now and again I do search for one on the various sights. Would love to have a Pedersoli but usually don't find them in my range. This one I found is, though it might need a little work. The work can be done over time and give me some more experience with its build and how it works.

So now that I cleared up a few details I forgot to mention before(Sorry Gents!), what do you think? Worth the trouble or keep searching for a newer Pedersoli or Navy Arms in that rare affordable price range?

 

[shunka]

.......a black powder shotgun from the late 1800s? There's one for sale/trade in a local forum. Has Belgian proof marks, needs lock work on one side, a repaired crack in the stock. As far as the lock work, I'm not far from Dixons black powder shop. Some Pa people from this forum might recognize the name. As long as the crack holds up for a little I'll be happy. Know a woodworker who can replace the stocks. Just wondering if anyone still uses a vintage double barrel?

My Dear Kevin -
It all depends upon the price and what kind of shape the thing is in. I have seen way too many beaters priced north of $200 when they ought to be priced below $50. I have acquired old locks and barrels for a pittance, and they only await firing up the bandsaw and chisels to make a new stock.

If the thing is in tolerable shape and the price is right, you still need to remove & carefuly examine the barrels inside and out for signs of cracks, rust, etc, and especially any sign of rust between the ribs and any solder joints. These things have a tendency to corrode in hidden spots, leading to horrible language once found.

With that in mind, if the asking price is too dear, You may wish to follow Malachi's advice.....

Now, I myself am a glutten for punishment and only recently picked up a "beater wallhanger" half-stock .40 percussion rifle for a song.
However, it turns out to be made ~ 1850 by a somewhat obscure but documented inventor and target riflemaker from Iowa .
He made his own rifled barrels, stocks, and furniture, but oft' used Leman locks ( as in mine). The barrel muzzle is gently coned, and the rifling
cleaned up beautifully with only 4-0 steel wool and oil.

So, I plan to Stabalize the stock for posterity (since it would not be long for this world otherwise), and make a new stock, and get it back into shooting shape. Since I got it so cheaply, this is a fun project on my part.

hope this helps
shunka

 

[243winxb]

https://dixiegunworks.com/ Had a single barrel muzzle loader shotgun, years ago. Followed Dixie's instruction how to proof test it, from an old catalog. The nipple was smashed flat from kids playing with it. Getting the old one out was a chore. Bought an assortment from Dixie, and one fit.

Broke clay targets at 25 yards when stationary. Very few thrown from a hand trap. Was fun.

 

[hillbilly matt]

.......a black powder shotgun from the late 1800s? There's one for sale/trade in a local forum. Has Belgian proof marks, needs lock work on one side, a repaired crack in the stock. As far as the lock work, I'm not far from Dixons black powder shop. Some Pa people from this forum might recognize the name. As long as the crack holds up for a little I'll be happy. Know a woodworker who can replace the stocks. Just wondering if anyone still uses a vintage double barrel?

I'm going to ask the same question to you, someone here asked me a couple of years ago on the same subject.

.......a black powder shotgun from the late 1800s? There's one for sale/trade in a local forum. Has Belgian proof marks, needs lock work on one side, a repaired crack in the stock. As far as the lock work, I'm not far from Dixons black powder shop. Some Pa people from this forum might recognize the name. As long as the crack holds up for a little I'll be happy. Know a woodworker who can replace the stocks. Just wondering if anyone still uses a vintage double barrel?

How much is your left hand worth to you?

 

[PapaG]

Need to have a good black powder gunsmith pull the breech plugs and see how much erosion there is. Many of those old guns have very thin walls around and ahead of the breech plugs. The old "load email up, tie email to a tire and pull the string" might work once but they could let go right up by your face on the next shot.
I hunted for years with a Belgian double. Ran a bore scope down the barrels, saw the big erosion ring and pulled the nipples, hung it on the wall and went back to my Navy Arms double.

 

[Crawdad1]

How do the inside of the bores look? If the outside of the shotgun is that rough, easiest to clean and care for, how good do you think the inside looks?

 

[KevininPa]

Crawdad- I see you're from Pa. I'm in the Lehigh Valley( away from the ABE area and out rural thank God!), and the shotgun is below Potter. Haven't seen it. Spotted it in the PAFOA Classifieds.

Think I'm gonna take a pass on this. Keep looking for an older CVA, Navy Arms or Pedersoli. Sounds like I might be sinking myself into more work than I'm interested in. Thank you to all who have chimed in.

 

[Crawdad1]

Hello Kevin

You live in a beautiful part of Pennsylvania, that's for sure.
I'm surprised Dixon's didn't have anything at their fair. I had a few older Pedersoli shotguns that were light as a feather and handled like an upland game gun should.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Magna flux it.

 

[KevininPa]

Crawdad- yeah, it's pretty nice in the Lehigh Valley. I'm at the more northern end .Actually takes me 45 minutes to head down to Dixons. At least. I'm about due to head down there again.

4v50- even though I scratched this project due to possibly being more work than it's worth, I must ask:

What is this Magna flux process of which you speak? Never hurts to gain more knowledge.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

Magna flux is a way of checking solid pieces of iron or steel for microscopic cracks. The piece is placed on an electro magnet and fine iron particles are dusted on the surface. When the magnet is energized the particles will align themselves with any crack or flaw. I really don't think it would be of much help for determining the inner condition of a front stuffer.

 

[KevininPa]

Sounds pretty neat. Would be cool to see in action. Thanks for the response sir.