I have this old shotgun...

[Fabrat]

Really, I do. It was given to me a few weeks ago. It is a caplock, has a 34 inch barrel, and is rumored have been made in the 1830's.The stock is a dark wood, and has likely been refinished. The ramrod is also wood, and it is tapered. The gun has been to the gunsmith and it is NOT a shooter. The only identifing mark is on the left side of the barrel near the breech.The barrell is octagonal for the first foot or so then tapers to round. Anyone out there know what I mught have here?
Here's a a few pictures:

 

[pohill]

Well, I can see a Belgian proofmark, so it was probably made in Belgium.
Other than that...it's a nice looking gun.
http://davecushman.net/proofmarks.html

If you can read French or German or...? this site might help (I actually found alot of info on my Belgian rifle on this site, with some help from the site members).
http://users.telenet.be/ABL1914/inhoud.htm

 

[Jim K]

It looks like it was a fairly expensive shotgun when it was made. It was probably imported in the years before the Civil War, along with tons of shotguns like it. It is of mild interest, but has no significant collector's value.

I am glad you don't plan to shoot it, so I can skip the usual warnings.

I would clean it up, nothing drastic, just a good wood cleaner and a penetrant, and find a good place on the wall.

Jim

 

[Fabrat]

Thanks for chiming in. I have no plans to shoot it, its not safe. What would you use to clean up the metal?

 

[Jim K]

Light oil or a penetrant like G96 Gun Treatment and a cleaning cloth. If there is rust, try oil and some 4-O steel wool or brass/copper wool (aka pot cleaner at your local supermarket).

On the stock, use mild soap and water to clean off the old dirt, but I wouldn't try to refinish the stock.

I wouldn't try to "clean" it down to shiny metal; it will lose the antique look and look odd.

Jim

 

[John Wesley Hardin]

Iam reasonably sure from what I can see that it is a "fowling piece" dating sometime in the 1850's range. I would suggest that you definitely do not use any steel wool on the metal unless you wish to diminish it's value. I would use only liquid soap detergent scrubbed with a bath cloth, followed by a coating of Rig. Too much cleaning will diminish it's value considerably. I have dealt with antique guns for the last 60 years, and have seen many a good antique ruined by excessive cleaning..good luck..Bill Collier

 

[Funderb]

do not clean the metal or wood up!!!
don't ruin the patina!

pleeeaase. keep it, it's a collectors piece, maybe not a million dollar one, but at least worth one in its present condition, and none in the "cleaned up" condition.

at most, put some oil on it with a soft cloth.