Old Shotgun repair?

[gbeauvin]

Hello! I have an old single-shot shotgun, which I believe to be an Iver Johnson Champion (it says champion on the barrel, but not iver johnson). I believe it has fluid steel barrels, but when I close the gun, there's a little bit of side-to-side play in the hinge.

First, can a competent gunsmith verify that the barrel is indeed fluid steel and not twist steel?

Second, is that sort of looseness generally repairable?

And thirdly, if so, what would be a reasonable price to expect for such work?

I realize the value of the gun is likely less than the cost of the repair, but for sentimental reasons I would really like to get the gun back in working order and load up some 2.5" black-powder shells for the occasional small game hunt. It has history hanging on the wall, but to take the gun that put food on my great-grand-daddy's table and use it put food on my own would really make that history come alive.

thanks,
GB

P.S. If anyone could recommend a good smith in the Atlanta or North Alabama area, I'd appreciate it.

 

[N.Schafer]

I don't believe any Iver Johnsons had "twist steel barrels" which I think you mean Damascus steel.

For the loose barrel, I would weld up and fit the locking lug/catch. Probably charge about $50-$75. That's including test firing and general check over.

If you get the play fixed, regular shotgun shells would be fine to use in it. But black powder nostalgia shells are fine too.

 

[gbeauvin]

Excellent! Glad to hear that the repair is doable, reasonable, and that it should be able to handle modern ammunition. I read that it might be only chambered for 2.5" shells, and if I'm rolling my own I'll probably do black powder anyways. I'm assuming the smith can easily check the chamber length for me while he's in there welding and whatnot. Now I just have to decide if I want to track down an IJ Champion buttplate or put something with some cush on there (it's missing the buttplate)

Thanks!!

-GB

 

[BBBBill]

I cannot speak with any authority on the barrel steel although I don't believe that it is Damascus/twist. Brownells sells hinge pin reamers and oversized pins for that kind of problem. Depending on exactly what is worn and how much, either welding/refitting as N.Shafer stated, reaming/fitting a new hinge pin, or both may be the correct approach. I did the ream/fit a new pin fix on an old single shot for a family member and it worked quite well.

 

[gbeauvin]

Now to find a local gunsmith. Is this sort of repair simple enough for any professional gunsmith, or should i look for a specialist?

-GB

 

[BBBBill]

Simple enough for a pro to ream the hinge pin. The welding would need to be done by a qualified welder. Some gunsmiths are good welders, some not. And not everyone who calls themself a gunsmith is worth spit. Finding a real smith is going to be the hardest part of this endeavor.