People often encounter old double shotguns with missing parts, usually the hammers or the firing pins. Naturally, they want to replace those parts to "restore" the gun and make it usable. But first consider this.
Those old shotguns often had Damascus or twist barrels, made from strips of iron and/or steel wrapped around a mandrel and welded, or "laminated" barrels, made from thin iron or steel plates wrapped around, welded and built up to the desired thickness.
While I will get arguments from some, I will repeat that those old guns, even if well cared for and of good quality originally, will not stand up to the pressures of modern powders or even in many cases to black powder pressure.
The old timers knew that, often from harsh experience, and DELIBERATELY disabled the old guns to keep them from being fired. Respect their knowledge and experience and do not "restore" and fire those old guns. Even if you know better than to shoot them, don't leave a time bomb for someone in the future. If you must restore appearances, make sure in some other way that the gun cannot be loaded and fired. You may be saving your own son or grandson from losing his fingers, hand, or eyes.
Jim
Those old shotguns often had Damascus or twist barrels, made from strips of iron and/or steel wrapped around a mandrel and welded, or "laminated" barrels, made from thin iron or steel plates wrapped around, welded and built up to the desired thickness.
While I will get arguments from some, I will repeat that those old guns, even if well cared for and of good quality originally, will not stand up to the pressures of modern powders or even in many cases to black powder pressure.
The old timers knew that, often from harsh experience, and DELIBERATELY disabled the old guns to keep them from being fired. Respect their knowledge and experience and do not "restore" and fire those old guns. Even if you know better than to shoot them, don't leave a time bomb for someone in the future. If you must restore appearances, make sure in some other way that the gun cannot be loaded and fired. You may be saving your own son or grandson from losing his fingers, hand, or eyes.
Jim