SxS (Essex) Slop

[dtalley]

My brother-in-law gave me an old SxS that he said I could use for Cowboy Action Shooting. I didn't even take it out of the case until I got home. Wow is this a POS. When it is closed there is some play. When I called my BIL and asked him if it shot okay he said that it sometimes misfires on the left barrel. I can see why with the slop in it, I think you can probably hold it to one side to where the firing pin won't hit the shell good.

Any way with that said, before I take it to someone I wanted opinions from here. Can it be repaired and the play taken out of it? That is about the only thing I can see that is wrong with it other than a couple of buggered screws.

Or should I just give it back and go spend $350 on a Stoeger SxS Coach gun.

And lastly is it even worth asking these questions or should I just give it back and say no thanks.

 

[Jim K]

Can it be repaired? Yes. Is it worth repairing? No.

None of my sources show anything on Essex (not to be confused with the current company making frames and slides for Model 1911 type pistols). There were hundreds of names put on hundreds of thousands of inexpensive shotguns in the 1880-1920 era. They were made by a dozen companies, and sold by every hardware and general store in the country. Most were hard used; cheap to begin with, they wore out rapidly or simply fell apart.

Worse, many of those guns had Damascus (twist) barrels and should not be fired at all. Most were weak to begin with and a hundred years of rust and corrosion have not done them any good at all.

If you think the gun may be worth saving, you can take it to a gunsmith, but I have little doubt he will tell you basically the same thing. Buy the new gun if you want to shoot a shotgun. Hang the old gun on the wall and tell folks about how granddaddy rode shotgun for Wells Fargo.

Jim

 

[JohnBT]

My father had an Essex and was not impressed. Made by Crescent for Belknap Hardware of Louisville KY. Now if we can only figure out how it got to Charlottesville Virginia in the early '30s.

"Essex - US Trade name of Belknap; hardware on guns made especially for them by others" and "Essex - US Mfd. by Crescent " - saved on my hard drive from some site.

I say...throw it in the river.

John

 

[JoeHatley]

I've got an old Essex Damascus barreled side by side. It may have been a pretty nice gun when new, but I retired mine to "wall hanger" 30 years ago.

I think I'd look for something a bit newer(safer). Good Luck...

Joe

 

[dtalley]

Thanks a bunch. After looking at it closer last night, and reading your posts, this is defiantly not a shooter. Someone has tried to make some repairs before by welding and it looks like crap. To the wall it will go. I like the part about grandpappy ridding shotgun for Wells Fargo.

Again, Thanks
DT

 

[grendelbane]

Essex was indeed the brand name of Belknap hardware store shotguns.

I have inherited a 20 gauge single shot Essex, which was well used when my father acquired it in the .30s. Though still shootable, I have retired it from active service.

Had a lot of fun with it in my early years though.