Project gun to work on while the election results come in.....1840s Percussion Shotgun

[1srelluc]

I picked up this Westwood double barrel 12 ga percussion shotgun today for $25.00. It was made around 1848 in Birmingham England according to the maker's name and Birmingham Proofs.

36" barrels.....I'll try to find a hammer for it and get it cleaned-up good enough for a wall-hanger.

If I really wanted to I could get it up to snuff well enough to shoot as the barrel bores are clean and the locks work fine. The wood is still in great shape and the furniture is right nice.

Meh, something to do while waiting for the election results to come in.

 

[toobfreak]

If I really wanted to I could get it up to snuff well enough to shoot as the barrel bores are clean and the locks work fine. The wood is still in great shape and the furniture is right nice.

A gun like that deserves as full a restoration as possible to at least get it back in working condition. All the sweeter then when you hang it on the wall!

 

[1srelluc]

A gun like that deserves as full a restoration as possible to at least get it back in working condition. All the sweeter then when you hang it on the wall!

I got it all taken apart and the soldering (that joins the barrels to the center rib) is not the best for a shooter.....Light loads maybe.

It will be fine for someone's wall.

Since it's the correct time frame it could also be cut down and made into a "Confederate Cavalry Shotgun". That's quite popular to do in my AO with the reenactment crowd if they find a period shotgun for cheap.

I suspect if you just stuck to blank loads (maybe 30-40 gr BP) it would be just fine....Enough to make some smoke and noise.

 

[toobfreak]

I got it all taken apart and the soldering (that joins the barrels to the center rib) is not the best for a shooter.....Light loads maybe.
It will be fine for someone's wall. Since it's the correct time frame it could also be cut down and made into a "Confederate Cavalry Shotgun". That's quite popular to do in my AO with the reenactment crowd if they find a period shotgun for cheap. I suspect if you just stuck to blank loads (maybe 30-40 gr BP) it would be just fine....Enough to make some smoke and noise.

I guess there is no chance of doing an acid soak to clean out the solder joint and reflowing new solder to rebond the barrels. If you did, it might destroy its value as a period piece in original condition.

 

[1srelluc]

I guess there is no chance of doing an acid soak to clean out the solder joint and reflowing new solder to rebond the barrels. If you did, it might destroy its value as a period piece in original condition.

Looks like someone was already in there so I'll just leave well enough alone. I'm gonna sell it anyway so it can become someone else's problem.

LOL.....I went on eBay looking for a hammer and I found two just like it.....Both were for the left side.

It's a common lock for the period (lots of Brit makers used them) so someone will find them one.

I just spruced it up enough to sell.....I did have to make a front wedge, but I had the steel stock to do so.