dolfinwriter
32 Cal.
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2013
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My father just gave me this double barrel gun that has some origin in our family, has Damascus barrels, and is reputed to be Civil War era manufacture.
Seems like a dam shame, but what I have been told of its history is my grandfather wanted to buy it quite a few years ago, but the owner refused to sell. Instead it was allowed to hang in someone's barn and got rained in. In the winter the water froze and split the barrel at a couple of the joints, and certainly weakened both barrels throughout. Both barrels are presently full of some kind of debris, or maybe just rust. There was once a mud dauber's nest attached at the muzzle end.
Dad doesn't know any more than that about it.
The entire surface is rusted and pitted so badly that I can find no identifying markings, but there does appear to be what looks like a number 8 on one barrel, and some ornate engraving on the receiver on the center tang behind the hammer and breech area, and on what appear to be brass plates connected to what might be a recoil lug.
One hammer is missing and the stock is rotted and termite eaten.
My dad coated the entire thing with Tung Oil some years ago to prevent further deterioriation. He wound the copper wire around the barrels and handguard to hold it together (Not what I would have done, but it works).
I'll have to figure out how to post photos, but for now I'll have to use the links function.
I doubt that it can ever be fired again without an expensive and therefore out of the question restoration that would basically replace every part. My questions:
1. Any information on manufacturer, model, etc.
2. What might this be worth in usable condition? What if it were in excellent condition?
3. If it has any value as it is, would I be better off to leave it alone or do some kind of partial restoration to make it at least LOOK usable? (Disassemble, derust and reblue, polish brass or at least clean, replace missing hammer, replace stock).
4. Are there any parts available for these? (such as the missing hammer and whatever mechanism connects it internal to the receiver).
I've read some comments here about the merits of sleeving Damascus barreled guns, but I'm thinking the best this thing will ever be is a wall hanger that LOOKS like a partially restored double barrel muzzle loader, WITHOUT copper wire holding it together. But in that condition I would want to render it harmless so that it could never again be fired by some curious person.
Seems like a dam shame, but what I have been told of its history is my grandfather wanted to buy it quite a few years ago, but the owner refused to sell. Instead it was allowed to hang in someone's barn and got rained in. In the winter the water froze and split the barrel at a couple of the joints, and certainly weakened both barrels throughout. Both barrels are presently full of some kind of debris, or maybe just rust. There was once a mud dauber's nest attached at the muzzle end.
Dad doesn't know any more than that about it.
The entire surface is rusted and pitted so badly that I can find no identifying markings, but there does appear to be what looks like a number 8 on one barrel, and some ornate engraving on the receiver on the center tang behind the hammer and breech area, and on what appear to be brass plates connected to what might be a recoil lug.
One hammer is missing and the stock is rotted and termite eaten.
My dad coated the entire thing with Tung Oil some years ago to prevent further deterioriation. He wound the copper wire around the barrels and handguard to hold it together (Not what I would have done, but it works).
I'll have to figure out how to post photos, but for now I'll have to use the links function.
I doubt that it can ever be fired again without an expensive and therefore out of the question restoration that would basically replace every part. My questions:
1. Any information on manufacturer, model, etc.
2. What might this be worth in usable condition? What if it were in excellent condition?
3. If it has any value as it is, would I be better off to leave it alone or do some kind of partial restoration to make it at least LOOK usable? (Disassemble, derust and reblue, polish brass or at least clean, replace missing hammer, replace stock).
4. Are there any parts available for these? (such as the missing hammer and whatever mechanism connects it internal to the receiver).
I've read some comments here about the merits of sleeving Damascus barreled guns, but I'm thinking the best this thing will ever be is a wall hanger that LOOKS like a partially restored double barrel muzzle loader, WITHOUT copper wire holding it together. But in that condition I would want to render it harmless so that it could never again be fired by some curious person.
