To cut Damascus Percussion Shotgun, or not to cut ?

[Heelerau]

Don't cut it down, you will ruin the balance, get a reproduction gun to shorten and shoot ball from.

 

[toot]

once you do it you cant ever go back, and you will regret it !! think about what all of the members are telling you? they know!.

 

[GREENSWLDE]

PLEASE Do Not Cut It !!! Nice well made gun .Was expensive in it's day and still worth lots of £££.00p. You won't find many others your side of the water as good and in such condition.. It AIN'T BROKE so why try to mend it and that length of Tube will burn lots of course powder Swiss 4(2F) or other 2F. If you cut it down ,you will have to make and solder in new keels at the front of the tubes so that water dose't get in. Not a job for the inexperience to do. OLD DOG..

 

[Gordoncourtney]

You mean :"Where is going the France" I suppose ?...
Yep, l'Armurerie de Calais (this where the boss is Jean-Pierre Fusil ?) can sale all the BP guns he wants when he wants and only at an adult person. There is no problem and it is legal...... but he only can sale 2Kg (four pounds) of BP and can't sale any substitute to replace BP because this is illegal...

To go somewhere with a car and with arms on board you need a "real good reason", the general reason is to go to the range or near a gunsmith : all the other reasons aren't allowed, and you can't carry that with your motor home without authorization...

Welcome to the wonder world of Macrony .....

Many thanks that how I read it , I am a Courtney descended from Courtenay SE of France 1143 We hope to visit this year Drive a French rapido Bretex messed us up buying a friends house in Swiss Normndy, as he shoots there have driven right across France but never saw a hog. I took my compound bow last time, hoping to find a new archery club
Very nice to meet with you and your kindness to reply

 

[Sam squanch]

once you do it you cant ever go back, and you will regret it !! think about what all of the members are telling you? they know!.

Are we talking about marriage?

 

[Robby]

Don't cut those barrels! Just my observation, but I don't see many doubles that long, so it probably adds some value to it. Either way, don't cut them.
Robby

 

[MSW]

don't cut it

 

[TFoley]

Donot cut it. While it has Belgian proofs it is a high grade piece and is well worth more in uncut condition. Sell it here and buy a new one to butcher. Just my opinion but you asked.

Your words suggest that Belgian proofs were only applied to low-grade trade stuff. Nothing could be further from the truth.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

This is so funny everyone trying to save this poor double shotgun ,which reminds me on our village uk forum to me “please don’t shoot the lovely furry squirrels” next I had the police around checking my pcp bsa Scorpio rifles And the the rspca making sure I was a good shot at culling them. Stupid woman , they are mighty tasty to eat and we are over run with them. Is there thus an inspector of antiques to protect this poor Gunn Ha ha. Very funny. Lovely kind peoples forum. And I cannot carry my guns in my french Rapido Motorhome hunting after hogs in France. God bless yo all. Regards Gordon’s

 

[Sam squanch]

Move over here. You will like it.

 

[tenngun]

Everyone is telling you the same thing …. Don’t Cut
And I for sure would not. That would be my advice too.
But it is your gun. When some one says ‘it’s historic get a cheaper gun to coach.’ And that’s true but guns were butchered up in the past. Modifying a gun to fit their needs. The fact that it’s old doesn’t change the fact that your the owner with needs. And there is no use having a gun, even an old one that doesn’t fit your requirements.
keep in mind once you do it it can’t be undone.
from personal experience a’coaching gun’ is Latin for mostly useless.

 

[thomas]

Don't cut, but sell to me!
Thomas

 

[Gordoncourtney]

I am baffled , I agree, from the stamp, it looks like the barrels were ordered from Belgium as perhaps they were making the new fluid steel?? But then we have the gold writing in English, suggesting it was finaly built in England But nowhere can I find a proof of crown over "x" Strange but interesting...ill keep researching.

Until we can find the providence of this gun, under no circumstances should you cut the barrels, it would very foolish, please be patient.

I wish you well and hope we can prove this antique shotgun is worth keeping as it is Regards Gordon

 

[stephenprops1]

Yes it is his gun but what gives him the right to butcher its history to suit a whim of a short barrel gun. This is a antique which has seen many years of service we are only the custodians and its history should be preserved for future generations.
Feltwad

I agree that the old Damascus shotgun should not be cut down. However, I disagree with your asking "... what gives him the right?..." He has the right to do whatever he wants. It is his gun.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Some Belgian Laminated Steel barrels are not Damascus . They are made by welding wire wrapped around a thin steel tube . Don't know which type of Laminated you have . Might not be a good idea to cut them . I'd leave them whole and hope they shoot a nice tight pattern . If so , it might make a good Turkey gun . Wouldn't load it very heavy either way Belgian Laminate barrels were not normally considered to be of the quality of Laminate made in Great Briton .

 

[Erwan]

I agree that the old Damascus shotgun should not be cut down. However, I disagree with your asking "... what gives him the right?..." He has the right to do whatever he wants. It is his gun.

Absolutely, but If somebody is asking a question, this is to get answer/s, is it right ?
No one says it's forbidden to cut this cannon, but almost everyone has said that it would be a damage and maybe more.
Now, it's right this is his own barrel and he can cut it, but what about question before to do. If he wants to cut, then he cuts, there is no problem for us...

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Yes it is his gun but what gives him the right to butcher its history to suit a whim of a short barrel gun. This is a antique which has seen many years of service we are only the custodians and its history should be preserved for future generations.
Feltwad

Owning it gives him the absolute right to do anything to it he wants , period . The best reason not to cut the barrels on this old gun are the same as they would be if it were a brand new gun . It won't be regulated once it is cut and won't shoot worth a damn .

 

[Feltwad]

There will always be shooters that think because it is mine I can destroy its heritage to suit ones self for their own gain or for personal gain, Has I have said we are the custodian's of these guns and only hold them for a while and not to dispose or alter them has we please we hold them in trust and must account for them to those that come after
I have seen it all before good guns be it a muzzle loader and early breech loaders botched and finish in the furnace and these people call themselves muzzle loaders butchers more like who do not give a dam about its heritage
Feltwad

 

[TFoley]

I am baffled , I agree, from the stamp, it looks like the barrels were ordered from Belgium as perhaps they were making the new fluid steel?? But then we have the gold writing in English, suggesting it was finaly built in England But nowhere can I find a proof of crown over "x" Strange but interesting...ill keep researching.

Until we can find the providence of this gun, under no circumstances should you cut the barrels, it would very foolish, please be patient.

I wish you well and hope we can prove this antique shotgun is worth keeping as it is Regards Gordon

Unless the barrels were made for the French-speaking market, they would invariably be in English, from what I've seen over the last fifty-something years. I've seen a few guns made for the home market, and France bearing the words 'Acier en Riband' or even 'Acier á Riband - French for twisted steel.

 

[toot]

don't cut it as every one is telling you. take the $ and run out and get a stage coach PEDERSOLI. MFG, one that is made for that purpose!