Early 12 ga. SXS

I picked this original SXS yesterday, I'm considering refinishing and re-checkering the stock it's got some pretty nicely figured wood and would probably turn out nice. My thinking is that it doesn't have a very high collector value and refinishing the stock wouldn't hurt the value much.

I'd use it as is. I much prefer honest patina than a refinish.

I believe it's already had one refinish anyway as the tang and buttplate look a little proud.

martin9 said:

I believe it's already had one refinish anyway as the tang and buttplate look a little proud.

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I don't have the gun in hand but I did also notice that. I might just give a good cleaning and see how that turns out. Sometimes Murphy's oil soap can work worders on old dirty wood.

Clean the stock with medium steel wool and dirt and wax remover and finish with a oil finish . Has for the checkering just clean it with a paint stripper and an old tooth brush never and I say never recut checkering it not only de values the gun but nothing feels worse than crisp checkering it is an old gun do not try to modernise it .
Feltwad

Yep, Murphys' soap works well on stuff like that and I would follow with a coat of Renaissance wax.

Feltwad said:

Clean the stock with medium steel wool and dirt and wax remover and finish with a oil finish . Has for the checkering just clean it with a paint stripper and an old tooth brush never and I say never recut checkering it not only de values the gun but nothing feels worse than crisp checkering it is an old gun do not try to modernise it .
Feltwad

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Thank you sir I will definitely follow your sage advice.

Looks like a nice old gun and as others have already said just clean up the wood - give it a coat of wax or an oil if you like and don't recut the checkering just clean it with a toothbrush.

leave that well worn look. the previous owner sure used it for many years to get it to that level. so leave it as is and enjoy it, for many more. remember that looks is not every thing?!

I'm old and I like my guns to look old, that way we match. If it was mine I'd just keep it antique looking.

If I'm not mistaken back in the day checkering was not sharp and crisp like today especially in the UK. 4 of the SxS that I have handy all have the flat checkering, two English, one French and the other a 1878 Colt.

Looks like a nice gun the way it is. Refinishing is not always what it is cracked up to be. A gun needs character and that one has character.

11Bravo said:

If I'm not mistaken back in the day checkering was not sharp and crisp like today especially in the UK. 4 of the SxS that I have handy all have the flat checkering, two English, one French and the other a 1878 Colt.

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I have an English-made SXS and your right the checkering isn't all that deep. This is a Belgian-made gun and will be the first one from there that I've owned. I looked at a Morton double flint a few weeks ago but the length of pull was way too short for me and the price was too high at 2300, even though I'd love to have a double flinter.

Why would you do anything to it? I've got 20 year old guns that don't look as good as that.

I'm with the Leave Well Alone brigade on this one. The raised metal work is more than likely rust underneath pushing the parts up. Stiff tooth bush on the checkering and some refined Linseed oil on the wood and live with history of it.. OLD DOG.

Definitely a detailed cleaning will be the first order of business.
Bores need to be checked, nipples most likely will need replacing after that I'll load it up and see if I can break some clays.

That is very nice and a fine old piece of history. disassemble, clean but the less you do to it the better.

Received the SxS yesterday and have started a detailed cleaning.
I thought I'd do some before and after photos just to document the difference.
I haven't found any makers mark anywhere on the gun but all the parts have a matching number on them (1467). This gun was quite a looker when new, the wood is really nice and all the furniture was nickel-plated. It still retains some of the nickel and might clean up nicely.

More photos.
One member mentioned about the but plate standing a little proud and it might be rusty. The plate has a small hooked foot that is out of adjustment which may bring the metal back to level.