Perkins double barrel perc shotgun

[texcl]

Yeah, I would check her out real good and remotely fire it with heavy service loads several times before even thinking of shouldering it. I do this with almost all my original guns before using them and still have all my fingers for now, but I understand that one might let go someday even after all my careful inspection and testing, just be careful and look for anything unusual between shots.

 

[Colonial Boy]

Here's just an observation from the real top of the world :wink:
Back in the 1950s when we were all using original guns a friend got a very nice original English double gun. There was a minor amount of rust but the gun cleaned up very well with about 70% or more original finish etc.
It was test fired both barrels a few times and then loaded in both barrels at once and fired a couple of times and then both charges went off at once but the left hand hammer was still on fullcock and the cap had disappeared.
Suspecting that something was wrong he loaded with blank charges and both went off together.

Investigation with water revealed that there was a hole between the barrels where they had rusted through.
When he pulled the barrels apart there were pin-holes between the chamber sections of the barrels.

So you can't be too careful.