Model 37 Trade Gun?

[The Crisco Kid]

Or maybe I should call it a truck gun since I don't have a canoe anymore. I had a barrel from a Winchester model 37 single shot that I had no use for and a friend gave me the old Siler lock and the buttplate. I have around $130 in the thing and it was a fun project. It weighs right at 5 lbs and is a delight to handle. Now I just wish the rabbit and quail populations here in Southern Arizona will rebound soon.

 

[1950DAVE]

Interesting. Did you make or buy breech plug? I have an old Hopkins&Allen barrel I am thinking of a project with. Tell me more.
Dave

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Interesting. Did you make or buy breech plug? I have an old Hopkins&Allen barrel I am thinking of a project with. Tell me more.
Dave

I bought the breach plug and had a friend install it since I no longer have a lathe. I cut the chamber end off to get rid of it but in hindsight we probably could have put a liner in it and gained 2 3/4" of barrel length. The barrel on this one is 24 1/2". I bought a cheap expansion reamer from Grainger to ream out the full choke. It worked like you'd expect a cheap reamer to work, not very well but I did manage to get most of the choke out. I left .004" to see how it would work.

CK

 

[Rebel]

Nice job on the build.

 

[erhunter]

Great job on the build! However laying that nice wood on stones?

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I laid it gently on the stones. However I already put a ding in it at the range. I'm not going to do like some of us did back in the 70's and "antique" our rifles. Alcohol was involved of course.
I've wanted a type of trade gun for years and finally got around to it. It's the only muzzle loading shotgun I've used and I have a lot to figure out.

 

[1950DAVE]

Thanks. The barrel I have is 32", and appears to be cyl bore and in good condition for 100 plus yrs old
Dave