Old Shotgun Restoration

OT from muzzleloading but related to gun restoration and I figured the experts are here. My wife

 

[robinghewitt]

Janssen Fils, Belgium 1891-1931 perhaps?

If they left it wet they obviously didn't care. Get it off them as soon as possible, give it a big hug, share it's pain and tell it that everything is going to be alright from here on ::

You can get it sleeved, that is sawn it off just in front of the chambers, reamed out and fitted new tubes. First get the rust off, stop it getting any worse, stand back and look at what you have.

Do we get a picture of this elk? Not my kind of thing but sounds fascinating all the same.

 

I don't know how to post a pic but I have a digital camera and can do so if someone will provide instructions.

 

[newt]

Try to contact Keith Kearcher, I think his moved to Oregon.
He can advise or do the repairs to the barrels.
You can send the barrels by insured mail too.

 

Well, I think I figured out a way to post a link to a couple of pics so here goes...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/HWooldridge/ShotgunForearm.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v306/HWooldridge/ShotgunButt.jpg

Hopefully, the links work.

 

[silverfox]

Anvil. Looks like a nice carving of a european roe buck. Nice looking shotgun to. I got a German double a couple months ago and the stock carving is almost identical. Do get it restored its to pretty a gun to let it remain in damaged condition. Follow the advise of others on the forum and good luck.
Fox :thumbsup:

 

[crockett]

You might want to pick up a copy of The Gun Report, it is a magazine dealing with antique firearms, or Men At Arms, an NRA magazine. They have a lot of auction houses that advertise and since they deal with antique firearms they are probably in a good position to tell you how to proceed. You obviously could just take off the old brown and redo the entire barrel(s) but maybe just some heavy carding, etc may be best. I'll bet those auction houses have people on their staffs that touch up such problems.

 

the barrels will have a heavy twist , fine Damascus is also know by some as thumb print as it looks much like that in pattern .
Do not sand blast the barrel , either send it off to a good restoration person OR carefully remove as much rust as you can and see how bad the barrels are pitted . if the pits are not to deep you can draw file the pits out and then re brown , you pattern should come back out .

I will also say I load BP paper shells and shoot to old Damascus BL I have a lot , very enjoyable. the barrels on the two i have are mostly free of pitting and very bright, with solid breeches when closed . i also only shoot BP not low base smokeless. those old guns have a sprit of their own and feel nothing like we have today , treat them with the respect they have earned with age and if any doubt have it inspected or give it a place of honor up on the wall.
Now if the barrels are browned , you can re brown them or even re rust blue them if they are of that color .
Very nice piece , well worth saving
here is a photo of Damascus twist and fine Damascus
sometimes after use and alot of cleaning the pattern disappears, Mr, Brockway made a good post in i believe my daisys double post on how to get that pattern to show again. if you are set on cleaning yours up yourself get his book and follow the barrel preparation instructions .
I would never ever cut the barrels down off unless you plan on restoring it to shoot and if thats the case then have them sent of for inspection and only cut them off if so deamed by the person you sent them to . also only shoot BP unless they are lined for smokless powder

TWIST

FINE

there is also chain ,star, and barnard patterns
BARNARD

CHAIN

STAR

 

Captchee,

Those are some fine patterns - the "chain" design really blows me away. This old gun has 30" barrels and no choke in either one - in fact, it's marked "Choke Bored" on the left barrel. It is very well balanced and I would not be handicapped shooting quail or upland dove with it. I do handload so some BP shotshells would be easy to make.

The rib says "Fine Damascus Finish" so does that mean it was some kind of faux finish when it was new or a bona fide set of pattern welded barrels? In either case, I will take my time and work on this patiently since I want it to look good but retain the old appearance. Thanks to everyone for the tips and I'll post some more pics when I'm done.

 

well anvil , i hate to say this but
"Fine Damascus Finish" and

 

Captchee,

Not a problem if there is no pattern. We didn't pay good money for the piece and it has sentimental value - if they are steel barrels then so be it. I'll shoot you a note if anything interesting pops up.

 

[sse]

Captchee - Do you know of any sources for restoration of an old shotgun, whether antique or nearly so?

Thanks, sse

 

I know a couple local folks that do real good work , unfortunately because of the perceived and sometime warranted problems with Damascus barrels they will only restore old quality doubles if they know you .
The best I could say would be

 

[sse]

Thank you, Captchee!

Regards, sse

 

you might give these folks a call as well
while i dont think they resore the probably could send you to a good specialist who works on SXS
Ivory beads