Singleshot shotgun help

[Pahaska]

We acquired a single shot, percussion shotgun a couple years back. I got it out last night and looked it over. Here's the description of what we have.

Mostly just the barrel. Starts out octagon for about a foot, then round. On the lower side of the barrel it has, J.W. (longspace)K. I spoze it was a kit, hehe. Appears to be about a .12 Ga. 34 5/8's inch long barrel. It has two dovetails, one with a small dropdown for a pin 9 inches from the rear. The other is 5 1/2 ins. from the rear, and doesn't appear to have been used for anything for quite a while. Has a added piece to hold the ramrod against the barrel. It starts 1 1/2 ins. from the muzzle, and runs back 20 1/2 inches.
The stock is rough, but had a butt similar to a brown bess I'd say, with a thin brass buttplate. Straight stock. The lock is completely gone. It doesn't seem to be in too bad of shape rustwise, but has a bulge in the octagon part of the barrel about 5 inches from the back. I can't find any other marking on it anywhere.

Any clues as to what it is or where it was made? I'm just curious, I'm sure it could be made to shoot if a fella wanted to spend some time on it. Pahaska

 

[john12865]

I would be very suspect of that barrel. Sounds to me as if someone salvaged the lock. I myself would not try to shoot it. Sounds to me like someone didn't have the load seated properly or overloaded the gun. Don't take any chances. I could be wrong when you say the lock is gone and I'm assuming it was removed from the gun before you ended up with it.

 

[Pahaska]

It's no big deal one way or another. I'm a doublebarrel guy so it's just a wallhanger. I may make a stock and get a lock for it. Pahaska

 

[k.jacobfrost]

I am by no means an expert, but I am going to have to agree with John. If the barrel has a bulge in it, I would not shoot it. I think it would be better as a wall hanger.

Frost