To cut Damascus Percussion Shotgun, or not to cut ?

[N8Gunner]

I recently acquired a 36" 12 ga double barrel percussion shotgun, in good working condition, albeit had a cracked forend on the one piece stock, which I repaired with epoxy.
The shotgun is unmarked , except for a couple of small proofs and the word "Laminate Steel" on gold colored inlay on the rib.
I assume its likely just another "Belgian clunker" , and this morning I have dug out a new sawzall blade and taped the barrels off to 24", full intending to cut it off
and shoot it with "buck and ball" and buckshot......

However , I have decided to give it more thought and ask opinions on this forum before I do anything to it.
Here are the pictures of the barrels.
Advise and opinions are welcome
Thanks !

 

[Capnball]

I recently acquired a 36" 12 ga double barrel percussion shotgun, in good working condition, albeit had a cracked forend on the one piece stock, which I repaired with epoxy.
The shotgun is unmarked , except for a couple of small proofs and the word "Laminate Steel" on gold colored inlay on the rib.
I assume its likely just another "Belgian clunker" , and this morning I have dug out a new sawzall blade and taped the barrels off to 24", full intending to cut it off
and shoot it with "buck and ball" and buckshot......

However , I have decided to give it more thought and ask opinions on this forum before I do anything to it.
Here are the pictures of the barrels.
Advise and opinions are welcome
Thanks !

Why cut it? Wouldn't it be a better sporting piece if it was longer? I restored a musket that had been "Sporterized" or "cut down" to use as a cheap hunting gun. The whole time I was restoring the gun (to a two band musket) I pained over why it was cut in the first place. Longer guns are more accurate, at any range! And unaltered guns are worth more! I also have a Springfield conversion from flint to percussion that I'd classify as a "Relic" it can never be made to shoot again and really it's in such bad shape it's hardly worth displaying. The fact it, because that gun is complete and as altered by a federal armorer, it's worth more then the gun I restored to working condition. From what I can see of the photos, it's a very nice piece. If it were mine and I intended to shoot it, I'd clean the gun up, inside and out. Have the barrel "bore scoped" by a real gunsmith then take it to the range and let it do what it was designed to do. Old guns always attract a crowd. Either way, you got a nice gun. I love Damascus stuff.

 

[Crow-Feather]

One should always respect their elders. Some day, this shotgun might be the last one left on the planet.

 

[Capnball]

One should always respect their elders. Some day, this shotgun might be the last one left on the planet.

Lol, everything becomes a collectable sooner or later!

 

[Feltwad]

Cannot understand this ,the gun looks sound and would be a shooter . Yes it is of Belgian manufacture but it has more history than a whole host or repros so why not butcher one of them . Man alive what will some muzzle loaders think of next that gun needs to be left has it is .
Feltwad

 

[JamesA]

I recently acquired a 36" 12 ga double barrel percussion shotgun, in good working condition, albeit had a cracked forend on the one piece stock, which I repaired with epoxy.
The shotgun is unmarked , except for a couple of small proofs and the word "Laminate Steel" on gold colored inlay on the rib.
I assume its likely just another "Belgian clunker" , and this morning I have dug out a new sawzall blade and taped the barrels off to 24", full intending to cut it off
and shoot it with "buck and ball" and buckshot......

However , I have decided to give it more thought and ask opinions on this forum before I do anything to it.
Here are the pictures of the barrels.
Advise and opinions are welcome
Thanks !

I wouldn't cut it, perhaps not even shoot it. That is a real collector's piece. Just my opinion. I gave one my dad bought years ago to my son, it's a muzzle loader. I don't collect guns, I shoot them.

 

[Okie Hog]

i would not cut the barrels off.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Cut the barrel and have another hacked gun, leave it be and have a real old time piece of history. I’d leave it be.

 

[excess650]

That appears to be a really nice, higher grade percussion shotgun. I wouldn't cut it!

 

[Historian]

Yes I second the above do not cut it. Have it bore scoped (I have my own scope for maintenance purposes) and keep the barrels as is. Nice piece of history there.

 

[gunnyr]

Same as everyone else, do not cut down . clean it up check the barrels close you just may have a shooter. Even if you
just use mild loads you will be hunting with a piece of history . and it doesn't get any better than that.
gunnyr

 

[SDSmlf]

36" 12 ga double barrel percussion shotgun, in good working condition……. I have dug out a new sawzall blade and taped the barrels off to 24", full intending to cut it off
and shoot it with "buck and ball" and buckshot..

Other than for shooting it with ‘buck and ball’, why do you feel the need to cut the barrels down? They have not made a shotgun like you have in probably over a hundred years. Why not cut down a Pedersoli or some other gun that you can at least get replacement barrels for? Or trade it for one already cut down or with damaged barrels?

You requested opinions. My opinion is don’t molest this gun by cutting the barrels down.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Never been one too cut down shotgun barrels, that seems like a decent double, I would leave it in its original length and enjoy the gun for what it was built for. I am a double barrel sort of guy and would cringe at the thought of tape and a saws all with a double laying on the bench in front of me.

 

[CaptainKirk]

Don't cut it.

 

[Dale Lilly]

Please do not cut it... offer to trade for a modern made BP double and cut the replica if you must. Polecat

 

[Loyalist Dave]

You might want to check the bores first. What are they choked? OR you may find some not so good pitting near the muzzles and thus to restore it to shooting you need to cut off a few inches. If they are viable barrels and not choked so tight as to be only for large waterfowl, I'd not do anything to the barrels. IF they are choke full/full, I'd maybe see if somebody would buy it for a proper price and then put that ca$h to perhaps a repro with the chokes that you do want, or cylinder/cylinder and you have a single ball and buckshot gun. (Buck and ball is notoriously not very good for game)

LD

 

[French Colonial]

Please Please Please do not cut!
Sell it or shoot it as is or the world will have one more butchered piece of history.

 

[ord sgt]

Tap lightly on the barrel with a small hammer. If they "ring" with a clear note, the barrels should be firmly attached to the rib. If the note sounds "off" then the barrel is not firmly attached to the rib. This will help in the decision of "do I have a wall hanger" or do I have something safe to shoot.
A gunsmith good with shotguns will be able to reattach the barrels to the rib and maybe tell you if it looks good enough to safely shoot.

 

[Sam squanch]

That is NOT another Belgian clunker! That is a very well made , high priced gun in its day. DON’T!!!

 

[Sam squanch]

Sell it on this forum, and use the proceeds to by a pedersoli or cva double to cut down for your purposes.