16ga.com ~ View topic - Anyone tell me about my new toy (16ga Hammer-gun)?

Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 16 Location: CT

My first post! And my 1st 16ga!

Well, I found a sweet deal in a local gun shop. A 16 gauge small frame hammer gun. Felt great in the hand! Great engraving! And at a price I can't even repeat.

Can anyone tell me anything about this gun? German or Belgium?

It needs a cleaning and the barrels have very light rust on them. Should I re-blue or 0000 steel wool and an oil? If an oil, which one? Wood is better than the pics show.

Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 16 Location: CT

Smaller pics uploaded 560x420 72dpi.

Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 16 Location: CT

1. Via my Skeet's 12/16 14" bore gauge: Chokes for Barrel 1: .000 Barrel 2: .022

I don't know how to zero it with provided ring, so I placed it in the barrel and zero'd it, then pulled it and read the above numbers.

2. With my Galazan brass choke gauge C+IM

3. Via my Galazan brass chamber gauge they were just shy of 2 3/4"

4. 29.5" barrels

5. 14.5" LOP

Braunsweig is in Germany. Spent some time there about 1979-80..

The Barrels may be Belgian, but i don't have a clue nor know anything about the proof markings...

why would you ever want to reblue a nice old gun like that??? I'd say clean very carefully.

just my opinion

rayb

Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 16 Location: CT

I agree, I don't intend to reblue as stated, but clean is more like it.

neat looking old gun but it appears to be off face; get it checked by a good doublegun smith.

Member Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 138 Location: Parma, OH

When a SxS is "off face" that means that there's too much clearance (or "slop") between the barrels and action when the gun is closed. A good way to detect this is if you remove the fore-end then try to twist the barrels with the action closed. ANY movement between reletive to the barrels and the action means that theres too much clearance and the gun should be sent to a gunsmith to be put back on face. Usually it means installing a shim on the hook of the barrel lugs. However if there is another problem usually the gunsmith can identify it and let you know how much the cost of the remedy is, if any.....(presuming a worst case scenario, but your gun looks very nice so it may just need shim'ed....)

Mike Doerner

what I know about shotguns this age can be written on a pin's head. However, I could not help but notice the back action locks and the way the firing pins are intalled on what look like nipples. Is this gun a conversion from a pin fire gun? This gun looks to be pre-1900 easy. However, as I said, I know zilch about guns like these. somebody please enlighten me? Oh yeah..are those damascus barrels?

Hi fishrising
I'v just been staring at this screen with a jewelers head loupe trying to decipher your guns proof marks.
they are BELGIAN proof marks
the proof marks stamped on the gun flats on the left is called the Perron mark which is used on muzzel loading and breech loading guns which have passedfinal black powder proof

the marks on the barrel as best I can make out are
Lion over PV is a type of semi smokless reproof
ster over A is the inspectors stamp
the scroll E stamped on top of the L is a provisional and prelimary acceptance of proof
The crown over oval containing ELGplus star stamped on breech loading shotguns that have passed black powder proof
the 16 ovev C inside a diamond is a gauge size or nominol bore

I'm sorry that I cannot see or make out the other marks but they are definately BELGIAN
REFERANCE THE STANDARD DIRECTORY OF PROOF MARKS
I had a look at Austrian and German proofs and there is no match

I hope this is some help
regards
sbs470

PS dont re blue the gun. it has character
use oil and you hands and develop a nice patina

good luck