doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com New for me: Older SxS

Hello All,

First post for me, I was referred to this site by an on-line acquaintance. I have searched, but nothing popped up in the last year.

I picked up a vintage 12 gauge (12 bore) shotgun two weekends ago at the SLC (Utah, USA) Gunshow. It is a greener action, exposed hammers (left hammer doesn't match though!) double trigger and is marked "Wm Lee 28 Lancaster St Birmingham & Kimberley" on the top middle between barrels.

It has nice engraving all over the metal parts (except for left hammer), not much original finish left, damascus barrels and the stocks are well worn with "C.V." scratched into the buttstock and missing the buffalo/ebony tip for the forestock.

I did find this info in the NOTES of an online auction house:





QUESTIONS:

#1. I am looking for more info on this fine shotgun, but where should I start?

#2. What is a good reference book?

#3. I need to get its value appraised for insurance reasons also, who could do that?

Not looking to sell, it'll be a novelty keeper/wall hanger that I plan pass on to my son one day.

Thank you kindly!

~William




Here are the pics I could take:

Shooters Right Side of the Shotgun, beautiful engraving!



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Underside of the Shotgun, again a real beauty in my jaded eyes!



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Underside of the Chambers:



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A cracked stock. Well, I don't expect anything less from this old girl!



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Real Ugly & Sadness: Non-Matching hammer, washer & screw:




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Other than the non-matching hammer, I think its a real beauty of an OLD gun.

I traded a $350 rifle for it, so I don't "think" that I lost on the deal...

Or did I?

Just curious as to the real value so that I know what sort of rider policy to have it insured for. How can I accurately establish this value as well? Or do I have to send it out to get it appraised?

If this gun had walked into my shop I would have told you the following .From the pictures you have a typical though quite nicely finished , hammer gun that were made in large numbers for the colonial trade . Simple locks black powder and functional. Basicaly you have $350 in an old gun that is not safe to shoot as it has a broken stock.You already have as much imformation as you are likely to find.Without knowing what the barrels are like , internal condition etc. it would be foolish to speculate to any potential value it might have with remedial work carried out.

Let's not sugar coat anything, in fact let's do what we can to curb this fellows enthusiasm, eh. I thought that was jOe's job here. What I see here is a diamond in the rough. However, I agree that he should have the barrels checked out before he starts polishing this diamond up.
Steve

I do not beleive in telling folk lies and half truthes. There is is enough of that already . I stated what can be deduced from the photos . An old hammer gun with a broken stock and an odd hammer ,not safe to use ,fact. If Will likes it and wants to spend money on it to make it safe to use ,then all well and good.But if the barrels are in a poor state then all you have is an atractive wall hanger.

I do not beleive in telling folk lies and half truthes. There is is enough of that already . I stated what can be deduced from the photos . An old hammer gun with a broken stock and an odd hammer ,not safe to use ,fact. If Will likes it and wants to spend money on it to make it safe to use ,then all well and good.But if the barrels are in a poor state then all you have is an atractive wall hanger.

An insurance rider of 50 bucks should cover it.

First knock him down then kick him. This will make him more enthusiatic about SxSs. Why not just say it was an ok trade, but before anything have it checked out by a compenant gunsmith, may be a nice wall hanger. Tis the season to be jolly.

No use sugar coating a horse turd....

Gunman, you live in Britian and see some really nice shotguns on a daily basis, around here the typical SXS is a beat-out old farm impliment. My point is around here, when one runs across a British shotgun, even one with repair issues it still deserves a second look.
jOe, how you can pack so much negativity in so few words is truly a mystery.
Seriously Will, one thing both Gunman and I agree on is having good barrels is key. Have the barrels checked out by a competant gunsmith, one who is familiar with or specializes in SXS's. If he pans the gun simply because it has damascus barrels, without doing further inspection, walk away because he's just proven that he don't know squat. Many of these old guns have had the barrels reamed to remove pitting, what you need is to have the barrel wall thickness measured. If the barrel wall thickness is adequate, then repair the stock. There have been numerous threads on the subject that can be researched right here. If it were my gun and everything checked out and I'd repaired the stock I'd take it out and shoot Winchester AA Low Recoil/Noise or Featherlites through it. There are also shot shell manufacturers that specialize in low pressure loads for these old guns.
Steve

There you go trying to sugar coat it....the gun is not worth having anything about it checked out.