doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com How old is too old?

I would be more worried about some of the newer ones made with steel from the Bessemer Converter process than damascus. Perhaps in another 40 or 50 years.

Can you say Hydrogen degradation.

There is no answer to this question as it depends on use history and condition of each arm, but chances of "explosion" are greater then those from QUALITY guns made in say last 25 years.

A bit like meself, actually. ;-)
Km

The oldest (occasional, carefully loaded) shooter in my battery dates to the mid 1840s. Others which date between 1874 and later get a run too. If it's gunna let go then I can think of worse ways to die.
RG

[quote=cadet If it's gunna let go then I can think of worse ways to die.
RG [/quote

My kind'a guy...Geo

That's a very good point Montana. DT would know for sure, probably having seen more pinfire to centerfire conversions in British guns than 10 American gunsmiths.

Just as an example, I just picked up a very early J. Blanch and Son damascus barreled hammer gun that I am almost certain is a pinfire conversion. The gun has a typically older back lock action, and underlever with gorgeous barrels and beautiful engraving and wood. I have shot low pressure 2 1/2 inch 12 ga reloads through it and it performs beautifully. The barrels checked out pretty well, not too thin, in fact thicker than I have seen on many an English sxs being 30" and as light as the gun is.

I may attach a few pics of it on another thread and you can see why I think it is a converted pinfire, with the pinhole cutouts in the tops of the barrels at the breech, the small non-rebounding hammers with definite aftermarket stock cuts for the nipples of the centerfire pins and the very very low SN of the gun, which dates it in the 1870's.

Anyway, not to get too far off the subject, but all of that is to agree with you and DT/CC that if the condition of the gun is such that it is still in proof and you have the right shells, the gun is fine no matter how old. Smallbore's late season pheasant gun sounds fascinating.

Brad

Truely older guns have a habit of unseen pricey little things that go wrong. Even with a top-notch once over - they'll be no x-ray eyes involved.
Unless you find an outstanding specimen, the best of the London guns, the best of AH Fox and those pre-'13 LCs were all in the golden era of 1900-1915.
Thats about as old as it gets.

Lowell are you talking from experience or from a Cystal Ball ?

All year I put 'over a 100 rounds' per week through each of my Scott and Purdey hammer guns...circa 1873 to 1881 never a breakdown.

Info I collected while on a majic carpet ride through the cosmos last nite.
I'm feelin' much better today - thank you!

yOu been reading the Damascus thread again...Quality made guns don't break down very often.