doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com My new project platform (E.J. Churchill)

Hello all, I just recieved my new project gun. It is a base model E.J. Churchill, that apparently dates to 1898 based on their online date of manufacturing list. I am missing a tang screw, small set screws and also the thumb safety as some idiot replaced it with an aftermarket pos. I am planning on using it for a custom platform similar to using a Fox Sterlingworth for a platform.

The gun has been reproofed for 1 1/8oz nitro loads. I am wondering if you guys have any idea of where to find some parts or have them made. I will also need to have it rejointed. I did not pay much for it so I can invest a little into it and come out fine. The barrels are in great shape. I am interested in any information you can tell me from the photos posted below. Thanks all for any help.

Steve Bertram would be who I send it to to have it rejoined or have a new hinge pin made. He could do most of the rest as well of your list. Just comes down to time and money and if you have enough of the money part time does not matter.

The nitro proof marks are the correct ones for the period 1896-1904
which confirms your serial no. info for 1898. They are not re-proof marks. Hard to tell from your pics whether the barrels are blacked or browned but they appear to be damascus.The pattern is quite obvious.You might want to have the bore size and barrel wall thicknesses checked out to see if it is still in proof before proceeding any further.I think I also see a broken stock.If you can do most of the work yourself,great. If not, be aware $$$$$$$$$$$$.

I do stock work myself so that is of no issue. I am currently restocking a French Side by Side that I have. I have been doing that for a few years.

The barrels are damascus. I am not sure but the entire gun looks blacked. Not sure if that is the usual norm for a Utility grade? The barrels appear to be untouched as they are lightly frosted, not pitted, but not shiney. I am going to get them checked out, but they appear to be untampered from my visual inspection. A gun of this age would typicaly be chambered for 2 1/2inch? I don't care as I already shoot one and rather like it. Thanks again for the suggestions and help.

Almost certainly the barrels would have been browned and the action color hardened.Looks like someone just blacked all the metal parts at the same time.The 1 1/8 oz. nitro proofing relates to 2 1/2"
chambers. 2 3/4" chambers would have required 1 1/4 oz.proofing during this period. Good luck with your project.

The barrels were probably hot blued that's why they need rejoining. It will probably cost you well over 500.00 to get them rejoined and browned.

This gun/project is not something that you will ever recoupe your money on (even if you got the gun for free)......as long as you know that go for it.

I am not in the process of doing it for getting my money back. I just want to have a fun project I will keep and shoot until I am dead. The barrels are not seperated, it is the hinge pin that is worn. Still, it is a costly fix. The barrels ring nice, and are not pitted. As they say, buy the barrels not the gun.

It might be worth contacting Churchill's to see what model it is. I don't recall ever seeing one with that type of top rib extension. You should be able to get it re-jointed and if you can re-stock then it should be a worthwhile project; after all it is an ejector model. Lagopus.....

check with the proof houses, I'm very doubtfull it was originaly nirto proofed.

Nitra,
Most guns produced in the 1896-1904 proof period were nitro proofed, in fact the absence of the 'Nitro Proof' & 'Maximum' shot load mark is a fairly safe guide to the gun being pre-1896.
Lagopus,
I doubt this gun will have had any 'model' name. It is an absolutely basic Birmingham BLE. I have repaired, sold (and sadly occasionally scrapped) dozens of identical guns with every name imaginable on them.
The harpoon trade mark on the forend iron is that of Charles Osborne who had his factory in Birmingham but a retail premises in Great Scotland Yard in London. He supplied mainly boxlocks to the London retail trade with any name on they wished but this little harpoon trade mark is usually there on the forend iron.
I suspect that this gun was supplied to Churchill fully finished and ready for the sale rack.