doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What am I in for?

Last month, while ptarmigan hunting, I took a nasty fall while traversing a scree field. Other than bruises on my right hip and left shoulder I actually fared well. My circa 1911 Webley & Scott however, did not. It has a dent in the right barrel approx. 2" from the muzzle, 3/8" long and 3/16" wide. The dent is deep enough that a small dimple is visible in the bore.

The ol' girl is not terribly valuable (cut bbls.) but happens to be my favorite for much of the bird hunting I do. Based on this:

1. Do I have to have the dent taken out?
2. A guesstimate of cost to have a dent removed?
3. Is it safe to shoot as is?

Steve

Steve Bertram is in Colorado, he can remove the dent . You should not leave the dent in the barrels.

Steve,
You must get the dent raised before using the gun again.
If you fail to do so you stand a high risk of a ring bulge. This in turn can loosen your ribs at that point.
Afraid I can't help you on cost as it depends on who you can access but in the UK you would be looking at about �50-60 to raise dents and a quick polish.
It MAY be safe to use but you may further damage the barrel in the process. Plenty of guns have been shot with dents in the barrels and the shooter has survived to shoot aniother day and lots of barrel-smiths have made a good living fixing the damage!

Yes have the dent removed -by someone who knows how

Cost will vary but should be quite reasonable

And safe to shoot, probably but that depends on the dent, there will be microscopic wear to the inside of the dent - it would likely take thousands of rounds to cause an affect.

Unless there is weak spot due to a crease

Which brings us back to take it to someone who knows what they are doing

Don't shoot it until it's fixed, it can become unrepairable as the metal thickness can change. It should be an easy job for a competent gunsmith. I've just had 3 small dents raised on a pair of Powell barrels. It cost �60 here so not too expensive.

Call Steve Bertam in Boulder.. good work fair priced

Most dent raising work starts at about $50 from what I have seen. And make sure that whoever does it is using the right tools. Beware of someone who uses one of the Hydraulic type tools and tells you that they cannot guarantee that they can get it out without damage. Those tools can turn a dent into a bulge really quick. Not that they do not work right in the right hands, but there are better tools out there. And anyone who is good with old doubles, is going to have them.

Mike Orlen, Amherst, MA would probably fix it and get it back on its way to you in less than a week. Google his number and call him.

I apologize for saying this, but Mr. Orlen has a way to go before any of us should send him a gun with any expectation to get it back. He has not replied to accusations of poor performance made by members of this forum. Mike, it's your turn.

I'll give a third vote for Bertram. He has worked on several of my guns. He gives good, fast service at fair prices.