doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com New project

I have been fortunate enough to acquire another Perrins. However this one is going to need a little TLC to get it back spitting fire. She is a 14 bore pinfire, sold originally between 1868 and 1879, so quite late on for pin fires as Perrins were already selling predominantly center fire shotguns by this time. I am sure the more observant among you will have noticed she is missing a couple of rather important bits ie the hammers. I have some on order to try out but i understand there are many different sizes so this could be a challenge. I am sure we will get there in the end. She will need her barrels re browned and then comes the problem of ammo. If anyone else has gone down the route of making their own from brass any tips would be appreciated. In the UK we have rather peculiar rules governing antique and vintage guns. If they are original rather than repro and are of 'obsolete' caliber, which includes all muzzle loaders and pin fires, they do not have to be on a certificate and can be hung on the wall as long as you don't intend to fire them. As soon as you want to fire them and acquire ammo you then have to have them entered on your shotgun certificate and locked away in a gun safe. If you decide not to shoot them anymore you can have them removed from your certificate and hung back on the wall.
The gun was obviously quite a high quality gun in it's day so I feel it is worth spending some time and money getting the old girl back in working order as the barrels and action and stock are in really sound condition.

Wonderful. Can't wait to see the restoration. I am particularly interested in how you clean up the side plates.

does it have a butt plate or pad.....sometimes previous owners have been known to remove the hammers and store them under the plate.....

It has a metal but plate with wrap over top lug - the screws look as though they have never been touched and the metal to wood fit has a build up of polish or oil - so it doesn't look like it has been off in the last 100 years - but I may be wrong and certainly worth a look.
I think the brown staining is probably oil residues so it may clean off with soap and water or a mild solvent such as white spirit - I don't want to use anything abrasive as the engraving is very fine and abrasion would dull it - thoughts would be appreciated.
John

throw it in an ultra-sonic cleaner.....you will be amazed.

NEAT!!!
Congratulations

Start the quest for ammo here

http://hlebooks.com/pinfire/cal16-01.htm

Mike

It looks to me like you have the start of a beautiful project.
I have a question(s) before you get started:
What if anything do you intend to do about the wood chipping that has occurred around the locks over time?
Are 14 ga pinfire shells still available?
Jim

No hammers, but the screws have been put back into the lock after the hammers were taken off. Score !
To replace those screws is usually the hardest part.
O.M

James,
Restoration and woodwork is always a tricky one. The checkering is still quite sharp - probably because it hasn't been used a great deal as cartridges became difficult to obtain. My inclination is to leave well alone a retain it's character after all it is 150 years old. I will probably do one thing at a time - get the hammers fitted - find someone to make me some ammunition - I have access to a couple of original cartridges so dimensions shouldn't be a problem. Once working get the barrels re browned and the engraving on the rib re done as it is very faint. Perrins were only at Mealcheapen St from 1868 to 1879 so I feel it is important to retain this information as it adds provenance. Then try it out on a few pheasants! maynot be this session but perhaps I may get the opportunity if I delay the rebrowning till next summer - watch this space. I was really pleased to see the screws still in place - not sure why the hammers were removed unless someone had been dry firing it and broken them.
I am not intending to return it to 'as new' condition as I think guns of this age can be over restored - they are what they are and should show signs of use by previous custodians - it is part of their heritage and history.
You occasionally see 14 bore pin fire cartridges come up at auction and in the past I have seen new empty case for sale but I think I will go down the route of getting a handful or two brass ones turned up. It isn't going to be my main gun - just a fun gun to take as a talking point and show that those old boys knew what they were doing - hopefully!!!!
John

Old farmer,

I love the Perrins owners club and would like to add a Perrins to my collection, I'm guessing you are in the UK?

For measuring the hammers and ordering either from peter dyson or e j blackley and son, use your calipers and measure from the center of the axle hole on the locks to the hole that the pin protrudes from. Holes must then be drilled in the hammers and broached out to a tapered square hole - it can be fiddly to get right.

IF you are in the UK I have an original 14 bore pinfire case in my collection; for the purposes of your restoration I will loan you the case in order to take measurements so you can have them reproduced or make some yourself or what have you.

if this is any use to you PM me.