Hi everyone, first post here;
I have a combination gun I am trying to find information about. It is a Johann Peterlongo 16 gauge x 9.3mm (I think 9.3x72R) side by side with exposed hammers, made in Innsbruck, Austria. It has the Ferlach 1829-1958 multi-barrel black powder proof mark and the 1891 and later provisional proof. As it says nothing about Marholdt, I assume it is between 1891-1898 in manufacture. It has an odd eight groove rifling, and what appears to be an extra-full choke. For one I would like to know how much its worth, roughly. It came back from Europe after WW2 from one of my relatives, so I have no interest in selling, just curious whether its an $800 gun or an $8,000 gun. Finish is a tad rough, but absolutely no pitting of any sort and the bores are bright and polished, only thing really is a very small ding 2/3 of the way to the end of the shotgun barrel, some stock dings and a couple dings on top of the rib. Locks up reasonably tight (I can feel a very slight movement if I hold it upside down by the muzzle and the end of the stock and apply up and down pressure with the back of the barrel on me knee, if you just pick it up by the grip and foregrip and try to wiggle it you can't feel it) and everything works smoothly.
My other question is if it is a shootable gun. It is in nearly perfect order, and if it was any of my other guns Id have already shot it. But two things concern me; the small barrel ding, and the fact that my grandfather shot it at least once with a modern shell. Is it still safe to shoot? I dont want to ruin such a nice piece of history, or blow my hands off. The barrel ding seems to be about 0.005 deep. It seems to have been there for a long time, as plastic from the wad when my grandfather shot it is present where it seems to have rubbed slightly.
If it is shootable, where is a good place to buy suitable shells? Would Polyweb or RST be good choices? And what about the rifle? Where would I find (preferably) cartridges or reloading supplies & data for the 9.3x72R barrel? I dont plan on going through a box of shells a month or anything, but it has the best feel and balance of any gun Ive picked up and Id like to be able to occasionally shoot it.
Pictures here;
http://s1081.photobucket.com/albums/j356/ChazsPictures/ Thanks,
Chaz
