doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Clark and Sneider 8 bore, Conversion

Dr. Bob, the Sneider in question has barrels that did not have barrel flats originally. Note that the flats on this gun are just soldered on. Take a look at the patent. Never part of the original barrels. I see many conversions like this. This one is quite well done.

Daryl, I am not sure that I understand the process then. Where did the flats come from? Since they have proof marks where are the barrels that were proofed?
I thought that I understood the process where flats were soldered, braised or welded onto muzzle loader barrels to convert to breech loading, but where would the proof marks come from if not from a breech loading gun? Or were the barrels re-proofed after the flats were soldered on?

Dr. Bob, the flats were made by Sneider and soldered on a set of barrels found on a muzzle loader, probably from England. Most of the receiver is a Sneider innovation. The proofmarks you see are from the old "donor" barrels. No proofmarks needed or found on guns made or manufactured or altered in the U.S. The proofs you see are from the muzzleloading gun that was converted. You see several parts of the conversion gun with the 6000 series serial numbers. Just parts from a previous muzzleloader and the Sneider serial no's are not part of the 6000 series. Kind of neat to have the "old" grip safety from the donor gun. I assume there are other older muzzleloader parts on the gun , like a buttplate, triggerguard, or even maybe those erect hammers. The receiver is pure Sneider, but the locks could have come from the donor gun.

Daryl,
I see what you mean. I examined my conversion guns, 1 Dangerfield and Lefever and 2 Barber and Lefevers. There are residual, although worn proof marks on the barrels in the flattened areas. Apparently the proof marks were deep enough so that they did not disappear with the filing to create the flat part of the barrels to mate with the soldered lug portion of the flats.

Thanks guys for the discussion of my C&S...it is an interesting double.

Well, I sure learned something here, thanks, Darryl and Jeff. I had never heard of Sneider the gunsmith, nor expected to see pics of such beautiful guns made in the USA, looking so very much like guns from the UK trade.
And I had no idea anyone patented the conversion from muzzleloaders to breech loaders.
Thanks to all who enlightened me!
Mike

It is all wonderful history Mike!

Nice gun...The bar action doesn't look like a conversion to me.

Dr. Bob, can you post some photos of your converted barrels on any of your guns. Thanks, Jeff

BALTDBL
We have kind of hijacked this thread, but its your thread.
From top to bottom:
Dangerfield and Lefever 10 gauge from Wm Green
Barber and Lefever 12 gauge from unknown
Barber and Lefever 14 g from unknown