doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com opinion on a Scott Monte Carlo B

There is a Monte Carlo B for sale on the "gunrack" and I have a few questions;

According to the serial number the date of manufacture should be right around 1898, and the barrels are marked "special steel," would that be fluid steel barrels?

The gun is black powder proofed, what if any modern ammo would be safe?

The gun also has a pile of drop at the heel? Is there a reason it would have been made as such?

I am a bargain basement LC Smith guy, but this gun really caught my eye. I just don't want anything I can't shoot, and I hate paying 15 bucks a box for shells.

Thanks,
CHAZ

Hmm. This doesn't make sense.

The Monte Carlo model is just that, a Monte Carlo stocked Scott. (equal drop at heel and comb)

The fact that it has different drops and quite a bit at heel may suggest that someone made it a live pigeon gun after purchase.

If the gun is in good mechanical order it will shoot loads up to 7800psi quite safely. I have a Scott from 1891 that I shoot regularly using B&P High Pheasant 2.5" game loads. (appx. 7800psi) in one once shot. For regular shooting, the B&P F2 subsounds in 7.5 or 9 shot (UK sizes, really are US 7s and 8s) with 7/8 ounce of lead are at about 5800psi and will handle thousands of rounds with no issues.

I've seen many Monte Carlos and they very in quality up to almost the quality of "Best Guns" like their premiers, others are just off the rack moderate grade guns with a monte carlo stock.

Incidentally, the B&P shells I mentioned are better than the RST and Polywads in my opinion and cost only $80 a case with no tax and free shipping. ($8 a box)

I have used the B&P shells in my LC Smith guns and was very impressed.

CHAZ

Chaz,

I'm not nearly as experienced as others on this board when it comes to gun fit, but it looks to me that the gun was "cast-down" if there was such a term. Hot oil bend at wrist pushing the entire comb down.

That would include whatever additional changes to the drops occurred and what looks like a fair amount of customization the pitch at the pad.

When I first looked at the pic I thought it was a bore-backed Germanic gun!

If it were me, I'd ask an expert gun fitter and stock bender if the gun could be "cast-up" (making up new terms here) and then perhaps even convert the Prince of Wales to an English grip. The combination of all the aforementioned being to get the gun's proportions back into spec.

I'm sure a Scott expert will chime in and say my ideas are utterly reprehensible so take their opinions into context as well.

Incidentally, I do not think the gun is a bargain at $2200. It would be at say, $1200.

I have a Scott SLE that was built in the same year. However it sure doesn't look like that as IMO this stock would be more appropriate on an old percussion rifle.
My Scott is only proofed for black powder but the tubes are fluid steel. I've used low pressure smokeless loads in it for years without any problems.
Jim

I'd suggest a read of the book on Ernest Hemingway's personal guns- rifles, handguns and of course, his shotguns. He had a Scott 12 bore Monte Carlo live bird gun-and some of the other better graded double guns of his era- merkels and a Browning O/U-- several 20 gauge M21's--The author apparently worked with a G&H top gun guy to authenticate the gun--also believe to be the shotgun he used to end his life in July, 1961.

Tremendous amount of drop on that gun above in the picture

Hoof:
There IS a "surgical" technique to reduce the drop. But it must be done by an expert, and that will cost money and a stock re-finish. Contact Kirby Hoyt on this. If the total for gun and work is within your range, make your choice.

Scott's Monte Carlo Bs were marketed as pigeon guns, but many, many of them were made as game guns (probably most).

Scott made them for a very long time and they were a popular model. I've seen lots of them and I don't think I've seen any with a true Monte Carlo-style stock (even though Scott did offer Monte stocks on their guns).

That gun at Cobb's look's "restored". That drop is probably original. Tons of drop is common is old Scotts (just like it is with older American stuff). Bending it up may be possible, but getting more than a 1/2" could be tough. Converting/grafting is pricey and not worth it on a gun like that.

OWD