Last Summer, I was offered what appeared to be a rather beat up British 12 bore Damascus Side Lock with 2 1/2 inch chambers, Nitro proofed 1 1/8oz. When it came to me it had one broken firing pin with the other missing. The stock had various scratches and a 3/4 inch piece of wood missing from the toe -- the horn Butt was broken in several places. The barrels are tight on face and the lock up tight. I bought it as a project for the winter and so far, I built two new firing pins, removed the wood to where the damage began at the heel/toe, seamed, sanded and filled wood and refinished in hand rubbed reddish brown Schaftol. I fitted a red recoil pad (Galizan)
The Barrels are marked E Palmer - Strood (Kent - not far from London)
Not much info on the maker except for this: " E. PALMER who was a gun maker in England in the 1880s through 1908 at least. His address was 48 High Street Strood, England. He used the markings "E. PALMER (street address) STROOD on the barrels and E. PALMER on the locks. The Palmers were a family of gun makers starting with William Palmer in 1797 and continuing through W. and H.E. Palmer in the 1920s.
There is absolutely no rust on the barrels and are pristine inside with no marks to indicate Damascus as I've seen in other barrels. They look like steel -- rumour has it that some makers made steel barrels to look like Damascus? Is there any value to the gun (not like I'm interested in selling) I do enjoy the old dear and shoot it well with Gamebore Pure Gold Ammunition.
Pictures below -- any insight would be most welcome. Should I have the barrels re colored?
Cheers, John
