doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A J Aubrey shotguns

I recently picked up a damascus A.J.Aubrey shotgun in slightly loose, but shootable, condition. I've had a number of these old, store catalog, shotguns over the years but never an Aubrey. I have noticed that the firing pins appear to be free floating. I say that because when you hold the gun skyward you can see the pins retract, and when pointed toward the ground they protrude through the standing breech. Is this the way the firing pins are supposed to be with Aubrey's?

I think that is the way they are made. Mine is a hammer gun and does the same thing.

Mine is that way too. Have to keep her pointed up to close the action. I also think I read in some literature somewhere that some of these Aubrey's came with a 20 year warranty.

many hammer guns were made with floating pins, normally the extractor has two curved grooves in it which pushes the pins out the way allowing the barrels to close, sometimes it it necessary to carefully re profile these grooves or just polish them ( talking the removal of tiny amounts of metal) for the extractor to properly push the pins back allowing the gun to close.

On one i have had i used heavy grease on the firing pins which stopped them falling forwards and jamming things up.

Thanks for the responses guys. This gun is hammerless, and the firing pins rattle like a bad set of teeth. I've fired a few hundred rounds through the gun without a problem so the pins can't be broken. I do not know how old the gun is but it has a 5 digit serial number and chain damascus barrels. Would anyone have an idea as to when the gun was made?

The A J Aubrey doubles were listed in the Sears 1908 catalog & seemed to be a fairly new entry. I don't think they were listed for very many years, but don't know just how long. Anyway somewhere along that time frame. The few I have seen appeared to be reasonably well made.

Information here Austin, with an estimated DOM list and references to articles by PeteM's and others
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopi...44106cd237bee3c

Thanks Drew, for directing me to the above site. I now realize that my gun was made in 1911 ( which is probably why it's marked "The New Aubrey" ) and it's a model 58 with 32 inch chain damascus barrels. I'm going to enjoy using this gun.

Very nice Austin. More here
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17474742

Another Model 58 with the Parker-ish flying turnips