Post some pictures of more of the gun besides close up of some of the proof marks.
Production date can be inferred by a few things, including, importantly but not definitively, by the serial number. Model 302 was made between 1931 and 1939. Almost impossible that it was produced with Damascus barrels.
The metal end of the sling is often referred to a "Napolean's Hat". Very hard to come by. Best to search Naturabuy online auction located in France. (Similar to Gunbroker) Google Chrome or fluency in french is recommended.
What do you mean by modern ammunition? Hot 1700 fps steel loads? In which case, no.
Sensible lead or lead equivalent around 1200 fps, shoot away. Just have the barrels examined first by a competent SxS smith who can check for dangerous pitting and safe barrel wall dimensions.
In the period in which this gun was produced, it was the base model, if it is a 302. Extractors and the basic quality barrels. Very limited, if any, engraving and plain but good wood.
As that gun is at least 80 years old, I would not take the choke markings (or the bore dimensions) for granted. Unless you are sure of 85 years of provenance, there is no telling what has happened to those barrels during that time. Rather that assume the chokes are as original and marked, and the bores have not been honed out, you should have the gun properly examined by someone who knows what they are doing. Not your local smith who used to working on tactical shotgun.....a SxS specialist.
And don't let ANYONE take the stock off unless they already know how to remove an Ideal stock. Many, many Ideals in NA have had the stock irreparably damaged because the smith did not know how to remove the stock. It's almost rare to find one that isn't damaged.
Last edited by canvasback; 04/24/19 06:30 PM.
