doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 28 bore diameter?

My 28 ga Wiggan & Elliott have this bore diameter and I am surprised cause is the 24 bore. What do you think about?

The stamp is a >>26<< overstamped w/ a >>28<<.


Serbus,

Raimey
rse

I believe it is a "20" where the zero has been over-stamped with an "8". Has this gun been sleeved? It may have been sleeved down to 28ga or even chamber-sleeved down to 28ga from 20ga. ---Matt

Thanks for your replies.

It's something extrange in these marks. It looked like there was a zero under the eight, but the chamber doesn't been sleeved down to 28 ga from 20 ga. See the picture below.



28 bore diameter: .550
24 bore diameter: .579

So, what do you think? May be, a bad day of the person who recorded the marks?

It is not overly uncommon for a gun to have a chamber smaller than common for the bore( ie "overbore condition") , this may be an extreme example.
Mike

Back-Bored technology, but from the 19th century, isn't it?
What a curious thing and thank you for your words.

Dear Campero,

Are there any earlier Black Powder proof marks stamped on the barrel? Does that show a 24?

My guess is that it could have been made as a 24 bore, and when those cartridges became unobtainable then the chamber was sleeved to accept 28 bore cartridges.

I know that some gunsmiths chamber sleeved 16 bores to 20 bore to make them more saleable.

Dear Parabola,

Thanks for your reply.

There are these marks in the barrel. The number is very confused. 26?




I don't think it was converted to 28 bore because the barrel has no joints.

It was originally proofed as a 26 bore. ( .563).

I have not found any reference to 26 bore cartridges being made.

It might have been made as a open bored 28 bore, or a tight bored 24 bore in the way that new 12 bores were often stamped 13, or 13/1.

If it was chamber sleeved from 24 to 28 you would not see any external joins, only possibly a faint circle in or around the cartridge rim recess.

In any event it is now nitro proofed as a 28 , so I am sure you will continue to enjoy shooting it.

Thank you, Parabola.

No reference to the 26 gauge either. Something strange.

In the photo above, showing the wax I used to measure the breech, no circle is visible. Something even weirder.

No nitro proof engraved, but I use it with current 28/65 cartridges. And yes, I enjoy it very much.

Regards!