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My 1883 Colt 10 gauge has a very slight gap in the top half between barrels and breech face. From the middle on down it is tight. It has been this way since it has been in my possession and shows signs of peening marks by an amateur gunsmith in an attempt to put it on face.

I have tried some thin metal shims on the hook to no avail...still shows a slight gap at top.

Would you recommend sending it off to be put back on face? And if so, I would really appreciate suggestions on where to ship it.

Griz,

I use Dave Norin for this type of work. He has put several guns back on face for me. Here is his website:
http://www.davenoringunmaker.com/

This is a quote from one job he did for me:


Pete

Your not too far from Steve Bertram
Bertram & Co
http://www.bertramandco.com/
Boulder CO
303-938-1996

If the lower half of the barrels are touching the action face and there is only a "tiny" gap of light showing through the top, I don't believe I'd do anything except shoot it. If it's going to worry you, sounds as though the hook needs to be built up and the breech end of the barrels carefully refit to the action face.

One has to wonder if the "Peening" had some effect on this. Stop, think & consider. Wear in the hinge will not bring the lower portion of the bbls closer while showing a gap at the top. Assuming the bbls were properly fit to begin with & had a slight gap between flats & action bar, wear in the hinge allowing the bbls to seat down further & close the frame gap, would move the "Top" of the bbls more than the bottoms. A slight gap at the bottom while tight at the top, would appear normal. A bending of the frame would create a wider gap at the top. Quite possible this occured over the years of possible heavy loads & the peening brought the bbls back against the breech, but contact only at the bottom, due to the bent frame. I'd check it out good.

I'd follow Miller's advice and check the corner fillet of the frame very closely at least with a magnification of 10x. Look for cracks originating out of the outside corner right at the fillet or inside where the slot and fillet meet.

Well, I carefully checked with a strong magnifying glass per the suggestions above and could not discern any cracks. I am guessing all the peening marks on the hook, water table and barrel flats may have something to do with it. (See photos below)

I am thinking I need to send it off to a good double gun smith who knows a lot more than I do and see what they have to say.

From your original post I was only thinking of the peening being done on the hook for the purpose of pushing the bbls back against the face (would much prefer to go the shim route myself). I presume they peened the action flats to close the slot for a tighter fit with the bbl lug. There is also a strong possibility this peening stretched the upper surface of the bar resulting in it bowing up. This would account for the gap at top of breech.

I would Tig weld all the areas of peening and the hook and then machine back, file and fit.It's not beyond repair but it goes to show the damage that can be done by an ignorant idiot.

I've never seen anything like this. My recommendation would be a gunsmith experienced in working with metals. If Tig welding is necessary I don't know who the best candidate would be out your way. Most of the smiths I use are more familiar with older guns from the UK. Nick Makinson gets much of my work for that. He is convenient for me in Michigan and a good guy for metal work. There are several good people on the eastern seaboard as well.