doublegunshop.com - home Forums Thread Like Summary - the sleeving problem

specifically, we do not have anyone left over here that sleeves barrels...

however, there are plenty of sources for sleeving in the uk...

course, the problem is getting guns back and forth, due to adverse laws here and there...

so, how bout this approach...

a. drill lots of holes in the barrels to be sleeved. pack and ship direct to sleever...

b. ship frame, with internal parts removed. then in separate box ship action parts and forend assembly. no need to ship butt stock and mounting hardware...

c. three separate shipments coming and going...

wonder if this would work?

I have sleeved many. The issue is sourcing tubes and being profitable. Not many want to pay what it requires due to the stigma surrounding sleeved guns market value.

Gough Thomas in the 1975 3rd Edition of Shotguns and Cartridges for Game/and Clays wrote:- “and of all the British shotgun barrels passing through the Birmingham Proof House last year some 57 per cent were sleeved”.

He was writing when the price of sleeving was less than the value of the sleeved gun.

It would be interesting to know the present percentage.

At present prices of sleeving it has to be a very good gun (or treasured heirloom) indeed to make economic sense.

Gunmaker sleeved one barrel on an Elsie Specialty for me. I didn't even know that was possible. He did a great job on the project at a reasonable price. Too bad he has found out he can devote his time to other projects and make more money. Our loss...Geo

What is reasonable? 1500 pounds for a regular sleeving job 2500 to 3000 for tig sleeving it would have to be a good gun that would be a significant expense and you end up with a sleeved gun with sleeve stigma .good luck

I saw a very nice condition small bore graded Fox at the Vintage Cup this year that had been sleeved. Only problem was it had been sleeved. It went unsold at I believe $3200. It's the kiss of death imo.