I have an opportunity to purchase a W.C. Scott & Son 12g hammer gun. I believe this to be a Bogardus Club hammer gun. Long tang forend release. Serial 10711. Date ?? This gun is mechanically sound with little signs of abuse. Locks up tight and engraving is good as are all screws. Barrels ring true and bores bright.

Now to the however, and this is a big however, it has been blued. All furniture is blued. Lock plates, top snap, hammers, barrels, etc. Engraving on rib is just a bit flat. A bit of original Damascus visible in crease along the top rib near the breech. It does not appear to be a hot blue, more of a cold blue application, but I do not know. Unfortunately I do not have photos to post.

Asking price is $900. Is this reasonable? I like the gun but am inclined to think $900 is too high for a shooter given it has be covered in bluing.

I have owned only one other W.C. Scott & Son and it was a hammerless boxlock. Any insight appreciated.

Bluing finishes can be fixed and I would not expect the original finish to be there anyway. If it is mechanically sound and unaltered in anyway that would be permanent, like a stock cut down or barrels chopped, I would not think the price is necessarily out of line.

Compare to this different, but similar gun.
http://www.champlinarms.com/Default.aspx...&GunID=1011

Bores can be bright for reasons not consistent with being safe--honing. Best to know wall thickness at various lengths which requires a specialized measuring tool. With an old gun, it's all about the barrels. Gil

Letfly,

PM Sent..

WBLDon

Thank you for your replies.
Question, has anyone used a blue removed to gentle strip away the blue finish on lock plates and barrels. Not looking for a refinished look, just getting rid of the blue/black overall look.

Thanks for your pm. I am looking for a late year Bogardus Club gun, not investment grade, but a shooter grade. Not more than $1000 in cost.

Yes, the Birchwood Casey Blue & Rust remover works gently and well. Give it a little gently help with a fine wire brush or wire wool and all the blacking will fade away. Rinse off with plenty of warm water, blow dry and thoroughly de-water with WD40 or spray oil. If the finish is too dull for you afterwards, a thorough once over with a Dremel fitted with a SS brush will lift the finish.

Yes, the Birchwood Casey is fairly gentle and works quite well to remove bluing.

After removing the blue on lock plates, hammers, and barrels, will this enhance the value to collectors? This W&C Scott is a Bogardus Club 32 1/4 barrels gun of 'A' quality from 1878. Current asking price is $900.

At this point you can forget about any collector value...better get someone that knows something to check it out before you jump into a money pit.