doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Hiding sling swivel holes

Is there a traditional way of hiding old sling swivel mounting holes? I have an old European sxs which is in very good shape. Unfortunately one earlier owner decided to mount sling swivels. The same, or a later previous owner decided to remove them. Both front and rear swivels were screwed in. There are two small holes in the metal between the barrels that were covered with a small piece of black electric tape and a single hole in the stock that was filled with wood filler and covered with a circular piece of chrome tape. It actually looks better than it sounds, but I would like to replace it with something that looks a bit more professionally done.

I had a nice Spanish gun with the same problem. Had a gunsmith redrill and tap the holes in the bottom rib to accept a couple of flush fitting blued screws. For the butt stock hole, he fitted a German silver initial oval. Went with silver to match the coin finish frame.

I once removed sling swivels from a Spanish sidelock. Keith Kearcher welded in the two holes in the bottom rib and rust blued the area so it was almost invisible. I was able to fit a matching piece of walnut into the hole in the stock by sanding it to fit, epoxying it in (sawdust in the epoxy), and sanding it flush. Once it was finished over you really had to be looking to notice. The gun has moved along to another so unfortunately can not post pictures for you.

Remount the sling swivels, they are quite handy and probably original on that European gun.

I like Jerry's suggestion. If they have rings(loops) on them that rattle, remove the loops, drill through the studs and you can attach a sling, when needed, using QD attachments. Could be handy, at times.

Another vote for replacing the swivels. I have 3 older European shotguns, 2 FN's and a Demoulin, and they all came with mounted swivels...... In the woods the sling is a handy thing at times. And it is correct to the gun.

A dab of black silicone does nicely in the barrel holes.

I'd also replace the swivels with as near to original as you can find and get a suitable sling too. Never noticed any disadvantage to handling/shooting a shotgun with the swivels when the sling is detached and the sling can be very handy in certain situations. Like "mountain climbing" for chukars. And when going to a turkey stand in the dark. And when hiking to a duck blind with a sack of decoys, calls, coffee, people snacks, dog snacks....

We tend to think a double with swivels doesn't "look right." But the guy who originally hunted with that gun would have said it looked wierd without 'em. One of my buddies objected to the swivels on my Valmet rattling/clinking a little. I reminded him we were hunting grouse, NOT the VC!

Thanks to everyone for the quick replies and many good suggestions. The thought of mounting swivels was in the back of my mind. That is probably the most painless fix. Anyone have a suggestion for a source of early style swivels ~1920? A quick look in my Brownells catalog showed mostly modern stuff.

I remember someone answering this q with the idea of tapping a lead
shot pellet into the hole?
Never had gun with swivlels,so not sure...But if it sucks it's Not my idea ,OK ?..
Franc