doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Pits in a Percussion Double

if I might make a suggestion "IF" you do decide to "Proof" it.
Don't start with a proof load. Instead start with an extremely light load & gradually work up. I recall reading this a long time ago, written by an antique gun collector & always thought it sound advice. After each firing Examine the pitted area very thoroughly, even under magnification if needed. Often times if there is a hole or very weak spot firing the light loads will cause a sooty spot on the outside without ripping the barrel too severely. it will at least make a better wall hanger that way than with a gaping hole in the side.

Without pics, we're all just guessing, but since we have established that these are external pits... if there had been some attempt at repairing or filling them, they would not be pits anymore, but instead they would be filled pits. So if you still have craters with a silver halo around them, I wonder if someone didn't attempt to fill them with solder or something, and it fell back out due to poor cleaning, fluxing, or improper temperature. Just guessing at this point.

And I'm asking because I don't know... if Krakow Kid did attempt to have these pits filled by TIG or Laser welding, would filling those pits likely make things stronger or weaker? Specifically, I'm wondering if the heat affected zone would have a change in metallurgy or hardness, or if that would only be a concern with higher carbon or alloy steels rather than what is most likely low carbon steel and soft iron Damascus or twist.

Good advice Miller, on starting very low with any back-yard American Proofing.

Keith, I think you're on the right track.

I have an inexpensive digital camera too and I found that if I set up the camera so I'm not actually holding it and snap the picture using the cameras auto timer I usually get very clear photos. This worked so well that I finally purchased a cheap tripod to hold the camera.

Steve

Steve - I've found that it's even cheaper to have a friend who owns all that stuff(!)

By the way, did you follow up on the existing pictures you can look up? You might have missed it in all the verbiage but here it is again: On the FOPR SALE Forum, post is Nov 03,2014 by poster 'Cable'.

You can even see more than he posted if you click on one of the pictures - it will take you to all the photos on his photobook or something like that. Anyway, there are NONE of the area I' m concerned with, but they will give you some idea of the quality we're dealing with and might hold you over until I can corral my friend to snap some pics my wife can post (or I can send to you).

Best Regards - KK

ps - The little Bellgian beauty I bought from you is holding her own, no problems or cares shooting her!

KK
I'm glad you're enjoying that little muzzle loader I sold you. To be frank, I considered it a keeper but with the life problems I was going through at the time I was just happy to find someone who appreciated it as much as I did. I'm really glad you're enjoying it.
Steve
PS I used to hunt pen-raised pheasants with it at the local put/take game preserve. Have you taken it hunting?

I looked up those photos, a beautiful gun!



I believe I can see the "chip" you mentioned earlier but not well enough to comment. After seeing the gun I can understand why you'd hesitate doing any testing that might result in catastrophic failure.

Steve

Very nice. I wish I would have seen it before you did. Let us know how she shoots once you get to that point.