doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Barrel sleeving in US

I am interested in re-sleeving a set of 27” sleeved barrels to 29” on a Dickson Round Action. The gun also has a set of 30 “ barrels, all by Dickson. I do not want to send the gun back to UK for this as I would not want to subject it to the current proofing process. I understand that Kirk Merrington is winding down due to health problems.

Who are my options?

Dr. P

Chris;

In lieu of KIrk, my recommendation is Aaron Little. You can find him at: AM Little Bespoke Gunmakers LLC, Mineola, Texas. 682-554-0044 micheal08tdk@yahoo.com

Were the 27 inch barrels on the Dickson round action TiG welded or soft soldered?

Kind Regards;
Stephen Howell

I thank you Stephen,

I will have to get them out and look at them. They were done in 1996. I don’t think there is much of a visible line.

I have heard that while Aaron is very capable his wait time is measured in years. Any other US options?

Chris;

John Boyd was talking with some of the Texas SxS Club colleagues and one of them was up to see Kirk and said that Kirk had someone helping him in his shop and that Kirk was doing well from his amputation. Give Kirk a call and see if he is back into sleeving. The number one problem is getting the barrel blanks today.

Sleeving done in 1996 was likely soft soldered. If Kirk is doing sleeving still than a former soft solder job would make it easier for him. He is the master of soft solder sleeving with no visible lines. The only way you can see one of sleeving sections is too take the barrels out into the bright sunshine and then you can see the slight difference in the blacking.

I do not know if Steve Bertram is doing sleeving.

Stephen Howell

Mathew Begley is now doing sleeving. Black Diamond in Ohio.

Mathew recently posted he has 3 years backlog and is not taking new jobs.

You are correct. Not sure it is a 3 year backlog, but he just told me this morning he is not taking in new work.

bushveld, I believe Walther can supply the necessary blank barrels in all current gauges /chokes/lengths on a custom basis. They were in their website, but pretty hard to find, some knowledge of German is an asset.
Mike

I called the number on Kirk’s website and got a “this number has been disconnected and is no longer in service” message. I guess we are at the end of an era…

I will reach out to Aaron Little and Steve Bertram and see what they say.

I actually spoke to Matthew Begley at the Southern about the project and he said that I should check with him next year. He can do it but he just has too much work already in the shop.

I contacted Steve Bertram and he told me that he does not do sleeving.