My great Grampa's double needs new Barrels...

maddawg

maddawg

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Hello Gang
Wow I just was given the responsibility of keeping a family heirloom. It is my Great Grand Father's Damascus barreled double twelve. It's still shoot-able, it is as great shape as it was when he bought it over 100 years ago. Here is the problem it is a Damascus double lol. What I'm thinking of doing is getting a set of modern barrels that fit it. Does anyone here know where I can purchase "new Barrels" that can be fitted to it? I really do not want to shoot the original Barrels. I have a presentation case that I am making with a place for the new Barrels in it as well. I would love some help here and maybe a few links... Thanks gang , and Merry Christmas, mine came early
cheers Maddawg
 
I know that Numerich used to have double barrel blanks that needed to be chambered and the lugs all milled to fit.
Be aware that the pressure limits may apply to the action as well as the barrels on an older gun.

Personally I would buy a couple boxes of brass shells and handload with black powder or look into low pressure smokeless loads that stay within the same limits. That would be more than enough for the occassional day of plinking to revive the old girl and freshen up memories. I'm assuming that you aren't looking to put it to hard use in a goose blind or anything similar.
 
You are looking at $1500, give or take to have new tubes fitted.
If it is in the great condition you mention, why not just shoot it with appropriate ammunition?
 
Yes I know what all of you are saying , and yes I already have made up a few Black powder rounds, ordered a a dosen 12 Gauge rounds, and am making a heavy leather shot shell belt for them. However I am hoping to use it as my Great Grandfather wanted it used. He used to shot the old Canuck store bought shells in it. I have a couple that he used, Modern powder. Well Me the action is strong I want to hunt bunnies with it, save the old Barrels for it, store it in it's original configuration, but shoot it with modern Barrels...
 
What brand of gun is it? I doubt you will get a set of barrels for $1500.00 by the time they are made to fit. The gun will handle low pressure loads that will work for bunnies. If you planned on shooting higher pressure loads with "modern barrels", you have to remember that the wood is also 100 plus years old and probably won't stand up long to higher recoil. The action itself may crack from higher recoil. I would do as suggested and use it with low pressure loads and 2 1/2" shells. This is assuming that the gun is safe to shoot in the first place.

PS--if you want to shoot modern loads, instead of getting a set of barrels made, get a set of companion tubes from Brileys in 16 or 20 gauge.
 
Who made the gun, it may be worth it - it might not. just how good are the damascus barrels.
If the barrels are in good shape using light "bunny" loads is the answer. Inserts are good option also. JMHO - FWIW --- John
 
Depending on who made the gun, where it was made, how it was proofed and the current condition of the barrels it may be possible to shoot as is with blackpowder or reduced smokeless loads. There is a great difference between an English-made sxs by one of the great makers versus a hardware store laminated barrel gun from Belgium and any old gun should be examined by a gunsmith who knows old double guns.

Getting a second set of barrels is possible but expensive. Second most expensive would be getting the barrel sleeved which is cutting the current barrels just ahead of the chamber and having fluid steel tubes soldered into the chambers. Last choice and what I probably would do is get a set of subgauge Briley tubes fitted to the current barrels.
 
@ Claybuster... There seems to be no makers name , but does say on the rib between the barrels "The L.P.G. Fine Damascus Steel Barrels Guaranteed Government test" . There also are assorted proof marks on both barrels, like a circle with a crown on the top with an E over L G inside the circle, as well as a triangle with a 12, and another letter or number under the 12, I really do not want to alter the original barrels, or chambers ... Dang I am trying to post pictures here , dang fangled equipment , fancy cameras lol ...OH wow I just read the E LG means Belgium ... is this correct anyone?
 
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Correct it is Belgiun. No doubt you can a decent double for the $ you will spend "upgrading" what you have. --- John
 
Sounds like Belgian proofs. If the barrels are in good condition, not pitted, then it's probably ok to shoot with low pressure smokeless loads. I would get a gunsmith to check the chambers as they may be 2 1/2".

Sleeving the barrels, ( cutting the old ones off just ahead of the lumps and fitting new tubes) will run you $1500-2000. I asked an English smith living in Ontario once ( about 10 yrs ago) about getting a new set of barrels made and he quoted me $7000, for the barrels, machining the lumps, ribs, fitting extractors/ejectors, and all the other work that goes into fitting it to the action.

These lovely old doubles, and the new ones for that matter, are all unique and the barrels won't interchange from gun to gun, unless a 2nd set was made at the time the gun was built.
 
maddawg said:
@ Claybuster... There seems to be no makers name , but does say on the rib between the barrels "The L.P.G. Fine Damascus Steel Barrels Guaranteed Government test" . There also are assorted proof marks on both barrels, like a circle with a crown on the top with an E over L G inside the circle, as well as a triangle with a 12, and another letter or number under the 12, I really do not want to alter the original barrels, or chambers ... Dang I am trying to post pictures here , dang fangled equipment , fancy cameras lol ...OH wow I just read the E LG means Belgium ... is this correct anyone?
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ELG is definitely Belgian. Not sure about the others without seeing them. "Guaranteed Government Test" doesn't say when it was tested or with what although what you've described sound like nitro (smokeless) proofs. But the gun could have tested a century ago and a lot may have happened since then. With any old gun it's always worth putting it into the hands of a gunsmith who knows double guns and can give an opinion.

If this gun were mine I'd be leaning toward subgauge tubes from Briley.
 
The thing has survived 100 years.... Why go hacking it up now...

If you want modern barrels, go buy a new gun... I dunno, would be like me taking my grandfathers 1954 Martin D-18 Guitar, cutting the neck off, and putting a modern neck on it...

"Shooting it as he would have wanted" means load it up, and go shoot it... Those old guys didnt modify everything like our generations are hell bent on doing with everything we get our hands on. They bought something... and then used untill they died... Lucky for them they could buy quality stuff that could be handed down for generations to come... Hardly the case with the crap we buy off the shelves today...
 
Island'r said:
The thing has survived 100 years.... Why go hacking it up now...

If you want modern barrels, go buy a new gun... I dunno, would be like me taking my grandfathers 1954 Martin D-18 Guitar, cutting the neck off, and putting a modern neck on it...

"Shooting it as he would have wanted" means load it up, and go shoot it... Those old guys didnt modify everything like our generations are hell bent on doing with everything we get our hands on. They bought something... and then used untill they died... Lucky for them they could buy quality stuff that could be handed down for generations to come... Hardly the case with the crap we buy off the shelves today...
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@ Islander and even the rest, thank you so much , thought it over and yep I will shoot it as it is... made sense, and like my son told me "Dad you have lots of modern doubles, and this Great Gramp's gun" .. yep sold on that idea , thanks guys
 
I would imagine it would probably handle 7/8 oz #9 2 3/4 loads without exploding..... You can get these for 6 bucks a box. Federal ones are extremely low pressure. They won't cycle my beretta semi with the light weight piston :)
 
mwjones said:
I would imagine it would probably handle 7/8 oz #9 2 3/4 loads without exploding..... You can get these for 6 bucks a box. Federal ones are extremely low pressure. They won't cycle my beretta semi with the light weight piston :)
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If the chambers are 2 1/2", stick with those. You can buy Kent pure gold at WSS in 2 1/2" designed for older guns. They are more per box but in the scheme of things how much are you going to shoot it?
 
maddawg said:
@ Islander and even the rest, thank you so much , thought it over and yep I will shoot it as it is... made sense, and like my son told me "Dad you have lots of modern doubles, and this Great Gramp's gun" .. yep sold on that idea , thanks guys
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Glad to hear you made the right choice! Have fun with it, and enjoy shooting that piece of family history!

And this post actually reminded me that my Great Grandmothers old double barrel is floating around somewhere... I just gotta see if my uncle still has it.... So thanks to you as well!
 
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