old sxs ID help please!

[simko]

ive got an old sxs, not sure of anything about it , but here are some pics i snapped

"machine made"

government test

neumann bros

im not sure if this is a damascus barrel, but there is some odd looking etching pattern

just wondering if anyone can id this, and let me know if its safe to use modern shotgun loads, also, how do i find what chamber and caliber it is

 

[tiriaq]

Neumann Brothers were one of the prolific makers of Belgian guns 100 odd years ago. Better quality than some. Welded barrels. IF the bores are good, and IF the action is tight, it MIGHT be a shooter. I would not shoot it with modern shells. If I were going to shoot it, I would load cartridges with black powder, or one of the black substitutes. Or with known to be low pressure smokeless loads. The gun is 12 ga. You will have to measure the chambers to determine the length of the shells. Might be 2 5/8", might be 2 3/4". Some folks will not shoot any gun that does not have solid fluid steel barrels.

 

[Win/64]

Here is a list of belgiun proof marks. Hope this helps.
http://www.riflebuilders.com/proof1.pdf

 

[simko]

thasnk tir!

welded barrels = damascus?

 

[tiriaq]

Yes. Damascus has become a catchall term for all welded barrels.

 

[simko]

ok the one proof mark i recognized provides this info:

since 1893 -Liege proof house, definitive black powder proof for breech
loading guns, small bore guns and handguns

should i be taking/sending this to a gunsmith to see if its safe or what should i do with it?

id love to get a hold of more of these as i think they are a great piece of "history"

ive seen one damascus barrelled shotgun, where the pattern in the steel was wavy and really nice looking (like a fancy damascus knife), is there any way i can uncover a pattern like this in this barrel?

 

[tiriaq]

No, your barrel was not made that way. You can see the pattern in yours, the darker metal is iron, the lighter, steel. In the area that is underneath the forend you can see the original "black and white" effect.
You can have a gunsmith check it over, but unless he is experienced with older guns, he might not be able to tell you too much. Shooting these is a judgement call.

 

[.Ben]

definatly have that thing inspected before you shoot it! it could be a shooter....