Turn of century shotgun

woodlotowner

woodlotowner

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I'm looking at a turn of the century (friend's grandfather's shotgun) single shot bolt action 12 gauge shotgun with no name or serial number. Lots of symbols and random numbers and other markings, but no clue what this is. When I look down the bore I see what appear to be rings for the whole length. Not spiral rings (I don't think) but it looks like the barrel was made from a hundred rings somehow formed into a barrel. Damascus barrels were no longer made after the early 20th Century, according to Wikipedia, so I have ruled this out. The bolt is a multi piece affair with a removable bolt head that has to be taken off (by removing a side screw) to remove the bolt from the receiver. Nice one piece very plain walnut stock with straight grip. One massive locking lug on the bolt that locks against the receiver cutout.

What manufacturers made single shot 12 gauge (2 3/4") guns like this around the turn of the century? Are there too many to even consider? I know, pictures would help, but I don't post gun pictures on CGN under any circumstances.
 
Probably something made up on the action of an obsolete European military rifle. French Gras actions sometimes would up being reused this way. Cocking piece have sort of a rounded hump?
The concentric rings might just be reamer marks. A twist barrel is apparent externally, not internally.
 
Tiriaq,

Thanks for your interest. The bolt has a large knurled thumb depression/grip in the top or the cocking piece at the back of the bolt. If I were Arnold Schwartzenegger I might be able to #### the action using this method. Otherwise, it's a ####-on-open action. The trigger/sear arrangement is really neat in that it consists of a long spring plate style sear mounted by a single screw to the underside of the receiver, and the trigger (the only other piece of the trigger mechanism) which is just a stout cam (it cams against a curved tang which is part of the under side of the receiver!) to pull down the sear which catches the cocking piece from the outside through a slot in the underside of the receiver. So simple it's a marvel really. Anyway, I feel confident enough to try it out with mild loads once I get it cleaned up and fully checked out. All the pieces have a letter/number sequence stamped on them, none of which are in similar 'font' and none of which match each other. Very interesting, to me at least, and would suggest, as you noted, that this gun could well be a collection of surplus parts made into a cheap gun. :)

Woodlotowner
 
Pretty sure it is a Gras, converted to a shotgun. The cocking piece is characteristic. Gehas were built on '98 Mauser actions. The Geha is the 1920s equivalent of the turn of the century Gras conversion, as the Zulu was in the 19th century.
I've seen a Mosin Nagant which was converted into a single shot small bore shotgun.
 
You guys are really very good :) I googled Gras Rifles and, although the rifle configuration was different, there was the bolt!! So, I will do more research now that I know where to look, but what is your impression of the action in terms of strength and reliability? The barrel/chamber seem stout enough and I now wonder who 'made' these and how much they cost new at the turn of the century. I know, I know, I'm dealing with a practically worthless piece (that was welded shut when I first got hold of it!!), but I do find it fascinating to consider the history.
 
I wouldnt fire it, there is a reason these guns were made then shipped far away from their place of manufacture.

These sort of guns were for selling to natives etc. in africa and other colonies. Quality was not something that really mattered.
 
old bolt action

these converted rifles/to shot gun are unsafe to shoot with todays ammo, weld it up! hang it on a wall. i have sold many of these for $40 max.
 
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