Family Heirloom Shotgun Damascus Barrel1870's ????

TheHobbyist · #1 11-26-2021, 02:41 PM

Great-Great Grandad's shotgun...a true family heirloom.

For your enjoyment, I am posting pictures. Some of the stories I think are "tall tales", so I will let the pictures speak. One thing I have verified is that it was a gift, by the town to my ancestor. This is around 1870s best I can figure...likely Bavarian or Belgium in origin...no makers mark...a gift to an old family from Germany. Best to you and yours, TH

TheHobbyist · #2 11-26-2021, 02:46 PM

One thing I don't understand is the material; that is, bakelite was nearly 30 years later, so what is the material?

TheHobbyist · #3 11-26-2021, 02:49 PM

One more photo while I was cleaning...

DWalt · #4 11-26-2021, 02:56 PM

I'd say Belgian, but for no strong reason aside from its general appearance. I am not certain what areas of the gun might be Bakelite, but prior to the invention of Bakelite early in the 20th Century, horn was often used. It could be heated and shaped much like plastic. It is not unusual to see horn buttplates and pistol grips on old guns. Most everyone is aware that it is not a good idea to fire any shotgun having Damascus barrels.

2152hq · #5 11-26-2021, 05:26 PM

The trigger guard is likely horn (Water Buffalo) asDWalt points out. Commonly used for triggerguards, butt plates and grip caps on European guns.
The action is a 'Lefaucheux' style. The side swing underlever head of the frame to open and allow the bbls to drop open.
The lever often is designed as the forearm itself though does not always show up that way. Sometimes a lever which becomes part of the forearm form and contour when rotated back into place.

The orig pat design was French (Casmire Lefaucheux (sp?) and many of the guns were pin-fire SxS guns.

The Belgians quickly took to the action or 'system' as they and other Euro gunsmiths called it and built thousands of guns on it.
Swede (Husqvarna) built shotguns on the action and many were imported into the US in just a few years back.

German made before 1891 would not have needed to be proofed as the Gov't proof laws didn't come into effect til then.
Some of those pre 1891 guns that were in circulation when the proof law went into effect were proofed and recv'd a simple Crown/V for a proof mark. Nothing else. Just to show they had been Gov't proofed and could be re-sold on the commercial market.

Do a search on 'lefaucheux shotgun' and you'll get plenty of info and pics.

biku324 · #6 11-26-2021, 05:30 PM

I fire my great-grandfather's W. Richards underlever 12 gauge with blackpowder shells. It's a hoot, but no fun to clean.

Bib · #7 11-26-2021, 07:06 PM

If you could find an old set of Savage "Four-Tenner tubes" you could shoot it with no worries

2152hq · #8 11-27-2021, 10:46 AM

Shooting damascus or other composite made bbl shotguns or even rifles has most people heavily dug in into two camps.

....No, you shouldn't. The bbls by the way they were made by multiple forge welds are not/may not be safe. Especially after many years with the possibility of internal rusting in slag and other inclusion areas not seen from the outside.

....Yes,,you can. The bbls if inspected and found to be in good shape and the bores not pitted or since mfg reamed oversize to remove same are as strong as the day they were made. They have not crumpled under the many loads fired since mfg.
Euro proof houses still proof Damascus bbl'd guns with the same smokeless proof rules as any other gun that passes thru there. No special loads for the Damascus guns.

So you pick a side and the 'discussion' usually ends up being a ranting argument much the same as 'Is it safe to shoot my Low# '03 Springfield"

jeffrefrig · #9 11-27-2021, 11:48 AM

Whether or not you fire it seems secondary. Primarily it's really a cool old shotgun. It looks like something that would look great above any fireplace mantle, not hidden in a safe. But, I'm sure you've been around the block a few times so you'll do with it as you like!
Thanks for showing.

Drm50 · #10 11-27-2021, 08:11 PM

I just gave my great grandpa’s Dumulin SxS Damascus to my nephew. I’ve had it minus firing pins since I was about five. I made Firing Pins and loaded up a box of BP loads. Me and Bro took it squirrel hunting and each shot a couple squirrels with it.
My grandpa had taken out FPS to keep my old man from shooting it.
Two precautions to keep in mind. Never shoot in woods with wads of toilet paper. And don’t listen to any expert that wants you to believe Damascus is stronger than steel. I know people who shot smokeless in them and would laugh about it, until the day it came apart. I had 3 examples under my bench just from around the local rural area. Do what you want, just remember you are only issued one set of eye balls.