I picked this up from a member as a nice project for restoration. I have found a few marks on it I cannot identify and there are a couple of marks that are almost gone. When i try to find the Crown over C.P & CO I cannot find anything other than a reference to some pottery. I did figure out the crown over V as being a View mark from London proofhouse. Any help with i identifying the maker and age would be appreciated.

https://www.shotguns.se/html/uk.html

https://www.ima-usa.com/products/or...london-circa-1878?variant=29496941740101

https://www.gunboards.com/threads/pryse-revolver.609009/

https://doublegunshop.com/forums/ub...p;Board=1&main=35769&type=thread

I think C.P. &Co.is Charles Playfair abd Co.

Playfair?

https://www.shotgunworld.com/threads/playfair-1870-12-gauge-shotgun.280719/

I'm a fan of single shot guns! Want to see yours and hope you enjoy it a lot.

Its going to take a little while to get it back in order. I am having to learn how to to barrel browning and there is some other metal refinishing to do.

Here is peak at the Stock and metal. I had to make some choices regarding potting vs saving the engraving. I opted for preserving the engraving as much as possible. I found out about die maker stones and ordered some. They helped tremendously. If you are not familiar with them, think of a stick of sandpaper. They are like slip stones but come in various grits. I was able to use them right up to the engraving to remove pitting. I wanted to do a French Gray finish on this so that it would contrast with the browned barrel. I tried a little bit of coin finish first and didnt like the combination between it and the barrel. All screws and pins are nitre blued. The checkering was worn flat but the lines where still there. The closest size cutter was 20LPI. I remarked the lines and then pointed with a 90 degree cutter.

The stock had some dings and dents that were filled in or steamed out. Sanded to 400 grit and then Timberlux applied.

Looks like you now own a Vicar's Gun!

Here in England, until 40 years ago, the Church of England ministers were either Vicars or Rectors. The Vicar earned a stipend which kept him in genteel poverty, whilst a Rector lived in a grand Rectory, all expenses paid and with a generous 'living' earned from the income of many acres of land. His appointment was in the hands of the Lord of the Manor. Of course he could afford a smart double, whereas the poor Vicar had to take along a single if invited to shoot.

But all that is in the past...

HB

Cold1,
I really like your project. I’m a fan of single barrel shotguns. Please share more pictures and info as you can. How did you accomplish the French gray finish? I like that finish. As I understand, that finish is often achieved by first color case hardening and then rubbing the color back to gray. I’ve done some simply using Brownell’s Oxpho Blue applied in multiple coats and rubbed back with a Scotchbrite pad. Again, please share what you can about your single barrel project.

Larry

Thank you so much for the historic info. As an American, the English Peerage system and the traditions that surround both are an enigma to me.

For the French Gray, I used Mark Lee slow rust bluing to rust blue it to a nice deep blue/black. I then took a little Birchwood Casey bluing and rust remover in a cup and diluted it with distilled water. I diluted it somewhere between 2:1 and 3:1, it didnt need to be exact i just didnt want it full strength. It is easier to remove a little more bluing than put it back on so i wanted a weak solution. Once i had the bluing remover diluted i painted it on the blued metal, let is set for a few seconds and then washed it off. The metal comes out with a frosty look after this, so i used 0000 steel wool and burnished the surface.That brought the sheen to the metal surface back. I keep doing this routine until i got the color i wanted. Its a little darker than most French Gray i have seen, but it will lighten up with wear and age.

One thing to note on this. Metal prep also effects the end color result. If you will notice, the lock plate seems to be lighter colored that the hammer and the receiver. I actually used a file to strike the pits off the lock plate and then finished the plate with sand paper to 400 grit. On the hammer and receiver i used die maker stones and sand paper to 400 grit. Everything was treated with bluing remover the same way at the same time and i ended up with two slightly different colors.


I hope this helps.

Super insightful. Thank you for sharing the details.