So I have inherited an Army & Navy C.S.L. 12 Gauge.

I had it buried in the safe for a while, waiting for the day that I either came up with some 2 1/2" shells, or got off me arse and dug up a recipe and loaded some.

So I'm wiping it down, oiling it, and looking down the bores from each end. For a lark, I drop a fired and deprimed 2 3/4" Win AA hull that I had on hand into the chamber. Thunk. All the way in. Wasn't that strange. So I root around my shop and come up with a nice clean bit of aluminum rod. Slide that into the chamber till it stops. Pull it out. compare to the hull (2 3/4"). Just a little longer than the hull.

"Hmm" sez I. Clearly marked 2 1/2". Grandfather is long gone (this gun was apparently a gift to him, when he turned 19, in 1919. Not sure from whom). My father also is passed away and not answering calls on the crystal ball :).

I'm trying to figure out if the stock chamber would have been as long as this, or if it is most likely that the chamber has had a reamer dropped into it at some point. This is something I was unwilling to do, but will happily take advantage of, if it is already done.

I cannot see any difference in the surface textures in the area of the forcing cone (which is quite steep and clear) that would suggest that it was not original, but it could have been carried out a fair while ago, too.

Can any of you kind gents provide me with the dimensions for a chamber length gauge? Or at least tell me where I am supposed to measure from? It seems obvious that I should be measuring from the very beginning of the forcing cone, but I have seen enough obvious things that were the wrong thing, that I wish some confirmation and/or advice.

Further to the Army & Navy topic, can any of you gents suggest to me who may have been the maker of this gun?




The A&N serial number is 683XX, while there seems to be another set of numbers marked about some of the internal parts, which is 1132XX. The most readily spotted of the "other" numbers is on the forend lug, also marked with an arrow cipher.

I'd be quite pleased to hear what you think.

I figure that it rates as a good grade, though probably not nearly a "Best" grade gun. It has seen quite a bit of use, probably some abuse, and in spite of all that, still has some case color in spots out of the way of hands and fingers.
One of the triggers has been silver soldered back to function, and it appears to have been savaged at one or more times, by an unsympathetic hand with a screwdriver.

If the chamber gages out at 2 3/4", it may very well see some field time for grouse! Otherwise, I would just as soon tuck it back away and await some more appropriate shells.

Thanks!

Cheers
Trev