doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Have it checked by a competent gunsmith

Like Franc, I have Abe Chaber check any major purchase. Luckily for me he's only a 20 min. drive.

Anything worth real money, lets say over 1K, gets sent straight to Kirk Merrington, prior to the seller sending it to me. I've discovered this thing called the UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, that will deliver, and, return, for a fee, all my guns that need an inspection, which, is anything with two barrels, that wasn't purchased locally. I can't remember the last gun I bought locally, but, it would have been sent to Kirk before I parted with cash, anyway. Hence, not having a 'smith I trust in the neighborhood is a moot point.
You should try it.
What never ceases to amaze me are the things a good gunsmith can find wrong on a double gun I've looked over already. Barrels that ring pretty really don't tell you a whole lot.
If the seller is unwilling to have the gun inspected, at my expense, he can keep it.
The other stuff, say, anything that pumps or autoloads, I can handle the inspection process OK, going by past results.

Best,
Ted

I am fortunate in having an excellent SxS gunsmithnearby. He "checks" all of my significant purchases. He oten notes older repairs that I had not seen. But I have never returned any of these acquisitions.

A related question: How many "EXPERT SxS GUNSMITHS" do you think currently practice in the USA? Let's define EXPERT as somone you would comfortably let repair your high grade LeFever, Parker, or Holland...

My guess is there are about two dozen such craftsmen. What do you think?

JERRY

I think more than that, Jerry. I can come up with about half a dozen, just in WI. On the other hand, that's probably half a dozen more than there are in Iowa.

Guess I'm a do-it-myself guy. I've never bought any gun unseen for $1K plus, except a rifle from a guy I knew, and it was modern.

Hand to hand buys, I trust my own judgement, and as I've said before, I'm a cheap thrill guy.

I have had 2 returned. They were early on, Dr Gaddy was kind enough to evaluate them for me

I have the tools now and have learned enough. About a year ago, I determined one was not shootable. That was OK with me, as I purchased it because I wanted an example of Bernard damascus in my hands. Most consider Bernard top of the line. It was, but the chamber walls are very thin on this gun.

Pete

'Honed' or back bored barrels get rid of the pits, but certainly do not make the barrels any stronger, just prettier and easier to sell. I have an 1887 W&C Scott hammergun with sewer pipe damascus barrels that I shoot with low pressure shells and feel confident with. When I get ready to sell it, I'll have someone backbore the pitts out and measure the wall thickness so as to quantify a number to assure reliability...Geo

It would be helpful if a checklist of items to inspect on a double shotgun was provided here. I know what I PERSONALLY inspect for but I also doubt that my inspections are really comprehensive.
Jim

I think the answer to this question will be depend on: how much are you paying for the gun, what is your risk tolerance, and how much of a project are you willing and able to take on if the gun has "a surprise inside"?

Knowing what I don't know, I have had all my used gun purchases checked by a smith. Twice this found issues that I possibly would have missed - in both cases the seller responded to the gunsmith's report by agreeing to pay for substantial repairs.

I started out with a local smith who seemed knowledgeable and was well regarded (locally at least), however he failed to notice that a gun I bought had been substantially overbored (by 0.021") and then jug-choked. This came to light when I tried to sell the gun and the buyer had a more diligent gunsmith. Since then, I have NECG do the inspections. It is not as convenient (2+ hr drive away) but I am happy to trade the convenience for more confidence.

I don't have the book in front of me but I think Dig may have compiled such a list in his book Vintage Guns for the Modern Shot.