doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Barrel sleeving in US

I am interested in re-sleeving a set of 27” sleeved barrels to 29” on a Dickson Round Action. The gun also has a set of 30 “ barrels, all by Dickson. I do not want to send the gun back to UK for this as I would not want to subject it to the current proofing process. I understand that Kirk Merrington is winding down due to health problems.

Who are my options?

Dr. P

Chris;

In lieu of KIrk, my recommendation is Aaron Little. You can find him at: AM Little Bespoke Gunmakers LLC, Mineola, Texas. 682-554-0044 micheal08tdk@yahoo.com

Were the 27 inch barrels on the Dickson round action TiG welded or soft soldered?

Kind Regards;
Stephen Howell

I thank you Stephen,

I will have to get them out and look at them. They were done in 1996. I don’t think there is much of a visible line.

I have heard that while Aaron is very capable his wait time is measured in years. Any other US options?

Chris;

John Boyd was talking with some of the Texas SxS Club colleagues and one of them was up to see Kirk and said that Kirk had someone helping him in his shop and that Kirk was doing well from his amputation. Give Kirk a call and see if he is back into sleeving. The number one problem is getting the barrel blanks today.

Sleeving done in 1996 was likely soft soldered. If Kirk is doing sleeving still than a former soft solder job would make it easier for him. He is the master of soft solder sleeving with no visible lines. The only way you can see one of sleeving sections is too take the barrels out into the bright sunshine and then you can see the slight difference in the blacking.

I do not know if Steve Bertram is doing sleeving.

Stephen Howell

Mathew Begley is now doing sleeving. Black Diamond in Ohio.

Mathew recently posted he has 3 years backlog and is not taking new jobs.

You are correct. Not sure it is a 3 year backlog, but he just told me this morning he is not taking in new work.

bushveld, I believe Walther can supply the necessary blank barrels in all current gauges /chokes/lengths on a custom basis. They were in their website, but pretty hard to find, some knowledge of German is an asset.
Mike

I called the number on Kirk’s website and got a “this number has been disconnected and is no longer in service” message. I guess we are at the end of an era…

I will reach out to Aaron Little and Steve Bertram and see what they say.

I actually spoke to Matthew Begley at the Southern about the project and he said that I should check with him next year. He can do it but he just has too much work already in the shop.

I contacted Steve Bertram and he told me that he does not do sleeving.

So good news. Thru the persistence of Bushveld, I was able to contact Kirk Merrington and he is back in business. Apparently I misdialed his number previously but today it worked.

He has some 12 gauge tubes and is going to undertake the re-sleeving of my Dickson.

Thank you Stephen!
Chris

Good to hear that Kirk's back in business.

It was pretty much a given the Princess Stevie doesn't do barrel sleeving. Otherwise, he/she would likely have been doing continual Free Tagline Advertising of the service here.

Whether Dave would get paid the usual $12.00 fee for each and every successful sale resulting from such Free Tagline Advertising is another story. So far he/she has been pleading the 5th on publicly answering that question...

I wonder why???

I have all the work I care to take on and then some.

I have answered your question in the past, no need for me to repeat myself for those of you that rode the short bus and did not get it the first time.

Thank you for your contribution the the forum Princess Karen.

I see you edited your first reply Princess Stevie, and also had time to compose and send me another Spam PM.

I have quite a collection of Spam PM's from you, many with rather vulgar subject lines. I have no idea what you said in them. I'd say that you could have spent that time learning to do barrel sleeving, but I doubt you have the ability, and I'd also guess you haven't been able to Farm Out that sort of work to someone who does have the ability.

One would think by now that you'd have noticed long ago that I don't open or read your Spam PM's. But I guess your intimate knowledge of, and vast experience riding the Short Bus (and being the rear seat window licker) might explain that.

I have repeated the same question numerous times, concerning whether you pay Dave the customary $12.00 fee for each and every sale resulting from your continual Free Tagline Advertising. You have never publicly answered that question, and always either ignored it, or suggested that I should call or PM you to discuss my concerns. It's been fun watching you twist and squirm and come up with creative ways to avoid answering, so I never get tired of repeating that simple question.

I also have replied that you should be willing to discuss this publicly, right here in the open forum. But I guess you just don't have the courage to do that, and perhaps you fear that the truth about the matter may not sit well with customers who expect some measure of integrity. Just my opinion, as always...

Kirk Merrington is THE master of sleeving shotgun barrels. He did a 16 Ga Parker for me years ago. An absolutely beautiful job. regards, Gil

This was about 6 years ago but I was considering sleeving a gun and reached out to both Aaron Little and to Dewey Vicknair. Dewey was happy to give me a quote.