I have a friend who was gifted a Charles Boswell, 12 ga. cased hammergun some 20 years ago. He attempted to reload for it without following my advice about using certain powders and cases and blew a chamber out one whole side, ruining the barrels. Is there any way to remedy this unfortunate situation short of having new barrels made by Batha? It is a very nice condition gun but not worth the cost of a new barrel set, IMO. He's never going to do anything with it and I think I could buy it for a song if there is a viable option.
Should I call and talk with Chris about it? Or, has anyone else ever dealt with this type issue in another way?
Thanks, Stan
Stan; your opinion is correct it is not worth the $16,000.00 that Bill Blacker will charge to make a new set of barrels. I have owned Boswell hammerguns before and few of them were best quality guns. He made great pigeon guns.
There are wonderful buys in best quality hammeguns for sale in the UK now. I just bought an Alfred Lancaster hammergun (1874) from the UK that was formerly the property of the 14th Duke of Hamilton and is in nearly like new condition for way, way less than a new set of barrels.
Hammerguns such as the one I just purchased along with another of the same maker and vintage purchased by my shooting colleague are not going to "pop up" on UK gun dealers websites. You have to know which dealer handles the type of quality gun you are searching for and call him and ask him to find it for you as I did. Hammerguns such as Purdey Island locks; hammerguns with perfect damascus barrels and other best quality guns that are in high demand as well as Dickson round actions now. The hammergun formerly belonging to the Duke of Hamilton is a find of a lifetime and I would have never found it without asking the correct person to look for something like it.
Stephen Howell
