doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Scott Premier

Short answer:
The ribs are taken off and the worn out or damaged barrels are cut off to about 3" stubs at the chamber ends. The stubs are bored out and new full length barrels are soldered in place in the stubs. The ribs are re-attached and the barrels are finished.
This is a very simplified answer but hopefully it makes the point.
Jim

To my eye that gun has the following issues:

-Sleeved, probably in America
-Bbls poorly blacked, worked probably done in America
-Possible hot blue on bbls (note hole in the bottom rib)
-Poor engraving on bbls, not right, either
-Wood is refinished, almost like some kind of synthetic finish was applied to it
-Checkering has been recut and it's not right. Again, probably American

So you have a sleeved gun that is out of proof and generally messed with all around.

Who knows what other problems it has?

To me, that's too many problems at any price.

OWD

Yup, some guns are of interest only to someone who does not yet own one.

I mentioned the checkering because of the uncertainty of it being correctable - may not be enough wood left to remove it and redo it correctly, so I didn't see the need to mention the incorrect stock finish. Poor, unproven sleeve job. As it is, it's a nice action for a full restoration project that, sadly, would cost more than this gun would be worth when correctly done.

As a candidate for restoration, it would need to be free. As it is, it's just a shooter, if that. Maybe $1,000. It's unfortunate when a redeemable British best falls into the hands of an American "master", and this gun is a fine example of why.

400 Nitro Express, a whole bunch more fine British guns have been relegated to the trash heap by British gunsmiths than by American gunsmiths. I agree with your theme, but leave out the reference to American gunsmiths. Yes, as a group they are bad, as are the British.

Sorry but, that hasn't been my observation.

8bore.......Ouch! that hurt!!Where can someone go to learn the "Skills and Mystries" that are needed before one can "Work on an American Firearm". I think the Late "Master Gunsmith" Alfred Wyss-Gallifent would have had "Quite a Reply to your post". CC/david trevallion, (56yrs. and still aint got it right!)

I agree on the condition of this gun. One detail we are missing is what condition the gun was in before its current 'restoration' was undertaken. It truly may have been saved, just not valued at the current asking price.

As to the jibe at American gunsmiths, the British, Indian, French, Spanish, South African, Australian etc. all have the ability to screw up good guns.

We might have the rest beat....remember we have Ed.

XC - 400 NE noted that the checkering was not "right" for a Brit gun; that it was American. How does proper Brit checkering differ from American? Angle of cutter? Angle between rows and columns? Depth of cut? Sharpness of points? Other?