doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Gamba problem?

I'll defend my 5 12 gauge Smiths- (ooops, make that six now) 4 of the 6 have ejectors, flawless, timed to the nth degree, the No. 6 has a HOT (LONGRANGE Ideal Grade), but NFL- to avoid doubling problems with heavier turkey loads, Brad Bachelder is converting it for me to the DT configuration I prefer. Piss poor metallurgy from Spain in that era is most likely the issue-and I agree, how do you "time"cocking rods--ejectors, yes- balance the coil springs if needed on apres May 1904 Lewis design Smith ejectors usually is one step- also remove the ejector stems, clean and polish if needed to de-burr on the inner flats of same, WD-40 and back in place for another 90 years of flawless performance--RWTF

Maybe Dewey will drop by and comment about it.

SRH

Filli Gamba (Gamba Brothers) was founded in 1946. G. Gamba sold his tooling to his brother, Renato, in 1967 when Renato Gamba left his brothers and S.A.B. was formed. Filli Gamba closed in 1989 and the Zanotti firm was also purchased the same year.
Renato Gamba firearms have had limited importation since 1986. In 1989, several smaller European firearms companies were purchased by R. Gamba and are now part of the Renato Gamba Group - they include Gambarmi and Stefano Zanotti.

Ejectors on most guns are cocked by the closing of the gun by being pushed in by the breech face. They thus assist in opening only if the gun has not been fired. When the gun is not fired no assistance is needed, the weight of the barrels is normally sufficient to open them as the hammers are stil cocked. A few guns are different of course but this sums up the vast majority of hammerless doubles.

I am under the impression that guns made in Europe for Europeans open easily and fully for loading or unloading but if the guns are made for export to the US then the guns must operate stiffly and not open completely so that the American buyer will be convinced that the gun is new.

My opinion is based on experience.

danc

Actually, this is by design. To be safe, the shotgun needs to have the hammers cocked before one can insert cartridges, else a gun could be fired and opened partially, new cartridges inserted and closed without cocking the hammers, and could fire when closed. Kind of the same issue with an ejector gun; the hammers should cock before the ejectors trip. A lot of new guns are fitted so tightly it is not an issue till they wear in. Well fitted guns generally cock just before the barrels can be unloaded or loaded, but some require a lot of effort to over cock to be able to load or unload. And sometimes someone working on trigger pulls can shorten the sear noses which exacerbates the over travel issue.

thank you very much Dennis.an actual answer to a question

I had exactly what Dennis described happen "Once". It was my first double & I had not had it long. I had not learned all about proper handling, except I had been taught to be aware of where it pointed. Anyway I loaded it & sort of snapped it shut & it went off. I very quickly figured out what had happened. From that day, some 60 years ago, to this I have never again loaded a double without it being cocked. I still Detest a gun which has to be held open in order to load it. I am grateful that all my guns which I use regularly clear the breech for loading before the hammers cock. When they cock it's ready to load with no further Ado.

Thanks, Dennis. Really appreciate that explanation. My 32" Smith requires a bit of extra effort to get the barrels down enough to load. It is in such high original condition that I really didn't know if it was from a lack of use. The barrels being so long, all I usually need to do it lightly "bounce" the barrels and they will open enough to load. It sounds a little abusive but really it harms nothing. When you've got your left hand under the receiver and two shells in the right hand, it is a lot easier to do it like that than to actually push the barrels on down with your hand.

SRH

I have a 1927 vintage NID extractor 20ga that needs a little help with the barrels, both unloading and loading. Not a really big deal. Might be, I suppose, if one were shooting driven birds and they were coming hot and heavy.