doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com The Worst Things You Can Do To A Double

So what do you do if the stock's too short? And on quite a few vintage doubles, a recoil pad was a factory option: Parker, Elsie, Fox, Iver Johnson. And "period" pads are available.

They're only too short if you intend to shoot them. From what I've seen that's waaaaaay down on the list for most "vintage" gun owners. In fact, shooting isn't even a consideration for many.

I should get a pass on this, I am 6'4".
CHAZ

Yes, you should. Further, there exist a lot of very useful, utilitarian shotguns produced in an era that had men of smaller stature shooting them. While the purist would look at the leather covered pad on a Purdey and pronounce "that is how it should be done, on all guns", the cost of that fancy pad could be three times the worth of said utility gun.
I'm not a fancier of pads myself, but, I don't feel too bad replacing a white line Pachmeyer of any vintage with a more subtle sporting clays model on a gun that will see some use.
The thing I hate seeing perpetrated to a double of any sort is not a modification at all, but, an abuse-slamming the action closed. I see guys pounding the hell out of their guns at the club all the time.
I don't say anything. But, I cringe when I see it.

Best,
Ted

Find a gun that fits you, or add something that is removable that doesn't alter the original stock.

Um, like a recoil pad?

A very good list by many and some points of modification can be argued and I definitely would never do.

Everyone is entitled to do with their's as they will and I defend your right to modify to make it suit you. Though the result is not one I would ever want to touch. Use of ONE'S PROPERTY is a RIGHT, unfortunately good judgement is an obligation many don't adhere to.

For me the Worst Things You Can Do To A Double is not use it. This is why I honed my collection down to the guns I actually use and feel my freer for having done so.

The greatest tragedy for me is a mint condition double from the golden era that noone ever enjoyed save maybe looking at it. It is both an opportunity to have a gun in original shape and be able to use it. For me it is sad when they are not used as designed.

An unused fine double is both an opportunity and a sadness.

Yes, if it's removable. Problem is, there are a lot of guns having the ends of the butts hacked off to have a permanently installed extension added. IMHO, hacking off a buttstock to add an extension is just as bad as cutting a couple inches off the barrels to make it a good "brush gun". Both procedures are permanent, and I view every vintage gun that I own as nothing more than being in my possession for a very short period of time. Future owners will be glad I didn't do anything drastic to them. However as another posted pointed out, they are your guns, do what you want with them.

sell it to bubu

What? I cut the barrels, Loctited full choke tubes, put sling swivels, and a dayglow bead on, camo taped, and ported the barrels on a 12 ga-----oh wait this was a Stevens 311. Now a turkey gun. Also reamed the chambers to 3". Not loose ----yet. Recoil will loosen tooth fillings, but a slip on pad helps--didn't want to ruin the collector value.