How do you tell if a gun is safe?
I have my Grandfather's old American Gun Company double barrell Knickerbocker. I think it was bought back in the 1920s. My Uncle found it and restored it. He had a gunsmith go over it and he was a a Tool and Die. The action is very tight and does not wobbe back and forth. How do I know I can shoot it. Could I just shoot low brass shell.
I know I could take it to a gunsmith and probably should but jsut wondered your thoughts.
I know I could take it to a gunsmith and probably should but jsut wondered your thoughts.
0
-
When in doubt, take it to a gunsmith who has knowledge of the old guns. A lot of the younger gunsmiths out there are basily parts swapers and may not be familiar with guns like yours. 0 -
You have what I call a "Trade Brand Name" shotgun. A Trade Brand Name" shotgun is one that was made by a major maker (and before 1940) for and was sold by a wholesale sporting goods dealer, a retail chain store or an independent seller (your local hardware store who chose the name to go on the gun, Guns with the name AMERICAN GUN CO KNICKERBOCKER were made by the Crescent Fire Arms Company of Norwich, CT (1892 to 1930+) for and were sold at wholesale by the H & D Folsom Company of New York City a large wholesale and retail sporting goods dealer. How do you tell a gun is safe to shoot? You don't unless you are a trained and qualified gunsmith or dealer. Knickerbocker guns made by Crescent were made before 1915 and were designed for the ammunition in use back then which was either 2 1/2 inch shot shells loaded with either black powder or early low pressure smokeless powder and lead shot. They were not designed for more modern 2 9/16 or 2 3/4 inch shot shells loaded with modern high pressure smokeless powder and certainly not 3 inch magnums also loaded with high pressure smokeless powder, steel shot or slugs. My advice is take the gun to a good gunsmith for a hands on examination and then if he says it OK to shoot use appropriate ammunition. When black powder is/was fired inside a gun barrel, it left behind salts that attracted moisture which in turn caused rust if not cleaned out right away. Who knows what care and maintenance the gun has received over the last 100 years. Speaking of age, there is a serial number stamped on the watertable or the bottom of the barrels. Give us that serial number and we can tell you what year the gun was made. 0 -
As said, when in doubt, take it to a knowledgeable smith.
You need to know gauge, chamber length, and DOM. Odds are if it looks good, locks up tight, and everything seems to work, you're fine, but you must use the shells the gun was designed for. Certainly any guns made in the 30s or 40s will handle modern pressure ammo; it gets a little iffy in the teens. Some will, some won't. I have a Crescent Firearms 16 gauge double from 1915 that I've shot smokeless out of without an issue, but I handload, was using the proper length shells, and kept everything on the mild side.0 -
Get a few sand bags and a long string and a concrete shelter and pull the string [:D]. Or the ever classic "hey little fella wanna earn a dollar the hard way?". 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
4 comments