Chas. Daly Shotgun

petert

January 20, 2011 17:03

Greetings to all from a new member.I purchased this Charles Daly shotgun some 30 yrs. ago at a gun show and have never been able to find out any particulars about it. I am familiar with Chas. Daly as a New York City gun dealer/ importer starting in 1875. I understand his early guns where manufactured in Germany ,Belgium, England, and the US depending on model and period. I am thinking this to be a very early import due to the stock medallion engraved JCN 1872 (see photo) and seems to predate the published start date of his import business.
The only markings I can find are on lock mechanism plate under the barrels (see photo)and a SN of 796. Finally the gun is in excellent mechanical condition: Tight action, strong hammer springs, excellent bores, no stock cracks or chips with one exception: the forward barrel locking block is separating from the barrel plate (see photo where brazing line is showing).
I am seeking any info on this gun and what it might be worth in its present state. Is it possible to reattach the block and does this gun have enough value to be worth doing?

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  rufe-snow

  January 20, 2011 17:15

  Your photos aren't visible. Only photos from a net photo hosting site are allowed on this forum. Not photos direct from your hard drive.
  
  Instructions for posting photos at the link below.
  
  http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=259294

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  rufe-snow

  January 21, 2011 15:04

  Don't recall seeing markings like these in the past. They don't appear to be either British or Belgian.
  
  http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/6725/imgp3836.jpg
  
  The Germans didn't institute mandatory proof marks until the early 1890's. Because of this my WAG is that it's German.

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  William Schaefer

  January 23, 2011 05:03

  Peter,
  
  Schoverling, Daly, and Gales (SD&G) produced guns under the Charles Daly banner prior to the (incorrect) 1875 date cited in the Blue Book of Gun Values summary on the company. Based on literary references, it appears Charles Daly gun were available as early as 1870, and perhaps a year or two earlier. (As you mentioned, SD&G never made guns themselves, but had guns produced for them by a variety of makers in a variety of countries). The wedge forend fastener is another indicator of an early gun as SD&G was quick to adopt the Deeley & Edge forend fastener.
  
  While the earliest Prussian Daly guns will not be marked with either country of origin mark (no required until 1892), proof marks (not required until 1892), or (usually) makers marks, most are believed to originate from Suhl during this period. The barrels on the guns were sometimes Belgian in origin but, again, the guns are believed to have been produced in what was then the Prussia.
  
  It appears that someone beat the snot out of the forward barrel lump in an effort to either tighten the action or otherwise "repair" it. Of course, their stupid and hamfisted efforts may have doomed an otherwise very neat gun.
  
  This is not a usual repair on an old double so I cannot provide good advice on either what the chances would be of being able to fix the gun or the associated cost. From the pictures, it is hard to tell how much separation there is between the barrel and the lump. My best advice would be to get it to a real double gunsmith for his opinion - someone like an Abe Chaber or another half dozen top quality smiths in the US. Almost everything can be fixed, it just may be way too cost prohibitive to pursue.
  
  Good luck,
  
  WS

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