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What do i do? pistol grip 410 black prince

mark55555
I need some help! I was given a Bridge Gun Company "black prince" 410 and its a pistol grip ( from the factory) It was given to me by my grandfather about 15 years ago....never thought much about until i found out recently that i need an "AOW"......How to i make this gun legal now.
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Comments

14 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    If the barrel length is less then 18" and overall length less then 26", it's verboten as far as the feds are concerned. The only way it could be made legal is if your grandfather registered it with the feds prior to or during the Dec. 1968 gun amnesty. If you could look through any old family papers dating back 40 years or more and find such BATF paperwork, you would be ahead of the game.

    Bridge Gun Co was a Trade Name used on guns sold by the Shapleigh Hardware Co. of St.Louis, in the early years of the 20th Century. Since they went out of business during the depression your shotgun is probably at least 75 years old.
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  • mark55555
    There is no paper work to go with this Black Prince 410. Now what do i do? Turn it in to who? I dont know if i can try to register it with a new AOW and pay the $200.00 if that is an option, but even if it is an option is the Gun worth $200. I have seen the regular 410 "black prince" shotguns selling for around $100. Any suggestions?
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  • Nwcid
    How long is the barrel? How long is the overall length? If the barrel is over 18" and more then 26" OAL then no worries.



    If the barrel is less then 18" or less then 26" OAL then you have 3 options. No matter what you do take the barrel off and store it at a different location.
    First destroy it or turn it over to the ATF (last options)
    Second is to have a gunsmith add a barrel extension to make it legal length
    Third (not sure you can hopefully MarkC will chime in) since you only have the receiver (the barrel is not in your possession) register it as an AOW then when it comes back approved add the barrels back.
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  • David Nunn
    Measure the darn thing. That may make this whole discussion moot.
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  • hrf
    If it's like the H&R Handy Gun, can't it be legalized by having a gunsmith sleeve the barrel for .38 special or similar? Then it's just a single shot pistol and not a "short barreled shotgun" and he could keep the family heirloom.
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  • mark55555
    the barrel is 10" long, it is a smooth bore, the overall length is 16" i am going to upload a pic also. Having the barrel sleeved to is not a bad idea. Also Nwcid's third idea - Third (not sure you can hopefully MarkC will chime in) since you only have the receiver (the barrel is not in your possession) register it as an AOW then when it comes back approved add the barrels back. - Is it worth paying the $200 tax for it?......A photo will be uploaded soon.

    Thanks,

    Mark
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  • mark55555
    here is a link to view it.

    http://i56.tinypic.com/70ulb9.jpg

    http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=70ulb9&s=7
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  • hrf
    Well, now that I've seen it, I do NOT think it's one of the "Auto & Burglar" types that were made as a pistol, and it seriously looks like a normal single barrel shotgun that has been cut down.

    Grips of the old 410 and 28 gauge pistols that were made as such had a sharper angle, with a projection at top to keep the gun from rolling back and cutting web of your hand with the top lever, such as the H&R Handy Gun:

    http://www.fourten.org.uk/mwhandygun.html

    They also had bead front sights.

    I would destroy the barrel and stock stub and put the rest on the auction for someone who needs parts.
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  • Ned Fall
    Your gun began life as a full length "Trade Brand Name" shotgun. A "Trade Brand Name" shotgun is one that was made by a major maker (and before 1940) for a wholesale sporting goods dealer, a retail chain store or an independent retailer who chose the name to go on the gun. Guns with the name BRIDGE GUN CO BLACK PRINCE were made by one of three makers, Crescent Fire Arms Company, Harrington & Richardson or Stevens Arms Company. The guns were made for and sold by H & D Folsom, a large wholesale and retail sporting goods dealer located in New York City. The gun in the photograph appears to be a Crescent Product. Looking in my reference book on Crescent made guns, I found no short barrel shotgun pistols nor did Harrington & Richardson or Stevens make such guns so someone had to have cut off the barrel and butt stock. The National Firearms Act of 1934 outlawed sawed off shotguns, those with barrels shorter than 18 inches and an overall length of 26 inches unless the gun was registered with the Bureau of Tobacco Alcohol and Firearms and a $200 tax fee paid. The gun is not legal to posses unless these conditions have been met. The gun will get you an all expense paid stay in one of our best federal residential facilities.
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  • mark55555
    The gun has not been cut or shortened....it still has the hole for the front sight and the end of the barrel has the beveled edges. Now that we have comfirmed that this is not leagal .....how do i fix this? 1. Is the gun worth getting the $200.00 AOW ? 2. Have the barrel sleeved with a .38? 3. Turn it in to the ATF? - And how would i do it? 4. Open to suggestions

    Thanks,

    Mark
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  • Ned Fall
    Do you think that it is impossible to drill and tap a new front sight mounting hole? I've done it several times my self while repairing damaged sights or muzzles. And any competent person can bevel the muzzle. I've done that too.
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  • hrf
    quote:Originally posted by Ned Fall
    I found no short barrel shotgun pistols nor did Harrington & Richardson or Stevens make such guns

    Ned, both H&R and Crescent DID make shotgun pistols, and they are listed in the ATF regs. But the one in question here has a "jury rigged" grip that is not like the above had, and appears to have been "jury rigged" when barrel was cut off.

    http://www.atfmachinegun.com/cnrlist.pdf
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  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by mark55555
    The gun has not been cut or shortened....it still has the hole for the front sight and the end of the barrel has the beveled edges. Now that we have comfirmed that this is not leagal .....how do i fix this? 1. Is the gun worth getting the $200.00 AOW ? 2. Have the barrel sleeved with a .38? 3. Turn it in to the ATF? - And how would i do it? 4. Open to suggestions

    Thanks,

    Mark



    Now that you have provided on-line photos and have gone on record as being in possession of a illegal contraband firearm, the only prudent thing to do would be to turn it in to the BATF. If you don't, be expecting a very early morning wakeup from the JBT's, smashing your front door down.
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  • 4440rk
    If yoy go to:

    http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1220059_Just_killed_2_coons_trying_to_get_my_Chickens__With_THE_BLACK_PRINCE_loaded_with_410_3_inch_Buckshot.html

    You will see the pic of what your gun started as.
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