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Old SxS Is it 8 gauge??

shootuadeal
I bought(personally) a few years ago an old SxS that was marked at another store as being an 8 gauge. I used to have a thing for old SxS so I figured I better grab this one. Now that I am older and wiser[:D] I am having some doubts about it. What do you think:

It has the word "MANTON" on both sides, it is an old Blackpowder SxS and other than that I dont know much about it. It's overall length is 54". The diameter of the muzzle is .783 on one side and .775 the other. What can you guys tell me about it? Approx. age, value, 8gauge or not, etc.

Thanks alot!!

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Here is a pic of the muzzle with a 12 gauge shell stuck in it.

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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • 11b6r
    4 g 1.052
    8 g .835
    10 g .775
    12 g .729

    for the NOMINAL bore size. Muzzle diameters will vary with the degree of choke. An EXTRA full 12 g is getting very close to a 16 g, etc.
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  • midnightrunpaintballer
    Measure from the bore. Not the muzzle. As already mentioned, the muzzle could be tapered into a choke and therefor wont give you the correct measurement (other than what the choke size is)
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  • shootuadeal
    Who can tell me how to measure it at the bore? Haha.

    Outside the metal it is 1.130 however without taking a hacksaw and cutting the end off I don't see how I can measure the inside of the bore as this is a front stuffer. I should add that I dont have access to a 34" inside micrometer.

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  • Hawk Carse
    It doesn't really matter. You more likely have a bit of flare at the muzzle from ramrod wear than choke in a muzzleloader,but they did not make shotgun barrels all that precisely back then anyhow. It is a nominal 8 gauge and not much more to know than that.

    The Mantons were a fine old British gunmaking family.
    Unfortunately for the collector, there were American and Belgian outfits making fakes of much lower price and quality. Are there any proof marks on the underside of the barrels?

    If you want to hunt with it, check your game regulations. Nothing larger than 10 gauge is allowed for migratory game like geese, ducks, and doves, and many states have the same limit on upland game. There might be an exemption for muzzleloaders, but there might not.
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  • shootuadeal
    Thanks Hawk, Yes there are alot of proofs including one that looks like a crown with a "B" under it and four that are crossed axes?? maybe.

    Don't think I would try to take anything like this out hunting, you can see the faint lines of the damascus barrel as well as the fact that I just don't trust some of these real old guns.

    Any idea of age? value?

    Thanks.
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  • hrf
    The crossed axes are probably the crossed scepters Birmingham proof marks. If it is choked and there's a number followed by letter B, it should be the gauge measurement at breech end.
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