royal damascus
We recently inheireted a double barrel shotgun marked Belgium Royal Damascus. and Wm Moore & Co. This has open hammers and a walnut stock. Are these worth anything? Thank-you--Dale
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Most Damacus shot guns are of little value unless they are from a collector type maker. One reason is they are unsafe to shoot with modern shells. However any firearm that is inheireted is part of the family history and IMHO should be kept for future generations. 0 -
According to my reference "WM Moore & Co" was a legitimate British firearms manufacturer who sold shotguns with Belgian made barrels under their name.
This would make your shotgun better quality then the common, run of the mill, Belgian Damascus "Hardware Gun" that one is more likely to run across.
Even in light of the above, Damascus shotguns aren't safe with modern loads. Which would make your shotgun a slightly better quality wallhanger then most, depending on it's cosmetics.
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Hello Dale...
The going price for the vast majority of those old damascus barreled SxS scatterguns is $100 - $200 (and your gun is in this class). They are primarily used as mantle ornaments. Generally speaking, 98+% of those old guns are unsafe to shoot with any type of load, and those very few that are still in "like new" condition, are only safe to shoot with their intended load... blackpowder. Also of note is the chamber length... 99% of those old scatterguns have short chambers.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
I'ld like to thank everyone for their very imformative replies. Dale 0 -
quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
According to my reference "WM Moore & Co" was a legitimate British firearms manufacturer who sold shotguns with Belgian made barrels under their name.
This would make your shotgun better quality then the common, run of the mill, Belgian Damascus "Hardware Gun" that one is more likely to run across.
Even in light of the above, Damascus shotguns aren't safe with modern loads. Which would make your shotgun a slightly better quality wallhanger then most, depending on it's cosmetics.
Hello rufe-snow...
Your reference is wrong in that the real William Moore (British made) shotguns did not use Belgian made damascus tubes... the Brits were rather proud of their own style of damascus making. The telling tale will be what type of proofmarks are on the tubes... if it is an "ELG" in an oval, it is a Belgian copy versus a true British made gun.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
Hey, Bert! Have to agree with the asessment of the place of Manufacture of this WM MOORE & Company Shotgun...I Was just about to make a posting when I found that You already had beat me to it. Its a KNOCKDOWN for sure...Just for GIGGLES I dug out My Boothroyds...No mention of any British Maker using Belguim Barrels...as You say....The Brits were very proud of the Barrels THEY made....and never could stop the Belguim Makers from Copying British made Guns...!Best...................
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0 -
quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
Hello rufe-snow...
Your reference is wrong in that the real William Moore (British made) shotguns did not use Belgian made damascus tubes... the Brits were rather proud of their own style of damascus making. The telling tale will be what type of proofmarks are on the tubes... if it is an "ELG" in an oval, it is a Belgian copy versus a true British made gun.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
My reference, in "Sides by Sides of the World" by Carder, shows a illustrated advertisement dated 1889, in the Powell & Clement catalog. It shows a under lever WM. Moore & Co. heavy long-range shotgun with 38" or 40" "BELGIAN MADE BARRELS". The guns weigh between 10 & 12 lbs.
My WAG, is that since these are obviously specialized barrels they were custom made for Moore in Beligum.0 -
quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
Hello rufe-snow...
Your reference is wrong in that the real William Moore (British made) shotguns did not use Belgian made damascus tubes... the Brits were rather proud of their own style of damascus making. The telling tale will be what type of proofmarks are on the tubes... if it is an "ELG" in an oval, it is a Belgian copy versus a true British made gun.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
My reference, in "Sides by Sides of the World" by Carder, shows a illustrated advertisement dated 1889, in the Powell & Clement catalog. It shows a under lever WM. Moore & Co. heavy long-range shotgun with 38" or 40" "BELGIAN MADE BARRELS". The guns weigh between 10 & 12 lbs.
My WAG, is that since these are obviously specialized barrels they were custom made for Moore in Beligum.
That is a new tidbit of information for me... still, the proofmarks on the barrel will tell the tale. If it has the infamous "ELG" and nothing else, it is a Belgian knock-off verus a true British made gun. If it has London proofs (William Moore guns were never Birmingham proofed), along with Belgian proofs, it would be the first one I have ever heard of.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0
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