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Damascus shotguns - worth anything?
Iconoclast
Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
I expect the answer is "no." I have four immaculate damascus barrel shotguns which came down through my family, although I know the provenance on none of them. One is a Charles Daly (although I doubt it has any relation to the present day firm), one a Parker - have no clue as to the grade, one a Hopkins and Allen (whoopee!) and the last a Lefever. All 12 gauge.
Do you dealer types know of any market for these relics? I can't see hauling them to some new home as I'm not going to use them and they have little sentimental value. Any suggestions as to where I might find values?
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the French." (Mark Twain)
Do you dealer types know of any market for these relics? I can't see hauling them to some new home as I'm not going to use them and they have little sentimental value. Any suggestions as to where I might find values?
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the French." (Mark Twain)
Comments
Send them all to me for proper disposal
" Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession.
I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first".
(Ronald Reagan)
"I dont care how thin you make a pancake, it still has two sides"
"A wise man is a man that realizes just how little he knows.
Drop in at your local Barnes and Nobles and peruse the Doubles Journal.
You'll see the better Damascus guns are sought after and shot.
Chas Semmer is a regular contributer and an expert on Damascus doubles
especially Remingtons.
I love my 1889 Damascus high grade hammer Remington. It really hits at the trap range.
PS Where are you moving to?
"If I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know"- Kansas
Hang the barrels from a string and "ring" them with a plastic mallet. If they thud the solder that holds everything together is probably corroded and weak. If they ring clear like a bell and have minimal pitting I would consider them safe enough for light bp load experimentation. Considering that everything else is tight and in order. I know I don't need to tell you chamber length is a critical. Also if you really want to make them frequent shooters, sub gauging them with a Savage fourtenner tubes or a set of Brileys would be a smart thing to do. Sleeving is an option also, but in the mind of some destroys origionality.
I really haven't watched the prices in auctions for these guns, though I am an admirer of them. Really this is one time when you have to hold them in your hand to set value to them. Rough guess from shopping for them. The H&A at best is probably a $150.00 gun. The LeFever if it's a field grade and shootable $175.00-$250.00, more for higher grades. I haven't seen a Parker under $500.00 in over ten years fluid steel or damascus. Thier following and mystique is that strong. I know if it's English the Daly was a upper middle market brand. Probably in line with our L.C. Smiths and High end Ithaca's.
I'd find them very interesting if any of them were hammer guns. I had a 16 gauge Stevens hammer gun when I was a kid and to this day regret trading it off.
Woods
Woods
http://www.hillrodandgun.com/invent.htm
http://www.thadscott.com/
http://www.gunshop.com/dgj.htm
Woods
The H&A is a utility gun, but the rest are at least several tiers above. As stated, designed for black powder and should only be used with such. Safe if in good mechanical condition.
Values will be about 30% lower than guns with fluid steel tubes.
Nord
Thanks for all the advice and leads.
22WRF & v35, I do believe you've been into the wild mushrooms again . . . . [;)][:D]
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the French." (Mark Twain)
Do your research and find out, the Blue Book was very surprising to me, on the Parkers especially. If they were involved with family at all, then I myself would hang on to them. This of course is if extreme financial problems dictate otherwise.
Good luck and let us know what you find out about them. I bet you'll be surprised.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Edmund Burke
matwor, I'm already surprised, believe me.
v35, the mushroom reference was in regard to your offer to "save" me from the Parker - [;)] - and the intent of the line was in the same spirit of levity. If my comment gave offense, my sincere apologies; it was meant purely as a smiling GTH with no insult in mind.
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the French." (Mark Twain)
I really think damascus guns got thier reputation more because shooters ignored or just weren't aware that the chambers are much shorter.
Besides I just like the stinky stuff.[:o)]
Woods
"we are but men... no more, no less..."
When / if I list these for sale, I will contact those who've expressed an interest directly (being mindful of the posting guidelines) because if I should decide to sell them, I would prefer they go to my friends here rather than some anonymous bidder.
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the French." (Mark Twain)