New Old Gun

[shrapnel]

Shooting live rounds out of a Damascus barrel isn't a problem.
Till it's a problem.
Then they fail spectacularly!

Case in point.
My buddy's 1861 Lee Enfield Carbine. 68 caliber if I remember correctly.

He didn't have any other firearms for deer season, so thought he'd load his Enfield for muzzleloader.

3rd round of 60gr FFG under a patched round ball.
The left side of the chamber ripped open. Thank God he's a lefty and was on the other side.
Blew open 1" wide about 2" long.
You could see where the 2 layers were.

You will find most of the British Damascus shotguns are Nitro proofed.

For the unenlightened that means they have passed the proof house with Nitro cellulose powder loads…

 

[std7mag]

Talked to my friend last night.

He said that it was a 1861 Tower Enfield.
Had the Tower emblem and wording, along with proof stamping on it.

I thought it was a Lee, but I was mistaken.

 

[Wally Dog]

I told myself 3 years ago, that I would quit buying guns. But when I see something like this, I change my mind.

It is a Greener, London Best 12 gauge shotgun made in the 1870’s. I took it to the clays range and busted a few with it. This coming week, it will be out killing grouse…



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This beauty likely took it's share of wood pigeons in it's day.