8g | Dogs and Doubles

See this week’s 5 doubles you don’t want to miss …

May 2, 2021 by Gregg

Piotti 28 gauge BSEE model boxlock ejector side by side: Action: Boxlock ejector, Triggers: Double, Safety: Non-Automatic, Barrel Length: 29 1/2 inches, Chamber: 2 3/4 inch, Rib: Game Concaved, Chokes: Right : 1/4 Left : Tight 1/4. Stock Length: 14 1/2 inch, Grip: Classic Straight hand, Butt End Finish: 1/2 inch recoil pad, Forend: Game style. Engraving: Fine Decorative Scroll, Finish: Case Colour, Weight: 5 lbs – 13 oz, Case: Makers Leather Case, Date of Manufacture: 2008. Price: $19,995

A. H. FOX XE SxS 12 GAUGE SHOTGUN: #224XX, PHILLY GUN, 30″ FULL AND FULL 2 3/4, DOUBLE TRIGGER, EJECTORS, SPLINTER FOREARM, PISTOL GRIP, MINT ORIGINAL CONDITION, 7LBS 3 OZ, 2 3/4″ DAH, 1 5/8″ DAC, 14″ LOP. Price: $18,500

W. W. Greener FT-30 Hammerless 8 Gauge Shotgun: Very scarce W.W.Greener FT-30 snap underlever 8 gauge wildfowler S/N 58410 was made in 1911. F is for the Facile Princeps action and T is Greener’s code for an 8 gauge. This gun is super quality and undoubtedly worked on by the same team of gunmakers and engravers that Greener assigned to the G guns(G50-70). According to Graham Greener, this gun, obviously a special order, was started on Sept. 22,1910, and completed March 1, 1911. It has 32″ Sandvik(Swedish) steel barrels Birmingham nitro-proved for 2 1/4 oz. loads with 4″ chambers. Nominal proof is 9/2 and bore diameters are .824. Bores are mint. Gun is tight and on-face and retains almost all of vivid case color and has approx. 50% fine scroll and dogs and birds . Forend has Deeley lever takedown with horn tip. Triggers are gold plated and Greener name is inlaid on both sides of frame.Greener side safety. Serpentine fences are by Gardner, and engraving by Tomlinson, both of whom were on the team that built the top grades. Weight of the gun is 10 lbs. 14 ozs. Stock dimensions as follows; LOP =13 5/8″, DAC= 1 13/16″ DAH= 2 15/16″ with a highly figured straight grip butt stock. Screws are all clean, no rust, barrel blue is original and 98%. Stock has factory horn butt plate with several wormholes. Just a spectacular old gun in great untouched condition. You won’t find another one like it. For the advanced Greener collector. Price: $11,950

Francotte 20E SxS 16 gauge Boxlock Ejector Shotgun: #81889, Barrels: 28 inches, Double Triggers, Stock Comb: 1 1/4 inches, Stock Heel: 2 1/8 inches, Fore End: Splinter, LOP: 14 1/8 inches, Weight: 5 lbs. 12 oz. Price: $5,750

Parker Repro – DHE Steel Shot Special – 12 ga: Action: Boxlock, Ejectors: Yes, Trigger: Double, Grip: Straight Grip, Forend: Checkered, Lop: 15 1/4 “, Pad thickness: 1.25 “, Type of butt: Leather Covered Pad, Drop comb: 1 3/8 “, Drop heel: 2 1/4 “, Cast amount: 0 “, Weight: 7 lbs, 5 oz, Manufactured in: Japan, Finish: Case Colored, Overall condition: Very Good, Stock condition: Very Good, Metal condition: Very Good, Stock: Original finish, Metal: Original finish, Type of Case: Leather Luggage Case Gauge: 12 ga. Chamber: 3 “, Length: 28 “, Chokes: IC/M, Rib type: Game. Comments : Gun is in very good condition with some light handling marks, right barrel has a small scratch near the muzzle. Oval is initialed. Price: $5,200

Online auction alert: 8 gauge W.W. Greener hammergun, No Reserve …

January 1, 2021 by Gregg

W.W. Greener 8Ga Double Barrel SxS Hammer Shotgun BIG! NO RESERVE!

Here’s a rare, 8g W.W. Greener SxS that appears to be in excellent condition. It’s on Gunbroker.com now and this NO RESERVE online auction ends 1/10/2021 @ 8:29 PM.

Eight-gauge shotguns like these were popular with well-off waterfowl hunters, especially ones who hunted at the sporting clubs that dotted shorelines of Chesapeake Bay. These sportsman used their 8-gauges to pass-shoot ducks, geese, and swans at long ranges. Judging by the condition of this Greener, it doesn’t look like it was used much for this kind of — or any kind of — shooting.

BTW: 8-gauges like these are not “market guns” or “punt guns”. They cost a lot of money in their day — far more than a market hunter could afford to spend on a firearm.

WW Greener 8Ga Double Barrel SxS Hammers BIG! NO RESERVE!: Antique! Made in the mid 1870’s in England by W.W. Greener, very good condition, 34″ barrels, Solid wood, no cracks, Serial 11506, Locks up tight, I detect a little side to side movement of the barrels but no up/down play.

See this week’s 4 doubles you don’t want to miss…

December 6, 2020December 13, 2020 by Gregg

Exceptionally rare high original condition Special Order Lefever “E” Grade 8ga with 34″ barrels: Easily the finest and most collectible Lefever to come to public market in the last several years. This gun is an exceptionally rare and fine Lefever Arms Co. “E” Grade 8ga. Made with 34″ Damascus barrels, splinter forend, double triggers, extractors, capped pistol grip buttstock and original lined buttplate. The gun is in the 12k serial number range and is finely engraved with scroll and game scenes on side. Special order original gold inlay on trigger guard. This is the only original gold inlaid E Grade gun I have encountered in more than 30 years of aggressively chasing Lefever guns. The gun remains in superb original condition with more than 80% bold dark original case colors remaining. The barrels are excellent with more than 90% bold original pattern and bright shiny bores. The gun retains more than 70% original trigger guard blue and the gold inlay is guaranteed factory original. The buttplate is sound. The stocks are excellent with crisp checkering though there is a small shake in the wood at the toe that measures 4-1/2″. This could easily be made invisible with today’s talented wood craftsmen and this is from the wood drying with a couple of small knots in it, not damage of any type. Overall, the gun is crisp and in delightful untouched original condition. Price: $22,500

PARKER REPRODUCTION DHE 20GA EXCELLENT

PARKER REPRODUCTION DHE 20GA EXCELLENT: A very lightly used Repro in a desirable configuration and in Excellent condition. With case, snap caps and cover.Shotgun Guage: 20 Gauge, Manufacturer: PARKER REPRODUCTION, Model: DHE, Barrel Length: 26IN, Chambers: 2 3/4 IN, Ejectors: YES, Condition: EXCELLENT, Metal Condition: EXCELLENT, Wood Condition: EXCELLENT, Bore Condition: EXCELLENT, Stock Comb: 1 7/16 IN, Stock Heel: 2 1/8IN, Butt Pad: SKELETON, LOP: 14 7/16IN, Weight: 6LBS 8OZ, Choke Left: MODIFIED, Choke Right: IMP/CYL, Extras: SNAP CAPS, Case: LEATHER HARD CASE AND COVER, Proof:Nitro: YES. Price: $4450

Browning BSS 20 Ga SxS Sporter: 3″ chambers. 26″ IC & M barrels. SST, ejectors. 1″ scratch in buttstock, small nick in stock fence behind receiver. Otherwise near new. LOP 14 1/4″ over pad. Price: $1700

Fox Sterlingworth 20 Gauge SxS: 1924 Fox S/W 20 gauge. 26″ M/F. Weight 5lbs. 15oz. 1 1/2′ X 21/2″ X14″ to an old Ranger pad. Good bores and mechanics. Leave your C grade ejector home on the rainy day. Price: $1550

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August 21, 2016 by Gregg

Parker GH 8 Gauge SxS Shotgun: 36” Damascus Steel Barrels. 1 of only 16 made in this configuration. Year 1911. 13lbs, 2oz. Serial Number: 156790 Price: $14,000
Chokes: Full and Full, .048” Left and .054” Right
Bores: Very Good with very minor pitting (frosting) near the chambers.
Bore Diameter: 0.845” Left and 0.846” Right
Minimum Barrel Wall Thickness: 0.059” Left and 0.056” Right
Chambers: 3.25”
Ribs: Tight
Frame Size: #6
Extractors
Screws: Perfect
Engraving: Sharp
Trigger Type: Double
Type: Capped pistol grip with splinter forend, figured
LOP: 14.25”
DAC: 1.5”
DAH: 2.5”
Cast: 0
Checkering Condition: Excellent, Factory
Butt: Parker Dog’s Head Buttplate (DHBT)

ITHACA -20 GAUGE FLUES MODEL GRADE 4E – 28 INCH BARRELS CHOKED IC/M: PISTOL GRIP WITH LOGO BUTTPLATE -EXCELLENT WOOD FIGURE -LOP 14″ DROPS 1 11/16″ X 2 3/4″ – WT. 5 LBS. 13 OZS. – GOLD PLATED DOUBLE TRIGGERS – AUTO SAFTEY – BARRLE BLUE 99% – CASE COLROS 90% – TOP LEVER RIGHT OF CENTER – SER.# 224XXX – IT WOULD HARD TO FIND ANOTHER 20 GA. 4E WITH 28″ BLS. AS NICE AS THIS GUN . APPEARS TO BE ALL ORIGINAL CONDIITON. Price: $9,000

BROWNING B25 GRADE 1 TRADITIONAL SUPERPOSED 20 GAUGE: MADE 2002 30″ MOD AND FULL SOLID RIB 3″ CHAMBERS SINGLE SELECT TRIGGER EJECTORS FIELD FOREARM PISTOL GRIP EXCELLENT CONDITION 6LBS 9 OZ X 2 1/8″ X 1 1/2″ X 15 1/4″. Price: $7,500

ANSLEY FOX 12 GAUGE SHOTGUN C GRADE: THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL ANSLEY FOX C GRADE 12 GAUGE DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN WITH ENGRAVING. THIS GUN HAS SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOOD I HAVE SEEN ON A GUN . THIS GUN IS EQUIPPED WITH 30″ KRUPP BARRELS AND A 14″ LENGTH OF PULL. THIS GUN WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1909. THIS GUN IS ALL ORIGINAL!!!!!!!!!! Price: $6,300

BERETTA – RARE – S55 OU- 28ga – 28″ M / F: Very Hard to Find in 28ga! 1976 – Beretta S55 – 28ga, 28″ M / F (.015 / .024) – LOP 14-1/4″, Drop 1-1/2″ to 2-3/8″, Weight 5 lbs. 13 oz. Condition is “Like New.” The S55 is the same gun as the BL3 – except for the engraving. Price: $1950

This week’s good guns: Powered by Gunsinternational.com…

July 24, 2016 by Gregg

Boss & Co. 12 gauge Best Quality and extremely rare self opening London sidelock: This Boss was built between the wars and is one of only 56 ever made as a true self opener. Having excellent original wall thickness and dimensions this fine Boss correctly and elegantly represents what is considered the paragon of British gun making, the Boss BEST sidelock ejector. This Boss comes in a correct VC (stands for Very Compact) motor case and is truly ready for the field and to be appreciated by its new owner. Price: $32,000.00
Serial Number: 8355
Ejectors: Yes
Barrels: 28″, Choke: IC, Skeet 1
Action: Sidelock ejector
LOP: 14 1/8″ (13 11/16″ o
Weight: 6 lbs. 5 oz.
Choke
Proof: Nitro: 2 1/2″

Reilly 8 Bore underlever hammer double rifle: Fully rifled 8 Bore Jones underlever rebounding hammer double rifle. 24″ damascus barrels with strong rifling with minor pitting in front of the chambers. Bores are very good. The full lenth rib has a dolls head extension with one fixed sight and one folding sight. This double rifle was made about 1892 and is very very similar to the Holland and Manton 8 Bore double rifles and was probably made by the same maker. The right weight for an 8 Bore at 16 pounds 8.8 ounces with the barrel weight at 9 pounds 12 ounces. The twist is about 1 in 56 indicating a conical bullet rifle. The chambers are 3 1/4″. The double rifle locks up on face and is mechanically in very very good condition. It is border engraved and the makers name is on both back action locks.The pull is 14 3/8 ” over what looks to be a horn butt plate. The stock is solid and very sound with NO proud metal. Wood to metal fit is very very good also! The barrels were rebrowned in England and retain about 95% finish. The stock has the correct patina as you would expect for an English double rifle, the checkering is crisp. The stock has a shadowline Holland style cheekpiece and is in excellent condition. The screw heads are in good condition showing very little wear. The detriment to the rifle is the pitting over the action, locks, underlever and forend iron. The pitting does NOT effect the use of the rifle and could be polished out and the border engraving recut. Price: $15,950

PARKER BROS., MODEL DHE., 20 GA., 0 FRAME. Price: $12,500
ID #   6140
Make   PARKER BROS
Model   DHE
Configuration   SXS
Gauge / Caliber   20 GA
Serial #    236110
Country of Origin   America
Barrel Length (in Inches) 26
Choke R/U   M (Modified)
Choke L/O    F (Full)
Trigger   DT (Double)
Stock Configuration   Pistol Grip
Forearm Type   Splinter Forearm
Rib Type   Matted Concave Rib
Receiver Finish   Casehardened – TRACES OF COLOR IN PROTECTED AREAS
Engraving Type   DHE: Fine Scroll w/ Cameos Engraving
Other Options   0 FRAME, FACTORY DOGS HEAD BUTT. GOLD OVAL
Condition   Near EXC. Condition, ALL ORIGINAL
Weight   5LB 12 OZ
Dimensions    DAC 1-1/2, DAH 2-5/8, LOP 14, C/O 1/4
Other Details    BRADY BROS. LEATHER CASE, PARKER BROS. FACTORY PAPERS, LIGHT WEIGHT GAME GUN

Manufrance Ideal #4 SxS Shotgun: 16GA, 2 3/4″ chambers, double trigger extractors, 28 M&F with mint bores, 100% color case in the protected areas and 60% around the action, 60% on the rest of the gun with nice open engraving. Original blue. Nice piece of wood, straight grip with retractable sling. Original butt plate. This gun is in excellent condition and has a very tight action. Dimensions are 14 x 1 1/4 x 2 1/4, weight 5lb 13oz. It is very hard to find a round action gun like this one. Price: $3,500

Beretta 471 Side x Side ~ 20 Gauge: With original factory hard case and manual Price: $2,699.99 Manufacturer: S/N – S10351A
Caliber: 20 GA
Chambers: 3
Metal Condition: Excellent
Wood Condition: Very Good / Excellent

Bore Condition: Mirror
Barrels: 28
Triggers: Factory
Stock: Checkered Walnut
Stock Dimensions:
14-1/4″ LOP
Fore End: Checkered Walnut
Butt Pad: Brown Rubber
Weight: 6lb 15oz
Sights: Bead Front
Chokes: CYL X IC

This week’s good guns: Powered by Gunsinternational.com …

December 13, 2015 by Gregg

MANTON 8 BORE EXPRESS- 17 Lbs. 7 Oz. of REAL TURN of the CENTURY SPORT- 24″ FULLY RIFLED STEEL Bbls.- EXC PLUS BORES- CASES & ALL LOADING DATA: #5770, Manton & Co. Gun Makers To H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh. K.G. London & Calcutta: A large Jones Action Underlever Back-Action Rebounding Hammer 8 Bore Black Powder Express Shoulder Double Rifle Made with a 3 1/4″ Case and with 24″ Steel fully rifled barrels with a rib extension dolls head, Full length rib with 1 standing & 3 folding platinum lined rear sights at 50 – 100 & 150, Percussion style fences, Full length trigger guard tang to a steel engraved grip cap, Extremely solid and sound wood with nice color & contrast, Shadowline cheekpiece, Sling eyes, Lever release forend, Great stock length at 14 1/2″ LOP over a 7/8″ Silvers pad, Great weight at 17 Lbs. 7 Oz., This is a full rifled set of barrels and the bores remain excellent plus and I would put them at 92-93% from the day they were cut, All the screws are in very good to excellent shape and nearly everyone lays north & south including the 6 inside the forend, It has been professionally refinished from stem to stern with fresh case colors, The whole is cased in a high quality oak & leather trunk with a trade label. This piece is accurate, comes with the proper head stamped cases, bullets, bullet mold, wads and all the loading data will be provided. It is ready to go hunting and a whole bunch of fun shooting. There are 8 bores and then there are other 8 bores but one would have to go a fair distance to come up with a more solid gun than this Manton with barrels that are in excellent condition inside and out plus it has the proper weight and great length of pull. To quote Mr. Geoffrey Boothroyd “Few people would dispute that the most famous name in the history of British gunmaking is that of Manton”. Manton in this era called the 8, 10 & 12 bores as “Big Game” rifles; the 450, 500 & 577’s were called “Express Rifles” and the 400 & 470 as “High Velocity” rifles. Price: $39,000

Francotte 20E 16 Gauge SxS Shotgun, 1926, FACTORY ORIGINAL HIGH CONDITION: 5lb 12oz, Side by Side, Serial # 81889. his Francotte Model 20E is a sideplated box lock gun that is a mid-grade gun from this maker. Built in 1926 during the time when quality reigned supreme, this little Francotte retains most of its factory original condition with 85% vivid case color, clear sharp deep chiseled engraving, excellent screws, mirror bores, 98% factory blue, beautifully figured European walnut with excellent checkering…just a beautiful little 16 bore. Weighing just 5 3/4lbs. and balanced just ahead of the hinge pin with 28″ barrels choked LM/IM (.014/.024 restrictions, can be altered to your specs in our shop within 10 days of purchase), this is the epitome of the upland game gun. The gun is mechanically excellent in all ways, with strong well timed ejectors, crisp double triggers, tight as new on hinge and breech face, this is the way you like to find them. The Francotte guns are one of the best buys in the fine gun world and known for strength and durability while being quite refined. This gun has 5 locking points; Greener cross bolt, double underlug bites, sideclips, and through the frame barrel lug…just as good as you can get and being 90 years old and still tight as new, a testament to its design. Compare this gun to any other offerings for condition and features and you will agree it is priced to sell. Price: $6,450

ENGLISH DOUBLE BARREL HAMMERGUN BY “JOSEPH HARKOM & SON, EDINBURGH: 12 gauge, 30″ damascus steel barrels. Casehardened and engraved back action locks, carved fences, underlever action. Three position hammers and extractors. In lovely condition with very crisp engraving with the action and locks showing much of the case colors fading. The barrels showing a nice pattern and have been professionally rebrowned. Beautiful wood and checkering. Dimensions: Barrels measure .728″ in both barrels. Chokes are cylinder bored. Walls exceed .028″ Weight: 7lbs 1oz. LOP: 14 5/8″ to a steel buttplate. Comb: 1 1/2″ Heel: 2″. Price: $3,950

L.C. SMITH WILDFOWL 3″ Chambers 12GA 32″ bbls: A Classic American Side-by-Side Water Fowl gun. Price: $1800
Manufacturer: HUNTER ARMS
Model: L.C.SMITH WILDFOWL
Serial Number: R191118
Chambers: 3″
Barrels: 32″
Gauge: 12
Stock Comb: 1 1/2IN
Stock Heel: 2 1/2in
Butt Pad: LONDON STYLE
LOP: 14 1/2IN
Weight: 8.25LBS
Manufacture Date: 1939
Choke Left: FULL
Choke Right: FULL
Proof:Nitro: YES

J.P. Sauer & Sohn Suhl SxS 12 Ga Shotgun with straight stock: Price: $1,199.99
Caliber: 12 Ga.
Metal Condition: Excellent.
Wood Condition: Excellent Light handling Marks..
Bore Condition: Excellent.
Barrels: 28 Inches. With a Greener Style cross bolt break.
Triggers: Double Triggers.
Stock: Walnut with diamond pattern on grip.
Fore End: Walnut with diamond.
Butt Pad: Factory with embossed logo.
Weight: 7 Pounds

Another great 8 gauge, this one by E & C Sneider, Baltimore, MD …

June 12, 2015 by Gregg

Antique Sneider 8 gauge double barrel sxs shotgun

Here’s a real rare double. It’s an 8g Sneider made in the 1880s. When this SxS was built, it was one of the finest hammerless shotguns being made in America — and one of the most innovative.

E & C Sneider was founded by Charles Edward Sneider. He learned his trade in Europe and by 1859 he was in Baltimore working for Thomas Poultney & David B. Trimble. By 1865, Sneider was on his own, working in Baltimore from a shop on 66 S Sharp St. In 1874 his sons — Charles Lewis & Charles William — were working with him. Charles William filed the patent that created this shotgun in 1880.

This patent cocked on the fall of the barrels and the locks used coiled springs, which were thought to be more reliable than leaf springs. It also featured a unique trigger safety which used a serrated dial on the toplever to engage a rod pointing up from the top of the action. When this dial was pushed forward, it pressed down on this rod and freed the trigger sear for firing.

Sneider built several grades of shotguns on this patent. The top grades (like the one shown here), locked up with a sliding bolt which engaged a bite in the rear barrel lump and top extension. They also featured compensating hinge pin which could be adjusted for wear and a unique sliding barrel stop which kept the barrels from wearing on the hinge pin when the gun was opened.

Eight gauges like this were popular up and down the Eastern seaboard. They were far too expensive to buy and be used as “market guns” by commercial hunters. Instead, sportsmen used them to pass shoot ducks, geese & swans.

Here’s more info on this 8g.

C. W. Snieder patent of 1880 for a hammerless shotgun

This is a very rare Baltimore made, Antique Sneider 8 gauge shotgun. E &C. Sneider guns where made in Baltimore MD in the 19th century. This one being a high grade 8ga is extremely rare. This gun is well made, heavy and large. The Damascus barrels are 36″ long. They are solid and I see no dents. There is still some Damascus color and swirl. There are some dark spots in the bores, but overall they are clean and shiny. The action is tight. The firing pins look good and overall the gun is in fine functional condition. The engraving is very nice, as you can see. The wood is a high grade and in very good condition. The buttplate is original and nice, but does show a slight gap between the stock. The forend is in fine shape, but it could be a little tighter to the barrels. This is a large and heavy shot gun, weighing 14.6 lbs. A really fine piece for any antique gun collection.

Antique Sneider 8 gauge double barrel sxs shotgunAntique Sneider 8 gauge double barrel sxs shotgun — Antique Sneider 8 gauge double barrel sxs shotgun

BOOM! BOOM! An 8 gauge Charles Lancaster SxS shotgun …

May 20, 2015May 19, 2015 by Gregg

LANCASTER 8 BORE UNDERLEVER HAMMER LONDON NITRO PROVED- 13 Lbs. 12 Oz.- 36" DAMASCUS NP Bbls.- 1882- TOTALLY ORIGINAL PIECE — LANCASTER 8 BORE UNDERLEVER HAMMER LONDON NITRO PROVED- 13 Lbs. 12 Oz.- 36″ DAMASCUS NP Bbls.- 1882- TOTALLY ORIGINAL PIECE

Pound for pound, here’s one of the best shotgun deals you’ll find anywhere. This massive 8g Lancaster double barrel weighs an arm-aching 13 lbs. 12 oz. It’s priced at $11,500 — or about $52.27 an ounce. It has 3 1/4″ chambers and it’s nitro-proofed to push a lot of shot: 2 1/4 ounces.

Eight gauges like this weren’t “market guns”. They were far too expensive for most people to afford, and the richy-riches who bought them used to pass shoot ducks, geese, and swans. In the 19th century, they were popular with hunters in the UK up and down the Eastern Seaboard, but in the 20th century the US Federal Government foolishly outlawed their use on all migratory species.

Today, some states allow you to use on turkeys and other game species while others have outlawed them completely for hunting. You may be able to use them on waterfowl in Canada, and in the UK guys still lug them out to the marshes and flyways.

LANCASTER 8 BORE UNDERLEVER HAMMER LONDON NITRO PROVED- 13 Lbs. 12 Oz.- 36″ DAMASCUS NP Bbls.- 1882- TOTALLY ORIGINAL PIECE: #5156, Charles Lancaster, 151 New Bond St., London, Patent Breech Loader, Choke: A Massive Lancaster Jones Back Action Underlever 8 Bore Rebounding Hammer London Nitro Proved Smoothbore Made in 1882 with Barrels that are 3 Feet Long, .843 .043 & .043″ (Imp.Mod. & Imp.Mod.), 3 1/4″ chambers, Wall thickness on the right barrel at .054″ & .053 on the left, 36″ Damascus Steel London Nitro Proved barrels at 2 1/4 ounce, Rebounding Hammers, Hinged front trigger, Long top tang that goes nearly to the point of the comb, Splinter forend with a lever release forend, Straight hand stock at 14 x 1 5/8 x 2 1/4″ over the original 3/4″ Silvers pad, Cast-off for the right hand, True 8 Bore weight at 13 lbs. 12 oz., Very nice wood with very nice color and contrast, 10% of nice border engraving, The original barrel browning remains at 70%, Original case colors at 25%, The original wood finish is still at 80%, The checkering at 85%, The wood remains excellent and super sound in every respect.

The barrels are excellent inside and out without a pit to be had, The barrels ring with a very pronounced chime. It is cased in the original trunk with the original trade label. This is a very nice serious Big Bore piece that has London nitro proof barrels. It will take you shooting well into the 21st century. Here is the embodiment of 1882 Lancaster Quality; excellent bores, strong wood with nice figure, 8 bore weight, nitro proof barrels and it comes to the hand with ease even with this size and weight plus it balances very well. All these city-light gun writers that try to convince the shooting public that we all need shot barrels that are 3 feet long; here is there piece to grind clay targets into dust. We are working on a source for proper 8 bore loads that already have been used in this nitro proved piece that patterns well at 40 yards with either #5 or 6 shot. Fun stuff here. Price: $11,500

Auction alert: Awesome 8 gauge W. & C. Scott coming up 3/29…

March 26, 2014 by Gregg

W & C Scott & Sons 8 Bore Double Hammer Shotgun With Extra 10 Bore Barrels

I used to have a thing for 8 gauges. I wanted badly to find one, like a tick wants to find a deer. I even bought a pile of 8 gauge ammo in anticipation of owning one some day. If I were still interested in 8s, I would be salivating over this one. It looks like a awesome gun, in excellent, original condition. Amoskeag Auction Company has it, and they’re selling it on Saturday, March 29, 2014.

Big guns like this were used to pass shoot ducks, geese, and swans, and in the 19th century they were common along the big flyways up and down the Eastern Seaboard. In the 20th century, they fell out of favor and were eventually outlawed by the Federal Government for use on all migratory species. Today, some states allow them for use on other game species (like turkeys), while other states have completely outlawed their use for hunting.

W & C Scott & Sons 8 Bore Double Hammer Shotgun With Extra 10 Bore Barrels

Lot #185: A Tremendous W & C Scott & Sons 8 Bore Double Hammer Shotgun With Extra 10 Bore Barrels: Serial #29486, 8 bore, 36″ damascus barrels choked about .020 in each with bright excellent bores, and 10 bore, 32 3/8″ damascus barrels choked improved cylinder in each having bright very good bores showing very faint frosting. This gun was originally made as an 8 bore and the 10 gauge barrels along with a new forearm were added by the maker at a later date and serial numbered to the gun. The 8 bore barrels exhibit some pattern turning mostly silver with scattered light oxidation spots and an area of pinprick pitting at the breech to the right side of the rib. The 10 bore barrels exhibit 70% of their original brown color displaying an area of pinprick pitting on the top about ten inches from the breech along with some scratches and dings. Both sets of barrels have the maker’s name and London address engraved on the top rib with matching engraved borders around the breech ends and rib extensions.

The frame, locks, and hammers all display various shades of case color, the locks retaining 80% with the balance of the metal surfaces showing a mix of brown, pewter, and spots of color. All of the metal has border engraving with the top lever indicating the maker’s “Patent”. The figured straight grip stock rates very good displaying a few dings and scratches over the original polished oil finish with some staining evident around the butt pad and the grip is finely checkered in a well executed full wrap-around pattern showing some soiling.

The original splinter forearm is attached via a cross pin and rates similarly to the stock with well defined lightly soiled checkering; it has a nicely carved decorative metal tip. The second splinter forearm accompanying the 10 bore barrels is about an inch shorter and has a later lever release. Its condition is similar with good lightly soiled checkering. An old distorted rubber recoil pad is present providing a length of 14 1/2″ and the gun features double rebounding hammers with extractors and weighs 15 lbs. This shotgun was made in 1878 and the extra barrels and forearm were added a short time later as Scott stopped using that type of forearm release in 1892. It remains in remarkable condition considering its age and use. Est: $6000-$8000

An rare 8 gauge by Alexander McComas…

January 25, 2013 by Gregg

The Chesapeake Bay used to be one of the greatest places in the world to hunt waterfowl. Massive flocks of ducks, geese, and swans used to settle on its waters every fall, and as the birds passed through, hunters were waiting. These hunters used all sorts of firearms, and the more prosperous ones used fancy 8 gauges like the toplever, breechloading Alexander McComas you see here.

8 gauge Alexander McComas Toplever Double Barrel Shotgun

Alexander McComas was born on February 27, 1821 and he opened a shop on July 1843, at 51 South Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD. His first firearms were percussion guns, especially big bores for the local waterfowlers. By the time the breechloading era took over in the 1860s, McComas was well known up and down the eastern seaboard for his high quality firearms.

He was especially famous for his duck guns, and on these shotguns McComas preferred to use Jones-patent underlever actions. But as toplever actions started to appear in the 1870s, some shooters wanted them on their new duck guns. To meet this new market, McComas did what every smart business person does: He made what his customers wanted.

The toplever 8 gauge that you see here was probably “made” by Alexander McComas in the 1880s. I say “made” because I’m not sure how much of this shotgun was actually made in America. To my eye, a lot of this side-by-side looks German. I wonder if McComas ordered it complete from Europe, or sourced the barrels and action from the continent and then finished the shotgun in Maryland.

This kind of outsourcing was very popular in America at the time and a lot of the early side-by-side shotguns being “made” over here were actually built in England and throughout Europe.

Wow – a modern 8 gauge side by side…

December 28, 2012December 28, 2012 by Gregg

Modern 8 gauge side by side, Made in Italy, 39" bbls — Modern 8 gauge side by side, Made in Italy, 39″ bbls

Here’s a side-by-side shotgun that won’t be around for long: an Italian 8 Gauge SxS, Made in 1962.

In 1918, the US Federal Government made it illegal for anyone to use an eight gauge shotgun to hunt waterfowl and other federally-listed migratory game birds. Later, many states restricted hunting shotguns to 10 gauge and smaller.

Of course, these laws didn’t apply in Europe, and it’s still legal in many areas there to hunt ducks, geese, and other waterfowl with the really big bores.

This 8-gauge shotgun was made for that kind of shooting. Judging by the looks of it, it looks like wasn’t used much at all. Here are the specs on it:

Price: $1,999.99
Manufacturer: 1962
Caliber: 8 Gauge.
Chambers: Side X Side.

Metal Condition: Strong blue and case color.
Wood Condition: Excellent with crazing and flaking in the finish.
Bore Condition: Bright and shiny.
Barrels: 39+” Blue Acier steel.
Triggers: Double.
Stock: Mid grade walnut with a checkered pistol grip.
Fore End: Semi splinter checkered walnut.
Butt Pad: Red rubber vent butt pad.
Weight: 13 Lbs 12 Oz.

Connecticut turkey and the 8 gauge W. & C. Scott…

May 21, 2012 by Gregg

Here’s what happens when an 8 gauge W. & C. double barrel shotgun meets up with a 22 pound Connecticut turkey.

8 gauge W. & C. Scott double barrel shotgun & a CT turkey

Dang – I want this shotgun: an 8 gauge W. & C. Scott Excellentia…

March 14, 2012 by Gregg

I have a weakness for the impractical, especially impractical old shotguns. That’s why I love this 8 gauge W. & C. Scott Excellentia.

Considering that 8 gauge ammo is almost impossible to find, and that hunting with an 8 gauge shotguns is illegal in most states, I think this side-by-side is as far from sensible as a double barrel can be. Maybe that’s why I keep wishing I had bought it. Pic courtesy of Lewis Drake & Associates.