Shotgun in the wall - The Firearms Forum

BeeFarm · 12-31-2009, 09:15 AM

In remodeling a very old house, I found a double barrel shotgun in the wall of the house. The gun was placed between two studs and has been there for a very long time. Yea, very surprised. On the gun I have found this: Patent 488366 DECB 20 1892 ECLIPSE HERCULES No. 6212:B COMRESSED STEEL BELGIUM ECLIPSE GUN Co. My question is how much is the gun worth? It is in very bad shape, but the owner of the house wants to sell it.

Jim K · 12-31-2009, 08:38 PM

It may be worth twenty bucks or so as a novelty, complete with story. But it was a cheaply made shotgun when it was new, and age probably hasn't improved it any. "Compressed steel" sounds like another name for Damascus or laminated steel, made up of spiral wound strips or hammer welded plates. I strongly recommend against firing it with ANY ammunition. I suspect, though, that this may be a case where the owner thinks anything old is valuable; if so, simply suggest he take it to any gun shop or antique store and get an estimate of his own.

One way to use a gun like that is to render it unusable, then display it in a shadow box as a decoration, with a card saying where and how it was found.

Jim

AL MOUNT · 12-31-2009, 08:44 PM

I agree with Jim.

A nice "Wall Hanger", but little more.

It's human nature, and I'm no different, to assume Old=$$$.... tain't so....

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12-31-2009, 09:15 AM	#1
BeeFarm Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1	Shotgun in the wall In remodeling a very old house, I found a double barrel shotgun in the wall of the house. The gun was placed between two studs and has been there for a very long time. Yea, very surprised. On the gun I have found this: Patent 488366 DECB 20 1892 ECLIPSE HERCULES No. 6212:B COMRESSED STEEL BELGIUM ECLIPSE GUN Co. My question is how much is the gun worth? It is in very bad shape, but the owner of the house wants to sell it. -->

12-31-2009, 08:38 PM	#2
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Shotgun in the wall It may be worth twenty bucks or so as a novelty, complete with story. But it was a cheaply made shotgun when it was new, and age probably hasn't improved it any. "Compressed steel" sounds like another name for Damascus or laminated steel, made up of spiral wound strips or hammer welded plates. I strongly recommend against firing it with ANY ammunition. I suspect, though, that this may be a case where the owner thinks anything old is valuable; if so, simply suggest he take it to any gun shop or antique store and get an estimate of his own. One way to use a gun like that is to render it unusable, then display it in a shadow box as a decoration, with a card saying where and how it was found. Jim

12-31-2009, 08:44 PM	#3
AL MOUNT Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cleaning my Thompson in The Foothills of the Ozark Mountains Posts: 3,107	Re: Shotgun in the wall I agree with Jim. A nice "Wall Hanger", but little more. It's human nature, and I'm no different, to assume Old=$$$.... tain't so.... Welcome to the forum __________________ 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne Division Vietnam 67-68