Inherited Grandpas shot gun - The Firearms Forum

cathy · 01-26-2011, 07:52 PM

Hello,I have a shotgun that was my Grandpas.A double barrel 20 gage shot gun,says kentrick prettie belgium on one side,on metal near trigger and syracuse N.Y. belgium on other side.Damascus twist is how my Grandfather identified it.Gun also has writing between barrels ,pure quality laminated steal.Ornate carving of deer on end of butt of gun.decorative etching on metal around trigger,loading and locking area.decorative etching in wood near trigger area.Trigger is shaped like two crescents about an inch apart. Wood has a few well oiled and old scratches and metal has asmall amount of surface rust.Note from Grandfather says "do not shoot,not safe with modern ammo.My Grandfather was a gun smith and stored his guns correctly,but this has been in an attic for a few years,stored in a caseand sadly with no care for that time.Afriend told me it is not a hammer trigger.I am looking for value and some advice on "is there a market for this kind of gun and is it worth the time of taking pictures and marketing it?" THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY IMFO YOU HAVE! Cathy

Jim K · 01-26-2011, 09:38 PM

A Google search turned up nothing, but your Grandfather's note says it all concerning Damascus barrels and their dangers. Briefly, so-called Damascus barrels were made by twisting red hot iron and steel strips together, then heating them up again, wrapping them around an iron rod called a mandrel and hammer welding them in a "barber pole" sort of pattern. As you can gather, the result would not have been as strong as solid steel, but it was adequate for the time and barrel making wasn't yet up to drilling long holes in solid steel.

Barrel and gun makers in Leige, Belgium made them by the hundreds of tons and many were imported into the US at a time when game was plentiful and nearly every family owned or wanted a shotgun. They were of utilitarian quality then, but over the years not only has gun powder become more powerful, but the guns themselves have often deteriorated.

Because of the vast numbers imported, and the indifferent quality, the guns have very little value, selling (when they can be sold at all) for a few dollars for decorators at "old west" steak houses and the like. I suggest you hang the gun on the wall; its intrinisic value is negligible, but as a family memento, it is priceless.

Jim

01-26-2011, 07:52 PM	#1
cathy Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: midland michigan Posts: 1	Inherited Grandpas shot gun Hello,I have a shotgun that was my Grandpas.A double barrel 20 gage shot gun,says kentrick prettie belgium on one side,on metal near trigger and syracuse N.Y. belgium on other side.Damascus twist is how my Grandfather identified it.Gun also has writing between barrels ,pure quality laminated steal.Ornate carving of deer on end of butt of gun.decorative etching on metal around trigger,loading and locking area.decorative etching in wood near trigger area.Trigger is shaped like two crescents about an inch apart. Wood has a few well oiled and old scratches and metal has asmall amount of surface rust.Note from Grandfather says "do not shoot,not safe with modern ammo.My Grandfather was a gun smith and stored his guns correctly,but this has been in an attic for a few years,stored in a caseand sadly with no care for that time.Afriend told me it is not a hammer trigger.I am looking for value and some advice on "is there a market for this kind of gun and is it worth the time of taking pictures and marketing it?" THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY IMFO YOU HAVE! Cathy -->

01-26-2011, 09:38 PM	#2
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Inherited Grandpas shot gun A Google search turned up nothing, but your Grandfather's note says it all concerning Damascus barrels and their dangers. Briefly, so-called Damascus barrels were made by twisting red hot iron and steel strips together, then heating them up again, wrapping them around an iron rod called a mandrel and hammer welding them in a "barber pole" sort of pattern. As you can gather, the result would not have been as strong as solid steel, but it was adequate for the time and barrel making wasn't yet up to drilling long holes in solid steel. Barrel and gun makers in Leige, Belgium made them by the hundreds of tons and many were imported into the US at a time when game was plentiful and nearly every family owned or wanted a shotgun. They were of utilitarian quality then, but over the years not only has gun powder become more powerful, but the guns themselves have often deteriorated. Because of the vast numbers imported, and the indifferent quality, the guns have very little value, selling (when they can be sold at all) for a few dollars for decorators at "old west" steak houses and the like. I suggest you hang the gun on the wall; its intrinisic value is negligible, but as a family memento, it is priceless. Jim