Shotgun found in the bar ditch, ID?

[RichnSteph]

Neighbor who doesn't think anyone other than the military should own weapons gave me a single shot, break open 12 gauge that his son found in the bar ditch. It's in really poor shape. busted butt-stock, broken hammer, won't stay closed, etc. It'll most likely be a wall hanger but I'd like to find out some more information if possible. The only markings I can find on it are A. Baldwin & Co. New Orleans LA. From the little bit of information I've been able to dig up it was most likely made between 1897 and 1910 and is considered a "hardware store" gun as in they were cheap and plentiful. I also read that it was built to fire a 2.5" black powder shot-shell although there is some conjecture surrounding that information.

I'd like to have it looked at by a gunsmith and if it can be brought up to shooting ability (safely) I'll take it out and use it to put some game on the table before I hang it up. I can just imagine what stories that old gun could tell.

Thank you for your time.
RichnSteph

 

[Shotgun Jeremy]

Pics?

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[ZX9RCAM]

I'd be concerned that it was possibly used in a crime and dumped there.

 

[BRD@66]

...
I'd like to have it looked at by a gunsmith and if it can be brought up to shooting ability (safely) I'll take it out and use it to put some game on the table.. NO
..before I hang it up. YES
RichnSteph

Please go buy a real gun then come back & tell us about that.

 

[RichnSteph]

Please go buy a real gun then come back & tell us about that.

I have several. Anything you're particularly interested in other that being an ass?
RichnSteoh

 

[Moonpie]

If its in as bad of condition as you say it would be a waste of time and money to get it going.
FWIW, weld or glue it closed and hang it on the wall.

 

[RichnSteph]

If its in as bad of condition as you say it would be a waste of time and money to get it going.
FWIW, weld or glue it closed and hang it on the wall.

That's good advice, thank you.
RichnSteph

 

[RichnSteph]

I'd be concerned that it was possibly used in a crime and dumped there.

It looks like it hasn't been shot in a long time but I'd not considered that.

Thank you.

RichnSteph.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

It looks like it hasn't been shot in a long time but I'd not considered that.

Thank you.

RichnSteph.

Wouldn't need to have been fired.
Toy guns are used all the time for the "fear" effect.
Also, how long would it take for a gun to get fubar'd when left in a bar ditch?

 

[Mikewood]

Take a look at the barrel. If it is smooth it may be smokeless. It if has a pattern in the surface that looks like lines or a flattened coil spring it’s Damascus and should not be shot.


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[Dawico]

Clean it, patch it, and hang it.

Not really worth putting much work into.

 

[BRD@66]

I have several. Anything you're particularly interested in other that being an ass?
RichnSteoh

welcome to TGT. You'll do well here.

 

[The Rattler]

Take a look at the barrel. If it is smooth it may be smokeless. It if has a pattern in the surface that looks like lines or a flattened coil spring it’s Damascus and should not be shot.


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If it was used in a crime, it could be most helpful to the police in solving a crime and “righting” a wrong that happened to someone. I suggest calling them.

 

[RichnSteph]

Thank you again for all the advice (and the welcome there BRD@66). It looked as if that gun was going to need a lot more time and money than I have available to get it back to shooting order. I gave it to a friend to hang on the wall at his hunting cabin.

RichnSteph

 

[OLDVET]

Even if you got it all polished up and the stock refinished, it would probably be very unsafe to shoot. The steel used back when that firearm was made was not as good as steel today. I am sure a pressure test of the barrel would result in major problems.
Use it as conversation piece.
If you watch Pawn Stars you may have seen the episode when a guy brings in a very early Colt SSA that had been abandoned at some time. Apparently a tree grew up adjacent to it and the gun became encased in the tree trunk. I think the guy found it when he was splitting his firewood. Anyway, the gun was toast, but the story was interesting.

 

[G O B]

Old shotguns are usually Damascus steel barreled. The dissimilar metals are hammer welded together and prone to rusting internally where the two metals are joined. Even shiny barrels can be rusted internally to the point of failing catastrophically! Any significant surface rust is an indicator of "wall hanger ONLY".
If the barrel is not Damascus, it will probably have a "bored for nitro powder" stamp. Even those should never fire 'high brass' or 'max dram' loads.