AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Contemporary Longrifle Collecting => Topic started by: Keb on July 18, 2013, 10:07:37 PM

Title: Bench Gun
Post by: Keb on July 18, 2013, 10:07:37 PM

I picked this up from a friend last weekend and I know nothing about these things. I've taken it apart but I can't see anything that would indicate who made it. It does have a GR Douglas XX .54 cal barrel (not .56). It's 39 3/4" long x 1 3/16" wide with a false muzzle. Twist is approx. 1 in 56 by guestimation. Underhammer lock is pretty straight forward. The gun comes in under 14 lbs (13 3/4 el-bees). It also has Redfield Olympic (Front) & International Match (Rear) sights of which I've never used but I'm no target shooter either. Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.choppix.com%2Fkeb%2Fbench02.jpg&hash=9946eb3ad5b6627b165d2c05a4dcdf4d7aef7f98)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.choppix.com%2Fkeb%2Fbench01.jpg&hash=dbc9e4f33b95b1c570b7a834ad11fad356da1ca1)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.choppix.com%2Fkeb%2Fbench03.jpg&hash=0c5b3a184e133bdb4b7a260699e2bd1255ca10aa)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.choppix.com%2Fkeb%2Fbench04.jpg&hash=9625f0505e2479e77c32e64abd30813ea87be05d)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.choppix.com%2Fkeb%2Fbench05.jpg&hash=cf7977bdcfd346bc8bd40646f4dd72d2841fa814)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.choppix.com%2Fkeb%2Fbench06.jpg&hash=bd6dcd7bf6ac591c2a92d7d0fff8a013e3033e29)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.choppix.com%2Fkeb%2Fbench07.jpg&hash=3649213e01bcc1957af058fb5c4d4ca5ee2be431)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.choppix.com%2Fkeb%2Fbench08.jpg&hash=7697d3a96599251b9dc8ada69aaa78db95025f42)

Title: Re: Bench Gun
Post by: Kermit on July 19, 2013, 06:46:48 AM

SCORE! With that twist, I'm guessing a slug shooter. My roundball gun is 1 turn in 72". Can't help you with what boolit to shoot. Some who frequent this alternative reality will have ideas. Plastikosmd? Smokinbuck? Others?

Do you have a photo of the entry end of the false muzzle? It might be informative.

Title: Re: Bench Gun
Post by: Don Stith on July 19, 2013, 02:48:39 PM

 Your photo is not visible to me. Sounds more like a cross stick match gun

Title: Re: Bench Gun
Post by: Hungry Horse on July 19, 2013, 06:22:34 PM

 The Douglas stamp should be on the bottom, not the top. Now, since it has the double X's it may not make a difference, but Douglas alway instructed that the signature be on the bottom.
 I sure hope its a shooter, because it sure ain't no show piece. I don't think I'd have signed it either.

                        Hungry Horse

Title: Re: Bench Gun
Post by: Don Stith on July 19, 2013, 07:36:04 PM

The XX signified that The bore was centered at the muzzle
 The standard barrel had the name stamp located to identify the side it was offset to. The instructions were to put the name either on top or bottom. They bored octagon blanks instead of current practice of boring round blanks and machining to octagon.

Title: Re: Bench Gun
Post by: smylee grouch on July 20, 2013, 01:19:06 AM

I dont think its a slug gun, no scope, twist too slow (IMHO) and not heavey enough. Might make a good x-stix gun as has been mentioned.

Title: Re: Bench Gun
Post by: Don Stith on July 20, 2013, 05:28:33 AM

Definitely a cross stick gun
 A bench gun would have a cant bar near the muzzle end of barrel  Fairly old one or it would have had a sealed ignition. Of course the Douglas barrel is a sign of it's age.

Title: Re: Bench Gun
Post by: Don Stith on July 20, 2013, 06:26:04 PM

That is the timeline I would give it. Typical ball/ patch combo would be.010 to .015 over bore size ball and .020 patch. Lot of .550 moulds around at that time