Author Topic: looking for parts for a percusion double shotgun (Perkins London Twist) (Read 12716 times)

cumberland gap 65 · « **on:** May 25, 2010, 03:37:38 AM »

i recently picked up a percusion double barrel shotgun. the stock and locks are all in good shape. the barrels even look good for there age i need to find replacement breech plugs. the existing plugs have been welded.
the markings on the barrel is perkins london twist.
all help and advice would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
CG65

490roundball · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2010, 04:03:03 AM »

any pictures?

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=642.0

I would guess that breech plugs would need to custom built, the cost might be prohibitive

cumberland gap 65 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 26, 2010, 01:35:03 AM »

I have pictures and will post as soon as i figure out how to post them.

cumberland gap 65 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 26, 2010, 01:40:58 AM »

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #4 on:** May 26, 2010, 01:55:58 AM »

Those barrels are awfull, better hand that one on the wall.

490roundball · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2010, 03:11:10 AM »

it looks like the ribs have been roughly rewelded, you should see a fine clean line between the ribs and barrels.

is that a bolt through the wrist?

what is the guage? if you look at the proofs in the link I posted you see that one is a 14.

cumberland gap 65 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 26, 2010, 03:30:28 AM »

it is an 11 gauge. im no expert but i thing if i could get the breech plugs out and find replacements along with someone that could clean up and reweld the barrel i may be in business.

490roundball · « **Reply #7 on:** May 26, 2010, 04:02:31 AM »

the barrels should look a little more like this

cumberland gap 65 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 26, 2010, 04:09:14 AM »

exactly what i think. where can i get me a set like that?

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2010, 04:56:34 AM »

Quote from: cumberland gap 65 on May 26, 2010, 04:09:14 AM

exactly what i think. where can i get me a set like that?

To fit that gun? Or just a set of barrels to build a gun around.

cumberland gap 65 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2010, 05:08:27 AM »

would like to have one fit my gun but if i had a good set of barrels i could build a gun around it.

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2010, 12:58:49 PM »

Never going to find a set to fit that gun. PM me, I have an extra set of percussion barrels for sale if you want to make a gun.

JTR · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2010, 04:10:30 PM »

Just from looking at the pictures of the barrels, I'd think that old shotgun is firmly in the non-shooter, wall hanger category!
Well at least if you value your fingers, hand, arms and face, as well as other shooters around you!

Just my cautionary 2 cents,
John

nord · « **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2010, 06:27:37 PM »

Certainly an antique. Given the stamping on the barrel I'd bet really Belgain. Proofs hidden between the stock and underside of the tubes. "ELG"

This old girl would be best relegated to wall hanger status. Not a quality piece to start with and now approaching her 150th anniversary within the next decade or so.

Too much time, money, and effort to rebuild or repair. Too little value now or after. No provenance to give value.

T*O*F · « **Reply #14 on:** May 26, 2010, 06:38:43 PM »

Quote

i thing if i could get the breech plugs out and find replacements along with someone that could clean up and reweld the barrel i may be in business.

Everyone is trying to skirt around the real issue. Let's be candid about it.
These guns were handmade and handfitted one at a time. There are no replacement parts available for them. Thus, that whole process has to be repeated and then the barrels would probably blow up under proof.

The real question is, "Why spend $1500 or more trying to resurrect a gun worth $150, and still have it fail. Take the money and buy a gun that's good to start with.

490roundball · « **Reply #15 on:** May 26, 2010, 07:14:25 PM »

Quote from: nord on May 26, 2010, 06:27:37 PM

Certainly an antique. Given the stamping on the barrel I'd bet really Belgain. Proofs hidden between the stock and underside of the tubes. "ELG"

This old girl would be best relegated to wall hanger status. Not a quality piece to start with and now approaching her 150th anniversary within the next decade or so.

Too much time, money, and effort to rebuild or repair. Too little value now or after. No provenance to give value.

Bruce -

agree completely with every thing but the JABC evaluation- Perkins was a decent quality gun maker in Birmingham 1850/60 timeframe, the proofs would bear this out. if the piece was care for - AND THIS ONE WAS NOT, in fact severly abused - in correct condition, they are light responsive bird guns and still have a place in the field - hopefully over a proper setter

Dave K · « **Reply #16 on:** May 26, 2010, 09:45:12 PM »

I think this gun maybe English, not Belgium. I personally don't recall the ribs coming loose on a brazed set of barrels like the Belgium barrels are. English barrels though have a good reputation for shedding their ribs. I am not that knowledgeable to tell you if it is the solder that fails, or the flux used in the soldering that rusts the barrels and that the rust lifts the ribs. Like anything though, if you throw enough energy or money or both at it, it could be saved. Only you know if it is worth it.

nord · « **Reply #17 on:** May 27, 2010, 12:34:25 AM »

Usually the London reference points to Belgium. In this case not so... It's a Brit. British guns so stamped are almost always trade guns. This isn't to say unsafe or of poor quality, but it is to say these were not Best guns nor even Keepers guns.

Trade items made to be sold for a good price and hopefully fair value.

cumberland gap 65 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 27, 2010, 02:51:04 AM »

Why dont you tell me what you really think. I love it and i pretty much agree shee is going to be a wall hanger and im going to build me one from scratch.

Dave K · « **Reply #19 on:** May 27, 2010, 02:57:38 AM »

Ok, I would get the breech plugs out to make new ones, using them as copies. While that was going on, I would have the riibs relaid, while the barrels were being checked for too deep of pits. Like I said earlier, you can fix anything if you throw enough effort and money at it. When it all goes back together and everything is declared sound, this good be a good shooter as well.

490roundball · « **Reply #20 on:** May 27, 2010, 03:04:53 AM »

Quote from: nord on May 27, 2010, 12:34:25 AM

but it is to say these were not Best guns nor even Keepers guns.

agreed - never was the same as a Purdey or even a Joseph Manton, but heck, most of their keeper guns were actually sourced to the Birmingham trade. Fit and finish on my Perkins is quite decent. Of course he was actually a maker, not one of the ironmongers who stamped their name on the cheapest thing they could sell. Heck of a lot of junk out there with misspelled names of better makers - anything like this is definately a buyer beware sort of item.

and they still needed to be cared for - even an H&H is this condition is a wall hanger or lamp project.

Daryl · « **Reply #21 on:** May 27, 2010, 03:54:14 AM »

I don't think this gun is worth restoring to shooting condition and I believe the barrels are probably rotted too badly inside, judging by the deporable condition outside. Due to the conditon of the breeches, it is highly unlikely it could be made well again in that area without a lot of expensive work and then, as others have said, you really have not too much as a result, that might then blow up.

News:

Author Topic: looking for parts for a percusion double shotgun (Perkins London Twist) (Read 12716 times)

cumberland gap 65

cumberland gap 65

cumberland gap 65

cumberland gap 65

cumberland gap 65

cumberland gap 65

Dave K

cumberland gap 65

Dave K

Daryl