Double Flint Shotgun

[Mobyduck]

Using Brockway's shotgun book as reference for aquiring parts for a double flint shotgun. He mentions one can use a set of barrels from a modern double and shows how to remove the lugs, etc.from the bottom of the barrel. However, he does not seem to address what to do with the ejectors at the bottom of the breech. I assume they must remain in place as the breech plugs must be pulled up against the back of the barrels. Should they be soldered in? Appreciate any help and comments -

[whitebear]

I had that book in the past, IIRC the chambers are cut away for approximately half there length and the breech plugs fitted to the back of the barrels then.

If you don't have a stock yet I have several pieces of beautiful crotch grain walnut that is 3 inches thick and some a little thicker.  Let me know.

[Feltwad]

The trouble with using modern barrels if you use 12gauge barrels is that once the plugs are fitted it is far too wide at the breech and looses its streamline appearance ,small gauge barrels are not so bad .The width can be narrowed by filling away at a angle part of the breech plugs at the touch hole sides  to narrow at the stock wrist.
Feltwad

[Captchee]

 i would have to look   feltwad but i  recall Bill covers that as well as angling the locks  in his book .
 however that  width also depends on what SXS your  building .  Some larger bores were rather wide anyway  hence the stepped Breech or stepped locks .

 personaly the problem i have with using modern barrels is in the leanght of the barrel set ,  they just seem to short

[Paul Griffith]

Either on this forum or ML forum I did a artical on this a few years back. A little diggin might come up with it.

Paul

[Don Getz]

Paul............nice job, looks like a lot of work, and some expertise to do it.    You need a good lathe and vertical mill to do this
kind of work, few on this forum have what it takes to do it...........Don

[Acer Saccharum]

I think if you search the archives, you'll find Taylor Sapergia or Cody Tetachuk (memory?) did a series of photos on the breeching of a double, how the plugs intersect, etc.  This is very exacting work, and safety is a big concern if the barrels are not breeched properly.

Tom

[Scota4570]

Cut the breech off short enough to remove those parts.  When I built mine it worked fine.  I used 30" damascus barrels.  When done they were about 27", I f I recall right. 

I spent a bunch of time making mine.  I used top quality wood, twice, I ruined the first attempt.  In the end the barrels are too short for my liking.  My stock came out too short for me also.  If I was to do it again I would leave the stock long and shoot it.  Once I got the right length I would install the butt plate.  I was quite sure I had it right by measurements but miscalculated.  Now I have a beautiful gun that does not fit me. 

[Acer Saccharum]

Sometimes sets of percussion blackpowder barrels can be found.

But be wary with antique barrels, the flux used to solder the barrels sometimes eats thru into the bores, or weeps out the ribs somewhere. I hate to have you put eons of work into a barrel set and find a rust hole halfway down the bore.

[T*O*F]

I hate to have you put eons of work into a barrel set and find a rust hole halfway down the bore.

The first thing you do with a set of old barrels is to plug the nipples and fill both bores with alcohol.  Then set the breech end in a coffee can.  The alcohol will find its way into any holes, run down under the rib and leak out the bottom, or externally if the hole is located there.  When it stops leaking, you will have found the position of the hole.  Sometimes there are more than one so be vigilant and don't stop at the first indication.  One gun I tested had 2 external holes and one leaking into the rib area.