Making an Unusual Pistol

[John Allen]

ok, so I picked up cheap at an auction an old octagon to round barrel cut down fowling rifle.  The stock is cracked in many places and is unusable.  I was thinking of using all the original parts, cuting down the barrel further and making a full stock smooth bore pistol.

I have seen many round barrel smooth bores but none of the octagon to round ones. 

What do you guys think?

Anyone got an pics of ones they have done?

[Hungry Horse]

 Just the fact that you refer to it as a fowling rifle prompts me to encourage you to take it to someone that has knowledge of antique firearms for an evaluation. Chopping up antique firearms to build something you are thinking of shooting is rarely a good idea. JMO.

       Hungry Horse

[crankshaft]

.
.

Good advice to ask someone knowledgeable before the bonehead move.

   Several museums have pistols cut down from old guns, as NWTGuns. Not worth much,  If still an original gun as a wreck would be worth a bunch more.

  Heck, just your bbl could be worth $$$. 

[conquerordie]

I'm with everyone else. Make sure what you have first, could be of some historical value. After that, your the owner, do what you want with it. If you do cut it down, I wouldn't be shooting it. To me it sounds like you have a wall hanger now, and if you cut it down and make a pistol, you'll still have a wall hanger. Just a shorter one.
Greg

[John Allen]

Fellas,  thanks it is already cut down to about 24 inhes. The stock is broken in about pieces and has also been cut down.  I will post some pics.

[L. Akers]

There is nothing unusual about an octagon to round pistol barrel.  Lots of makers made pistols so barreled.  One of my favorite makers is John Derr.

I have made one--a semi-military style in .54 cal strongly resembling the Harpers Ferry.

[WadePatton]

Fellas,  thanks it is already cut down to about 24 inhes. The stock is broken in about pieces and has also been cut down.  I will post some pics.

I have seen some $20K rifles just like that.

Please listen to what is being said here. No matter how "undesirable" you find the gun in its current condition, if it is indeed original then every opportunity should be taken to show to some experts before hacking or even cleaning on it.  That "20k rifle" might only be worth 10k after a "good cleaning" and only 5k after an amateur restoration. SO, when in any doubt with any historic artifact, don't.  It's just way too easy to interface with real experts in every field these days- and get good advice on what you actually have.

There are guns yet to be saved and studied and properly preserved.  Shoot, there might be someone on here with a pistol ready to trade for it-save you some time and trouble.  

and post those pics (must be hosted elsewhere and referenced from here).

[stuart cee dub]

Years ago Dave Riplinger at Track told me the tale of a guy who brought an original fur trade gun in to sell. Spent all night taking off the blackened crud on the stock, pulled the brass tacks off  and sanded it down hoping to get a better price for a shiny gun .....
You can fill in the rest yourself .We've all heard and seen similar tales .
 
 Now maybe it's a piece of junk and your absolutely justified and maybe not, but a picture or a second opinion wouldn't hurt Brother John and I mean only well even seconding the opinions of the more knowledgable here on the forum .   

[frogwalking]

I made this 20 gauge pistol from a $79.00 octagon to round barrel from Dixie gun works.  The stock is not shaped the best, but it is a hoot to shoot with no. 4 buckshot.   I am sure there are lots of these owned by folks on this web site, many of which (including this one) that would be available for trade if the offering was reasonable.  Hold the hacksaw and sandpaper until you find out what the gun you have is worth. 

[conquerordie]

I'm finishing up a pistol that I'll post pictures of soon. I made it out of a piece of one of those fowler barrels that Track of the Wolf sell. It has already been cut down, so I just shortened it even more. So I'm doing the same thing as the original poster, just with a modern barrel. I hope the original barrel was not of high value. Would like to see pictures. Either we can breathe a sigh of relief, or shake out heads and cry.
Grrg