12 Ga S X S percussion shotgun

[FDR]

I have watched with much interest as Runar has showed us how to build a SxS.  I have not shot my working 12ga SXS in a number of years now but I also have a complete 12 Ga SxS in storage minus the stock. The metal is in as new condition. Made in India and imported as a complete gun in 1971 this one suffered a broken stock early in life and was stored when a new gun was immediately obtained. The barrels have BP proof marks and the recommended load is stamped on each barrel so this thing is not the usual import junk but a very serviceable gun if it only had a stock.
Question is, do I now, at 72 years, try to restock this thing or pass it along to a new owner?  Thoughts?

Fred

[FALout]

Only you can decide that.  There's lots of folks here that are retired and build, only question is do you feel up to the work involved?   It's not like you have to get it done in a week, take your time and enjoy the build.

[FDR]

I guess I hesitate mostly because I have to start with a plank.  Not any double shotgun partial inlet blanks out there that I know of.  I have repaired a lot of modern and antique guns including  stock repair and a lot of refinishing. I have also made a percussion lock from scratch so I have skills just never tried a shotgun stock from a blank especially a SXS.

Fred

[T*O*F]

Fred,
Maybe this will change your mind.  A guy gave me an old ML double and I was going to restock it  Subsequently found the breech area of one barrel was badly damaged and put the parts in the DNF bin.  I had already started inletting the tang, but it is a common one and might even match what you have.  Otherwise, there is enough wood on the blank to scavenge and fill it with an inlay.  $50 plus shipping if you want it.

[Steve-In]

Do you still have the broken wood?  If so glue it up and have the stock duplicated.  You could change LOP, drop etc with bondo and correct any problems.
Take TOF's offer and you have just $50 to lose.  You can always sell the parts if you are not satisfied.  You may be surprised how much parts may bring.

[FDR]

As it turns out a friend has the identical gun so I have a go-by if I want to have one duplicated. Anyone have a recommendation on who is good?
 Thanks for the very reasonable offer TOF.  My tang is much shorter. I might be able to make it a 2 piece however now that that comes to mind. 
Some ideas to chew on!

Thanks for the replies!

Fred

[Mike Brooks]

Do you still have the broken wood?  If so glue it up and have the stock duplicated.  You could change LOP, drop etc with bondo and correct any problems.
Take TOF's offer and you have just $50 to lose.  You can always sell the parts if you are not satisfied.  You may be surprised how much parts may bring.

I had a SXS  percussion with a busted stock duplicated once, turned out well. Glued it up best I could and sent it off. Mark Weader might be the guy to talk to.

[westbj2]

Hate to be the gremiln in this thread but if you start with junk, you will have restocked junk when done.
Jim

[Joe S.]

and one person's "junk" is another man's treasure. I have guns that most folks wouldn't hang in their out house but mean something to me.

[FDR]

Hate to be the gremiln in this thread but if you start with junk, you will have restocked junk when done.
Jim

Actually that was my first thought until I remembered that the other guys in the gun club who also bought them still have and shoot them. When I re-bought after breaking the stock, I got a 20 gauge and shot it up until 2 years ago when a new shooter wanted it. I also own a 12ga Italian made copy of a English game gun (percussion) that I can shoot so I let the 20ga go. Point is that these parts, even thought of India origin, are of good quality and represent a decent SXS hunting gun for someone with the skill to build a stock. The result would be more like a Savage/Stephens when compared to an A H  Fox. You can hunt effectively with either.

Fred

[Captchee]

 By chance do  the barrels have like 4 inchs of markings on the  tops of the barrels ?
 If so I have one in 16 gage .
 These were actually proof through the IOB . They should not be confused with the Indian reproductions made today as they were made as functional pieces and thus had to pass the actual  firearms manufacturing laws of India , unlike those purchased today  and made functional after  importing them
 Im not sure what wood they used but they are heavy as all get out and very open grained .
Locks  on mine appear to be hand forged and rather basic . They have very strong forged springs as well .
 While still rather cheep  compared to western  manufactures , I find the one I have to  be  very dependable

[frogwalking]

Teak wood.  Great for boats, not so good for gun stocks.

[Captchee]

 the one i have  isnt teak . its almost like it Oak LOL

[FDR]

" By chance do  the barrels have like 4 inchs of markings on the  tops of the barrels ?
 If so I have one in 16 gage .
 These were actually proof through the IOB . They should not be confused with the Indian reproductions made today as they were made as functional pieces and thus had to pass the actual  firearms manufacturing laws of India , unlike those purchased today  and made functional after  importing them
 Im not sure what wood they used but they are heavy as all get out and very open grained .
Locks  on mine appear to be hand forged and rather basic . They have very strong forged springs as well .
 While still rather cheep  compared to western  manufactures , I find the one I have to  be  very dependable"

Yes, that is the exact same gun except mine is a 12 ga.  Lots of proof marks on top (look British) and the recommended load is also stamped. Very solid using gun not the wall hanger kind. The lock internals look to be hand made.

Fred

[Captchee]

 if its the same . the markings are  from India .
  when the  India clamped down on Firearms manufactures   it became law that all firearms must go through all houses  of the IOB , India Ordinance Board and the IOF , India Ordenance Factory
  For  inspection of records’ of manufacture  and proof . They consider muzzleloaders to be firearms  and the must meet  the board standards  or they cannot be sold in country or exported ..  

their laws are very strict . One must have a license to ,  make , modify  or repair and firearm or parts for firearms.  Complete recourds for every part manufactured is also required .From what I have been told  directly by the IOB ,  Firearms manufactures   pretty much stopped the manufacture of muzzleloaders som 25-30 years ago as it wasn’t cost effective to  do so .

 I originally contacted the IOF concerning  this very SXS  and a direct question as to why the markings when there are no such marking concerning the Imports we see today .
 The reply was that  those being imported to day , do not have to meet the IOB standards as they are built as curiosities .
No Firearm my be exsported from india without  meeting IOF standards . those markings on the barrel are the  inspection marks from ther IOF and IOB.

Unlike other countries  which  we see alot concerning muzzleloading , India will tell you exsactly what their laws are .
some years ago," 2010 " i sent a few e-mails,  including photos to the IOF a few days later i recieved replies from two diffrent IOF houses concerning  the gun and my questions

Manufacturer is Insaf Ali and Sons, Jodhpur in Rajasthan State. All the guns are proof tested by the Central Government Proof houses located at Kanpur and Kolkata. (In this case at Kanpur) The serial number of the ML gun is 113.
Quality- Not good as compared to an English gun but one the best ML in India. ML gun production has stopped since last 15-20 years , they are now producing BL guns.
Regards,
Manbir Singh

 

here is a rough scetch of the barrel markings on mine