Double barrel 12 gauge

petenice02 · October 21, 2011, 03:07:16 PM

12 gauge double barrel shotgun. I inherited this and have no use for it except for its good looks. On the barrel it reads Horace & Soley Co. The barrel is 18 1/8" long and was painted black. Seems at one point it may have been a stage coach gun. I have tried doing some research on it and have not come up with anything except its an old english shotgun and there were tons of em back then, so its hard to trace its lineage. Any thoughts on value or potential buyers?

Mad_Dog · October 21, 2011, 07:38:33 PM

Quote from: petenice02 on October 21, 2011, 03:07:16 PM
Any thoughts on value or potential buyers?

Wow, that's pretty. I like. Sadly i know nothing about gun values and am broke to boot!

-Mad Dog

Jayhawker · October 21, 2011, 08:00:50 PM

Can't tell from the photo...are the barrels damascus? Also...being an Engllish gun, there should be some proof marks on it somewhere...if so, what do they look like?

Wolfgang · October 21, 2011, 09:11:55 PM

Quote from: Jayhawker on October 21, 2011, 08:00:50 PM
Can't tell from the photo...are the barrels damascus? Also...being an Engllish gun, there should be some proof marks on it somewhere...if so, what do they look like?

Same Questions I Wuz Gonna Ask . . . .

petenice02 · October 22, 2011, 04:05:50 PM

I don't think barrels are damascus. I shined a light inside and didn't see any twisting of the steel. I am going to attempt to take apart the gun and see if there is any dating or other markings inside without damaging anything. I will update tomorrow once completed.

GunClick Rick · October 22, 2011, 07:15:33 PM

Looks like who ever had it,used it or practiced alot by the rubbing on the barrel.

Ok boys step right up i'll give ya 5 minutes to take a look and i want the biddin to start,no beer no babblin whattaya gonna give for,,, 100.00 do i hear two?

Professor Marvel · October 22, 2011, 07:32:47 PM

Two beers!

more photos, please, I too am interested , but would like to see what lookos like missing wood under the right lock.
Also better photos of'
the barrels
the muzzles - have they been cut? .... Oh. Duh. 18 1/8" I should hope I did not ask that question out loud...
the underside of the action,
dismount the forend and remove the barrels and give us more photos!

did i mention more photos?
If we are diligent we may be able to discern if it is pre- 1898 and thus eligible to ship via USPS to anywhere
like a BP revolver ....

yhs
prof marvel

petenice02 · October 23, 2011, 10:11:59 AM

Hello, sorry been busy (getting married soon) please help.

I will try to get all the pictures done by tonight.

petenice02 · October 23, 2011, 11:17:29 AM

I took apart side plates and there were no markings or dates inside. It then took me quite some time to put the side plates back on properly

Have to hold both triggers forward and then squeeze them in...... real pain in the a** . Gun was used quite a bit and is still in exceptional condition for its age. There is a small piece of wood missing on the one side adjacent to the side plate that most of cracked off during use. Also on the top of the barrel it reads Horace Soley Co. LONDON

Still waiting for the woman to come home so she can upload some more pictures.

GunClick Rick · October 23, 2011, 12:28:08 PM

Getting married and shotgun should not ever be used in the same paragraph!

I played Taps on my harmonica at my brothers wedding

Your a brave man! ATTA BOY LUTHER!!!

El Peludo · October 23, 2011, 08:15:30 PM

Take the barrels off and look on the underside near the breech; there should be some markings or stampings there; those would be the proof marks, and on the frame should be some markings or numbers, likely the serial number of the gun. The barrels come off by removing the front handguard; it is held on by a spring catch, or some sort of latching device, there should be a button or a lever, or it will just pop off if you pull down on the front end. After you remove the handguard, simply open the breech and tilt the barrels down and lift them off. If the barrels are painted, scrape away a bit of the paint under the handguard where it wont show, and get a look at the outside of the barrels to see if there is any sign of patterning in the metal. If the gun is in very good condition, no bulges or dents in the barrels, or bends, and the locks work well and the firing pins are good, since it has no provenance of any sort, and that type of gun was produced in huge quantities in many countries, and it has most likely been cut down from a longer piece, it might get you a couple hundred to the right buyer; otherwise, it's a crap shoot; someone might offer you a hundred, depending on the condition.