sign216
Member
A relative in Kentucky found a gun receiver+barrel during clean up of an old house. They sent me pictures, but I can't identify it. Any ideas?
Identification of Vintage Gun
- Thread starter sign216
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tark
Member
A little more info would help. Is it a rifle or a shotgun? How large is the bore? Judging from your first pic, it looks like the muzzle end of a .410 shotgun. Does it have a bead at the muzzle or any evidence that there was one? Did it have a rear sight?
We need more info.
We need more info.
sign216
Member
Tark,
My relative is far away, knows nothing about firearms, and can't tell a shotgun from a rifle from a Buck Rogers ray-gun. Here is one more photo, and that is all I have. They report that the only marking is the numeral "55" on the bottom of the receiver.
I agree, it does look like a shotgun, esp a 410. I am hoping someone can recognize the weird receiver, which looks too complicated for your average 410.
My relative is far away, knows nothing about firearms, and can't tell a shotgun from a rifle from a Buck Rogers ray-gun. Here is one more photo, and that is all I have. They report that the only marking is the numeral "55" on the bottom of the receiver.
I agree, it does look like a shotgun, esp a 410. I am hoping someone can recognize the weird receiver, which looks too complicated for your average 410.
D.B. Cooper
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Definitely a shotgun. Thin-walled muzzle and absolutely no evidence of their ever having been rifling there. Almost certainly .410. That lever, above the trigger, exposes the breech, so that indicates some sort of single-shot, breech loading mechanism. Beyond that, difficult to know.
sign216
Member
DB Cooper (interesting name),
Yes, I see it now. So it has a hing mechanism like an old trapdoor Springfield. Perhaps a Belgium product, or other small producer out there?
Joe
Yes, I see it now. So it has a hing mechanism like an old trapdoor Springfield. Perhaps a Belgium product, or other small producer out there?
Joe
PRD1
Member
The action is a Warnant type, commonly used on inexpensive (usually Belgian-made) arms. They were made for various rimfire calibers, and, without an accurate measurement, my guess is that this one is chambered for the 9mm rimfire shot cartridge. The action is definitely not strong enough to be safe with modern .410 ammunition.
PRD1 - mhb - MIke
PRD1 - mhb - MIke
I've seen an action like that on a parlor gun. Something like this.
@PRD1 may be correct on the action type name. All that I have seen are Belgium made and could be for parlor rounnds in 22, 32, or 9mm rimfire.
Here is a link to a completed GB auction for something similar. You'll need an account to see the completed auction though you can sesrch Gunbroker for Flobert or Parlor Gun.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/951864072
@PRD1 may be correct on the action type name. All that I have seen are Belgium made and could be for parlor rounnds in 22, 32, or 9mm rimfire.
Here is a link to a completed GB auction for something similar. You'll need an account to see the completed auction though you can sesrch Gunbroker for Flobert or Parlor Gun.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/951864072
sign216
Member
PRD and Johnm,
Thank you. I've never heard of the Warnant action, but it makes sense, and fits the picture. You're probably right that it's a Flobert rimfire in 9mm or 32, maybe even a centerfire .44 shotshell.
Thank you. I've never heard of the Warnant action, but it makes sense, and fits the picture. You're probably right that it's a Flobert rimfire in 9mm or 32, maybe even a centerfire .44 shotshell.
The Flobert/parlor guns are an interesting variant. In 22 they are still firable with 22 BB caps (no powder, primer fired). Lord knows most everything else collectable is expensive, these can be found for reasonable prices. I personally like to fire my sruff so I'd be looking for the 22 versions. You'd have to go to pretty good machinations to get a 9mm or 44 shotshell to fire. A 32 Flobert could probably be made to fire with the 32 rimfire case adapters that use nailgun blanks offset in a case. Might be able to reform those to fire 9mm. Again, some machinations.
Some of the parlor guns were finely made and could be collectable no matter the caliber. And not everyone is like me and need to fire every firearm they own.
Some of the parlor guns were finely made and could be collectable no matter the caliber. And not everyone is like me and need to fire every firearm they own.
Jim Watson
Member
OP appears to have an internal hammer, a refinement on the common Warnant Flobert.
It has a bar on the LH side that appears to cock the hammer. That's quite a refinement. It doesn't look any stronger than a common Flobert, so shouldn't be fired with modern ammo.
PRD1
Member
The bar seen on the left side appears to be the shank of the extractor, which is cammed-back by the opening and raising of the breechblock. It also looks like the extractor is supported by extensions on both sides of the action: the opening and closing studs are visible on the right side shank. If the action has an internal hammer (and it does look like it has), it seems likely that the hammer would be cocked when the breech is opened: the block appears to have a separate and pivoted 'tail' (the grooved extension) which would perform the cocking function when raised. OP: can you verify that the breechblock works in that way?
PRD1 - mhb - MIke
PRD1 - mhb - MIke
sign216
Member
PRD and all,
I can't check. It's hundreds of miles away, and in the hands of relatives who don't know which end of the barrel goes downrange.
I want to thank everyone for solving this puzzle. It's an interesting action. Too bad the orig. stock got broken or misplaced. Judging from the muzzle, I'm guessing it's a 9mm RF, which limits it's usefulness.
Joe
I can't check. It's hundreds of miles away, and in the hands of relatives who don't know which end of the barrel goes downrange.
I want to thank everyone for solving this puzzle. It's an interesting action. Too bad the orig. stock got broken or misplaced. Judging from the muzzle, I'm guessing it's a 9mm RF, which limits it's usefulness.
Joe
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