Shotgun identification

[A Simple South Dakotan]

Hi, first time posting here. I as refered here to figure out what this shotgun might be and im going to just paste what i typed for them.
i recently got a shotgun from my Grandpa for the Holidays, i need some help finding out some stuff on it
basically all i know is...
it was made by GF Stormer(cant find any info on GF Stormer, some help here would be great as well).
its 10 Gauge.
it was my Great Grandpa's hunting shotgun.
it has Damascus Twist barrels
and it says "Charles Daly" on the side.
on the of the hammers broke but still functions, and the stock(which was cut short by my Great Grand Father, I guess he was a short man) is binded with a metal strip to the rest of the gun.

Photos:

 

[oneounceload]

Charles Daly was a marketer of guns made by others - over thew years, some have been made by very reputable firms and some were not. Damascus barrels and the general condition, would seem to make this one a wall-hanger, not a shooter

 

[Jim K]

I seem to recall that at one time there really was a Charles Daly (not the late TV personality), a sportsman who allowed a gun importer to use his name. Since then, the rights to the name have been used by dozens of gun importers, so the name has no meaning any more except as a name.

I suggest removing the barrels and looking on the under side and on the "water table" (the flat part of the frame under the chambers). I think you will find Belgian proof marks like "ELG" in an oval and crowned letters.

That gun looks like a fairly high quality gun, but the condition of the stock makes it unshootable. Besides, I strongly advise against firing any Damascus barrel gun with ANY ammunition. Those barrels were not always strong to begin with and most have weakened over the years.

Also note that the barrels are not locking up tight, yet another reason to retire the old gun to wall hanger status. The brass strip is an old stock repair, common with the hard-kicking 10 gauge.

While the gun appears to have been well made and was once quite attractive, it is no longer usable as a gun, and even if anyone could be found to repair it, the repairs would cost far more than the gun is worth. I would estimate the retail value, as is, at $100 or so; were it in original condition, the value would probably go to $400 or so, still as a collector piece.

Of course, the sentimental and family value make it priceless, far exceeding any possible dollar value.

Jim

 

[JohnBT]

Stormer was a Belgian company in Herzberg. Many of the guns were quite ornate from the little I've seen and date from around the U.S. Civil War.

I have no idea how long they were in business or what C. Daly has to do with it. Yet.

John

 

[JohnBT]

"around 1875, in New York, Charles Daly and August Shoverling began a business importing high-quality firearms into the United States, primarily from the city of Suhl in what was then Prussia. Manufacturers for Daly at that time included Heym, Shiller, H. A. Lindner, Sauer, J&W Tolley of England, Newman (of Belgium and Lefever Arms."

Back to the proof marks, etc.

 

[natman]

Damascus barrels
Loose Damascus barrels
Broken stock.

Time for a spot of honor above the fireplace.

 

[Jim K]

Thanks, JohnBT, I thought he was a real person. Alas, some of the guns later imported with his name have not been of that quality.

If that gun is German, the German proof law was not passed until 1891, so there may not be any proof marks or only company proofs.

Jim

 

[vaupet]

Hi to all,

I found quite a lot of old hunting rifles, mostly drillings, some pistols and some muskets made by GF Störmer in Herzberg on european auction sites.
The city of Herzberg is quite close to Berlin (American standard: less then a 100 miles) and the name Störmer still is common around there.
@ johnbt: Herzberg is about 3 to 400 miles from Belgium, so why do you call this firm "belgian",

greetings

peter