thinking of sawing off an old Damascus Shotgun

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Forge welding isn't always a guaranteed method of welding either. The pressure has to be consistant, and the heat has to be right. That's my opinion of why I don't think damascus barrels are pretty safe.

 

[Pete D.]

Cutting

I say go for it. It's your toy. I did the same thing with an over/under 12ga that I picked up for $100 (along with a 410SxS) and was in bad shape cosmetically. So I did what made me happy and chopped it down to just over 18.5"
Do it and be happy.

That picture - I have a Savage 430 O/U that looks much like that (yours is fancier). I cut it down some years ago. I have regretted doing so many times since.
Just to show that mileage may vary.
Pete

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Well why cut it down to 18½" to meet the Federal requirement instead of deactiviation of the actual action, and then cut it down to a sawed-off shotgun that would be legal? Removal of the firing pins would not "deactivate" the gun, and cutting the action most certainly would, but is "cutting" the only method, or is it very simple and very common so folks only think about it as an option? Does the law require such an action to be "deactivated" or does it require it to be rendered so far past usable that you would need to replace the action, instead of machining the action, to make it shootable?

I ask, for IF you removed the firing pins, and had a local welder arc-weld the location where the pins are inserted, that would "deactivate" the reciever no? I don't know your design, but my great grandad's LC Smith with external hammers has a pair of firing pins that are fitted by inserting them into small chambers drilled into the reciever, and secured by a tiny side screw. They just float in there, and rest on the primers of the shells if the gun was loaded.

Removal of the firing pins and welding those two chambers closed, and welding over the spot where the pins protruded into the actual barrel chambers, would mean that drilling and machining would be necessary to "convert" a non-firing gun back into a gun. Would this not suffice, and would it not then allow you actually cut your clunker into something very interesting, that would not shoot?

More informed folks than I will probably know the actual law, or where to direct folks like me to the actual law to learn more, I am sure.

LD

 

[303tom]

I've got this old Janssen & Sons side-by-side with external hammers, and it's useless to me as a functional gun, and I'm not a "wall hanger" kind of guy. I am, however, a "conversation starter" kind of guy, so I was thinking of sawing this thing off. I've read that 18" is the minimum, but cut at 18.5 to be safe.

I remember hearing that Damascus barrels come apart like a spring if you try to cut them... any wisdom on that?

Also, any thoughts on if I take the firing pins out of it (it'll never be safe to shoot anyway), does it still qualify as a "gun"?

I think you are nuts, but it is not my gun. Hey Ill tell you what, you said the gun shop said they would give you 20 buck, I will give you $60.00 & pay for the shipping.

 

[sixshooter]

I think Loyalist Dave has the idea of my original thoughts about this gun. I'm still not sure where I'm going with it.

303tom - what's your interest? Are you into old shotguns, or do you just not want me to butcher one badly enough that you'd buy it from me?

 

[rbernie]

Man, I just would NOT be cutting and shooting through old Damascus barrels - I like my fingers and eyes a little bit too much for that sort of thing...

 

[303tom]

I think Loyalist Dave has the idea of my original thoughts about this gun. I'm still not sure where I'm going with it.

303tom - what's your interest? Are you into old shotguns, or do you just not want me to butcher one badly enough that you'd buy it from me?

Just don`t want you to butcher one badly enough that I would buy it from you & give you 3 times what the gun shop offered !

 

[sixshooter]

rbernie - not planning to shoot it... ever. Part of the motivation for hacking it up

303tom - that's funny! I appreciate your passion!

 

[fatcat4620]

Nooooooooo.............