1880 Belgian wallhanger....... (not)

[mike116]

I posted about this old shotgun earlier but the photos were lost to the PhotoBucket fiasco so I'm starting new.  Here's some pics from before I fired it and a couple new ones at the bottom after a few shots with it.   I took it out for a test fire yesterday.



I loaded some new brass shells with a light load of BP and #4 shot,  loaded her up and secured the gun in an old tire.  Then tied a string to the triggers backed up a ways and touched it off one barrel at a time.  2 shots from each barrel and all seemed OK so I removed it from the tire and shot four more through each barrel while firing it normally.  It was great to fire the old thing and see it do as it was intended over 100 years ago. I wish I had loaded more shells and been able to shoot a few more rounds.  This won't be the last time she gets fired.



I found the old box of brass shells in the first two photos at a gun show a couple weeks ago.   I'm not using them in the old shotgun, they are just for lookin at.   
At the same gun show five minutes after I bought the shells and left, one of the vendors accidentally shot a bystander in the leg with an "unloaded" pistol.   I'm glad I left when I did.      http://www.denverpost.com/2017/07/15/adams-county-accidental-shooting-tanner-gun-show/

[Captainkirk]

Nice! I think some old guns are retired way too early.

[mike116]

Every time I see a gun made before 1900 I wonder if I could shoot it.   Due to the cost of even wallhangers these days I don't get many chances at them.   This is a cheap old shotgun that most guys would think probably isn't worth the small amount of money I've spent buying it and getting it shoot.   It's worth it to me though because I just like messing with hundred year old crap.

[mazo kid]

Mike, there are a select few of us who do see the value and fun in these older guns. I am watching a couple of old hammer guns at a local auction. So far, the prices are not too high, but there is still almost 2 weeks before the live bidding.  That box of brass shotshells is military ammo that was issued to soldiers on guard duty.

[G Dog]

Rabbit ear doubles of that era are the high point in shotgun beauty.  The one pictured above is a fine example of just that.  Excellent photos of it, too.

[Hawg]

Love those rabbit ear doubles.

[toot]

what's not to love about them? i think every thing. workmanship, angle of drop, rely classic old time workmanship at it's best!

[valforgettaboutit]

Looks fantastic! I'm a sucker for all things involving brass shells.

[Len]

She's a beauty. The pics are marvelous. I've been looking for something similar for years. You lucky sod!

[toot]

i rely like shooting these old buggers they are a piece of sporting history. and besides i am an old bugger also, 70 ++++, and i am not hung up yet, LOL!!

[toot]

sorry I meant, 76+yrs old.

[mazo kid]

Well, then you are still a kid!

[toot]

mazo kid, thank's for the complement. just wait till you get there, and try to get up in the AM!?and that old saying that AGE IS JUST A #, BS!

[Hawg]

It kills me to see all these guys on modern gun forums that are totally against shooting Damascus barrels.

[ShotgunDave]

It kills me to see all these guys on modern gun forums that are totally against shooting Damascus barrels.

I agree. I got my head torn off and handed to me on another forum, for mentioning that I was going to shoot a Damascus gun at a match. You'd thought I said I was gonna kill my grandmother.