buze Posted October 3, 2016 Report Share Posted October 3, 2016 Another family gun came my way; Marked Hillsdon, Folkstone 1910 Hammer gun, damascus barrels (silver, nor brown) the checkering on the forend is worn somehow, but the rest of the gun appears 'new'. The barrel insides are so clean they look completely new, the checkering on the stock is perfect. Wood isn't spectacular but it has a head of a stag(?) on the bottom of the stock. Definitely not nitro proofed, as far as I can see... Action/hammers looks like they are still blacked but they might need a bit of polish to get the sheen out; there might have been a bit of corrosion in a few small places, but minor stuff... barrels come with fitted felted inserts, which might explain how they kept this good all these years! Worth saving/proofing/shooting or is this just too much trouble? AFAIK it /could/ have come from great-grandfather but the origin is lost in time now... I'll take/post pics tomorrow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Coincidently, I was at a local private gunsmith yesterday who was working on a Hillsdon of Folkestone hammer gun. It was a lovely looking back action, rebounding locks and steel barrels. The top rib was marked 'The Featherweight Gun'. The barrels had clearly been cut down I would have thought from 30 inch and are now 26 inch. Look forward to seeing pictures of your gun. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin55 Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 I had a Russell Hillsdon 26" sbs from when they/he was based in Chichester K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buze Posted October 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Here some gun p0rn :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Looks in nice condition. Get a gunsmith to look at the wall thickness and make a recommendation on proofing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.C Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Buze youre a lucky chap, thats quite a collection youre putting together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzzicat Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 I would stick with black powder it,s what the gun was built to shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 must say i do like that "nieve" style of engraving........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckandswing Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Those barrels gave me a twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buze Posted October 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Well keeping it as black powder is an option; the guy at the shop said that yes the cartridges are expensive, but it's not like a slab isn't going to last for quite a while; it's not like I'm going to do skeet rounds with it ;-) And yes, I'm lucky; Gradfather was a complete nerd, and had quite a few cool toys -- the guns are pretty much the only one the family kept; all the others (cameras, cars etc) have vanished by now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iano Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 I know nothing about them, but it looks like there was some serious workmanship there. Love the damascus barrel If safe to use, could be nice for the occasional field shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Scelp type barrels and cartridges at approx. £25/box you might want to think very carefully before using her in anger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feltwad Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 A good looking gun with damascus twist barrels ,if proofed looking at the work having the gun prepared and proofed will most likely cost more than the gun is worth ,if the gun is sound and tight at the breech with good bore and wall thickness I would leave it black powder proof.Has for black powder cartridges it would be best to load your own using a load for a 12bore 2.1/2case of 2.3/4 drms of meduim powder to 1.1/8 oz shot always use card and felt wads ,never use plastic wads it will ruin your gun. Feltwad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buze Posted October 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Scelp type barrels and cartridges at approx. £25/box you might want to think very carefully before using her in anger Could you elaborate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin55 Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 According to "Vintage Guns" https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vintage-Guns-Modern-Diggory-Hadoke/dp/1873674902 Skelp was used for lower-priced guns "but perfectly serviceable" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzzicat Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 Skelp or "Sham Dam" was a cheap way of making a gun that looked damascus but was of a much poorer quality, they do not look like it to me, you could load using pyrodex I think,or go the explosives licence route but either way, enjoy using her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunman Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 (edited) The 1910 does not look to be the same engraving as the rest of the name . I would have dated the gun as 1890'ish . I would also look closely at the action bridge as it appears in the photos to have weld scars on either side and as its an underlever I am surprised that the bridge has been undercut /relieved . But thats an opinion based on looks only . Edited October 4, 2016 by Gunman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 (edited) I agree that scelp barrels were perfectly serviceable - but a hundred years on and having been fed BP?? Scelp is not "sham dam" - sham dam is constructed by welding sheet steel lengthways then covering the result with a thin layer of genuine Damascus - scelp is a single twist of metal/s running the length of the tubes. Edited October 4, 2016 by bruno22rf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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