Most reasonablesized gun shops in South Africa usually have a vintage shotgun or two lurking on the shelves. Almost invariably, these guns are side-by-sides, often considerably older than the shop owners themselves. Therefore, it goes without saying that condition – not only general condition but also the question of whether a particular gun is safe to shoot or not – is of paramount importance to the would-be buyer of such a vintage shotgun.
Having done a fair bit of trading in vintage shotguns over the years and having a few very knowledgeable friends, I have developed a few pointers for evaluating a gun before taking out the chequebook. These pointers have often come in handy when evaluating a vintage gun. It is usually not too difficult to stave off potential disaster or a bad investment, provided you know what to look for, that is.
BARRELS FIRST AND FOREMOST
The first and foremost consideration should be the barrels – study them very closely! There should be no serious dents or pits. Excessive looseness or play between the barrels and the action is often a definite no-no as well. The problem with corrosion, especially pitting, is that it is often impossible to determine the depth of the damage. The laws of physics being what they are, a pit mark is, therefore, the ideal place for a disastrous breach of the integrity of the barrels to occur. Seriously pitted barrels should thus be avoided.
The same goes for badly dented barrels. With the help of a dent-raiser, a good gunsmith can repair minor the barrels of your potential acquisition but to look closely them.
