1902 Lewis, Use or Retire?
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 10:43 am
Hello,
First off, I need to establish that I am not a gun collector, I shoot guns and want to shoot this gun. Upon purchase, the assumption was that this gun was about 40 years old and could handle todays loads, which I now know is not the case (112 years old), and requires special low pressure ammunition. My original intent in purchasing this gun was to have a reliable and durable workhorse. I would use it for yearly game bird hunting and skeet practice. If this gun has collector / retirement value over reliable field use, then I would prefer someone else own the gun and give it due respect…
The Gun... The S/N is 68303 (all numbers match). It is a 12 gauge with 30" barrels. I measured the chambers with a bore mic and they are 0.76" diameter x 3.0612" deep. I have reason to believe that this is not original and now question the integrity of the barrels due to too deep of a chamber any thoughs?
Damage and wear... there are repaired stock cracks on each side of the break action lever. There were a few surface rust spots on the bare exterior metal which have been cleaned with steel wool. The inside of the barrels appear clean and shiny without signs of rust. there is a very slight side-to-side looseness and no up-and-down movement when barrels are locked. The upper rib is soldered firmly at front, but is free to movement along the middle and back. The lower rib is attached at the front but detached along the middle and back. Because the lower rib is detached, visual inspection of the barrel solder reveals solid attachment and appear firm and completely attached. It needs a complete blueing, but that does not effect the "fire" worthiness. If the gun is worth keeping, maybe then a facelift.
Since my original post in the Crass section, I have taken this gun to several gunsmiths, gunshops and experienced gun handlers... none of which have never owned this model. The opinions are evenly split, some say hang it on the wall others say shoot it with low pressure loads. I want to shoot it, but need the opinions of this Ithica group who actually own these.
?? I know this is a subjective question, but can this model shotgun even be worth spending money on to repair, after my purchase price of $125?
First off, I need to establish that I am not a gun collector, I shoot guns and want to shoot this gun. Upon purchase, the assumption was that this gun was about 40 years old and could handle todays loads, which I now know is not the case (112 years old), and requires special low pressure ammunition. My original intent in purchasing this gun was to have a reliable and durable workhorse. I would use it for yearly game bird hunting and skeet practice. If this gun has collector / retirement value over reliable field use, then I would prefer someone else own the gun and give it due respect…
The Gun... The S/N is 68303 (all numbers match). It is a 12 gauge with 30" barrels. I measured the chambers with a bore mic and they are 0.76" diameter x 3.0612" deep. I have reason to believe that this is not original and now question the integrity of the barrels due to too deep of a chamber any thoughs?
Damage and wear... there are repaired stock cracks on each side of the break action lever. There were a few surface rust spots on the bare exterior metal which have been cleaned with steel wool. The inside of the barrels appear clean and shiny without signs of rust. there is a very slight side-to-side looseness and no up-and-down movement when barrels are locked. The upper rib is soldered firmly at front, but is free to movement along the middle and back. The lower rib is attached at the front but detached along the middle and back. Because the lower rib is detached, visual inspection of the barrel solder reveals solid attachment and appear firm and completely attached. It needs a complete blueing, but that does not effect the "fire" worthiness. If the gun is worth keeping, maybe then a facelift.
Since my original post in the Crass section, I have taken this gun to several gunsmiths, gunshops and experienced gun handlers... none of which have never owned this model. The opinions are evenly split, some say hang it on the wall others say shoot it with low pressure loads. I want to shoot it, but need the opinions of this Ithica group who actually own these.
?? I know this is a subjective question, but can this model shotgun even be worth spending money on to repair, after my purchase price of $125?