Old Shotgun safe to fire?

[cg21]

My grandmother gave me an Essex smooth bore single shot 12g .... it’s not rusted or pitted wood looks well loved. I have never fired a gun this old is there anything I should look at before shooting? Was either my great great grandfather or one more great on top of that. She didn’t give me much info on it I will be asking her again about the history of it. I would like to take it out hunting if it is useable.

 

[Bigtanker]

Depending on when it was made, it may be a black powder gun. Those are iffy with modern ammo.

 

[ru44mag]

Google Damascus shotgun barrel. Look at the pictures, and determine if that is what you have. If it is, you do not want to shoot modern shells through it. Having a qualified gunsmith look at it is always a good idea.

 

[Wolfhound]

Essex was a rebranded name for guns manufactured for a hardware (Belnap?) store chain. They were really made by H&R, Crescent and J Stevens. There should be a patent date on it. Pictures would be nice.

 

[Mongo59]

Essex is a trade name for the guns sold by Belnap Hardware in Louisville, Ky. They were actually made by Cresent Arms and others and are commonly referred to as "hardware guns". Most (if not all) were made with fluid steel barrels but having it looked at by a good smith is the logical way to go. There are other factors than make of barrel like length of chamber. Chambers were not standardized to 2 3/4 inches until the late 1920's. This one could be older. Simply sticking a shell in does not prove a thing as a 2.75 unfired will easily fit in a 2 9/16 or 2 5/8's chamber but when fired the end of the shell cannot freely open and cause high chamber pressures and barrel failure even in a new gun.

I would guess you are from the southern part of the state since your family had an Essex. If you have a problem finding a smith to check it, just ask.

 

[Dead Duck]

Very important has been said above. If you shoot modern shells in a "Black Power" shotgun, it could be bad for you..... and the gun.

I have a couple old side by sides. Yes modern shells fit but it took those old brass shells with a black powder charge.
I do however use it to shoot fun modern shells like blanks, bird scare, dragon's breath, flares, etc...

 

[cg21]

Here it is nothing fancy. I cannot find a patent date.

 

[Wolfhound]

Nice old scattergun. Brownell's makes chamber gauges or you can use a wooden dowel possibly. Just remember the chamber length is with the shell fired. So a 2 3/4 shell is around 2 1/2 unfired. So don't use a shell to measure the chamber. A 2 3/4 shell will usually fit in a 2 1/2 chamber and is not safe to fire. (As Mongo covered.)

 

[Mongo59]

Looks like a Cresent Arms to me. Google "cresent arms single barrel 12" and look at pics.

I'd bet you have a good shooter there, but have it checked to be safe.

 

[TJ Kackowski]

If this shotgun is anything like my old H&R single shot, the firing pin is free foating. Sometimes this condition would cause me to apply a little extra pressure to get the action closed on a new shell. I didn't like this, so my fix was to install 2 coils of a Bic pen spring ... voila ... a rebounding firing pin. YMMV, and keep in mind that it took several attempts to find the correct number of coils to allow proper operation.

 

[AmmoManAaron]

If you are in the Indy area, I have a 12ga chamber gauge. It would take about 3 seconds to discover what chamber length you have.

 

[bobjones223]

If you are in the Indy area, I have a 12ga chamber gauge. It would take about 3 seconds to discover what chamber length you have.

 

[LazyL0228]

I would take to a gunsmith to check it out and could tell you more about these old guns I hope. My smith is very helpful in older guns a is always will to test fire if safe if he will shoot it I will.

 

[drillsgt]

Is it from Shootrite?

 

[Thor]

As long as you're using the correct shell/powder for what it was designed to use it should be fine. People are still shooting German Jaeger rifles from before the revolutionary war...

 

[Max Volume]

Not only could the chamber be reamed for 2.5 instead of 2.75 inch shells you must think about the steel used in the older ones. They can be made for smokeless powder but only light loads. I was thinking about buying an old Ithaca Flues from the early 1900's and even though smokeless was around you need to watch the loads. RSTShells provides shells for some of those oolder shotguns.

 

[natdscott]

I have much the same shotgun in "Washington" brand.

It digests what I ask it to digest, which has included heavy field loads, and it does just fine.

Just be careful with the hammer, and don't drop it. Same as an older SA revolver or lever gun with no transfer block or "half cock".