Family Heirloom to be preserved.

K

kjm

New member
Background: We have a side by side shotgun (I don't recall the make) that is over 100 years old in our family. The barrel is damascus, so I cannot shoot it, but I am interested in methods of preservation of this piece of family history. It is a beautiful shotgun that still functions mechanically.

What methods are recommended for the preservation of a shotgun of this nature?
 
We have a side by side shotgun (I don't recall the make) that is over 100 years old in our family.

If it were mine I would try to find out as much history as possible before it was all lost. Other than that, I would take it down to "parade rest" and clean and oil it . Put it back together and have a family heirloom.
 
Hank, preservation parallels the regular maintenance that you would do if the firearm were a user. In fact, you don't want to do something that might alter the gun. That would destroy its authenticity.

I suggest that you clean it well using conventional techniques, put a good rust preservative grease on it like RIG (lightly), put a coat of wax on the stock, and display the gun proudly. Reclean and recoat yearly.
 
Harley,
I don't have the shotgun here, but next time I am at g'ma's I will be sure to get the information to look it up. It is such a beautiful gun. Thanks for the offer.

OK, when you coat the stock with wax, what is the proceedure? Should I strip any of the old stuff off the stock? The Stock is pretty much a black color I presume from oils or whatever they used back then.

If I had a digital camera I would photograph it. A picture is worth a thousand words!
 
Birchwood Casey makes a gunstock wax that has instructions with it. Go very lightly with it and then buff it with a soft cloth.
 
If the stock is just plain dirty, as many are on the old guns, you can try cleaning with soap and hot water, but keep it on the surface, and don't let it soak in or get under the metal.

With care, you can clean the stock without removing the original finish, which was probably a varnish.

Those old guns were often kept on the wall above a fireplace, mainly for decoration by that time, and if the fireplace was in use the guns got filthy.

Jim
 
I have conserved a couple of old guns, the most recent being a SA 1884 Trapdoor that was on the wall of a barn for the last 50 years. The wax I use is Renaissance, expensive but right (about $30 for 7 oz.). It is a micro-crystalline wax specifically designed to provide long-term protection to wood and metal. Do not oil the gun after cleaning, but give it a light coat of wax paying special attention to corners and sharp edges.
For cleaning, I use fine bronze wool with WD-40 (sparingly), then wipe with a dry cloth. This is only to remove the surface dirt and rust. This must be done very gently so as not to disturbe the old patina on the gun or any of the original finish.
If the gun is particularly collectable, and appears to never have been "detail stripped", I do not dissamble it. Otherwise, I completly dissamble it for cleaning and preservation. In cases where there appears to be internal corrosion, I might resort to vibratory cleaning the part in crushed walnut shells, then wipe clean, wax and reassemble.
I shy away from "restorations", as I think the results look like old guns that have been scrubbed, varnished, and reblued. That may be fine for guns used by "re-enactors" or that will be shot in "old-time" or "antiques" matches, but for family heirlooms or collectables, the less you do the better. Lean toward preventing further decay and away from achiving the NIB look.
Hope this helps...

John R
Seneca, MD
 
Another vote for Renaissance Wax. It was developed by the British Museum and is PH neutral so it won't harm your gun. Be sure it's clean before you apply it. Afterwards, temperature control & humidity control to prevent the wood from expanding and contracting. Keep both as constant as possible.
 
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