!!!Single shot 16ga. loose lock up help!!!

[younggunz82]

Hey guys, just need to get a bit of input and a possible solution. First alittle back ground on me, I'am in now way a gunsmith. More of a D.I.Y. guy with a strong mechanical background. With that said heres the deal.

A friend came to me with his Father-in-laws old Crescent Arms single shot 16ga. the gun has a rather nice patina to it and the bore is in rather nice shape. I'm not sure what he wants to do with the gun as I advised him NOT too shoot it(as its more than likely chambered for 2 9/16" shells).

An issue he may want to correct if he plans to display this gun is the barrel lock up is rather loose at the breech and there is a rather good size gap(from the up/down play in the lock up) I realize its possible to add a small tig weld to the lock and reshap it for a tighter lock up, but if he just wants to display the peice is there a easier way to achieve this??

Any and all comments are welcome!!

1911-2011 !!100yrs and still going strong!! I think JMB did something right!!

 

[GURU1911]

Recommendation

If he wants to make it a wall-hanger, then leave it alone. If he wants a shooter, ship the whole she-bang to "briley manufacturing" in houston, texas for repairs. They are shotgun specialists & can fix the problem with the breech lock-up.

Guru1911

 

[Goatwhiskers]

Early in my checkered career I used to tighten those up by knocking out the pivot pin, then clamping the barrel and frame together and reaming the hole with a slightly tapered reamer and driving in a matching tapered pin. Then the pin had to be cut to length and the ends finished, sometimes including refinishing the whole frame of the gun. In these times it ain't worth the customer's money or my time to refurbish these old timers, besides, as you said the chances are that it's got a short chamber and it sure isn't worth doing chamber work. Tell him to hang it on the wall as is, and maybe cut off the firing pin to keep others from shooting it. Here endeth the epistle. Goatwhiskers the Elder