New life for a rusty 20 gauge?

[gstewart44]

I was at my old BP shootin buddy's house last weekend reminiscing about our cowboy and Rendezvouz matches we used to go to 20+years ago.   He sold off most of his BP pistols but still has his .54 hawken and an Italian percussion sxs 20 g shotgun.  The shotgun hadn't been cleaned or stored very well and has significant rust and pitting on the last half of the barrels.   He said he wanted to chop the barrels down behind the rusting, cut the stock and make a percussion Howdah pistol.     I told him not to be so fast, due to Federal laws.    My question is:     Do the Federal firearms laws pertaining to short barrel modern shotguns also apply to percussion/replica/BP shotguns?     Would it be legal/illegal for him to make his Howdah?   

[Rayfan87]

When in doubt get a letter from the BATFE and state atty general.

[rvtrav]

gsstewart44,
    Before he goes cutting off those barrels, I remebered a neighbor bought a double (ironically a Navy arms 10 gauge muzzle loader) it had been shot a few times and then put away dirty for years.
  The barrels were caked and crusted rust on the inside. he chucked a cleaning rod and a home made steel wool bore sized brush into an electric drill, eventually it all worked out, they shined and smoothed right up.
  Some years later, He wanted a gun that I had, and I had an interest in the navy arms 10. he felt obligated to tell me the story before we made the deal. It works great, patterns just fine, and you could never tell how bad those barrels were by looking at them now.
  He may really want a howda pistol, but with a little work the 20 gauge is likley salvagable. And there would be no chance of "legal" ramifications by keeping it original.
 Rvtrav
   
   

[Semisane]

A caplock shotgun is not a "firearm" under Federal gun laws.  So regulations pertaining to the barrel length of firearms or modification of firearms do not apply.

I certainly would not cut it though.  Even with badly pitted bores it will likely shoot just fine and will be a much more useful gun than an Howda (which isn't good for much more than novelty shooting - my opinion of course).  Not that novelty shooting isn't a worthwhile pursuit.   

[coyotejoe]

I agree, the howdah pistol is just a cute toy, besides which a cut off shotgun stock would not make a decent pistol grip and would be very awkward to handle, it would need to be completely restocked to be useable at all.

[gstewart44]

Thanks all  - I am going to print up the replies and send them to my friend and give him a good bore brush on the cleaning rod - see if he can make the insides shine again.     And I'll ask him when does he expect to go tiger hunting....    he really doesn't need a Howdah....

[keith44]

and if your friend doesn't want to mess with it, mail it to me.  It may make a good parts gun. (parts of the time it shoots quail, parts of the time it shoots rabbits) 

[Forestclimber]

A 20 gauge shotgun bronze brush with steel wool wrapped around it and solvent works well.
Cut off an old shotgun cleaning rod and put it in a drill.  If you have a bore guide, use it.  I wouldn't write off the gun until you shoot it.