external hammer shotguns

[JBlk]

Do any of you collect and shoot old hammer doubles.Over the years I have owned many of them and always enjoyed the crisp locks and the beauty of their construction.My budgets never allowed me to own the Parkers, Ithicas,LeFeavers
or other fine quality shotguns, but I have owned many of the old guns that were sold through the catalogs.

[Graybeard]

Not me, I'm not that nostalgic. I prefer more modern guns without external hammers on my shotguns. I have had a few but just never cared for them.

[pastorp]

I'm a double lover but not realy hammer doubles. My nephew did give me a parker with hammers for my birthday this year. I like the feel but it has demascus barrels so I am undecided about shooting it. Even if I do shoot it I doubt I would ever hunt with it.

Regards,

[JBlk]

Pastorp, the Parker was a very well made shotgun that many collectors seek today.I would urge you to have it examined by a competent gunsmith to see if it is servicable.I have fired many blackpowder rounds through my old doubles that I have reloaded and harvested many rabbits, quail and phesants.The beauty of the old damascus barrels has always been something that I have admired.The side by side double barrel was made by craftsmen that no longer survive, yet their product lingers on.Like the steam engines they have become a thing of the past that our Grandchildren will never have the opportunity to experience.

[JBlk]

Greybeard, Yep I like side by side hammer doubles,two cylinder John Deeres, Model Ts, blacksmithing and a host of other things from the past.I have harvested my share of game with modern type weapons but enjoy it more with the old timers.When you down three teal on the rise with the old model 10 Remington it adds a certain luster to the hunt that I don't experience with the 1100.When I look at the run of tempering colors still visable on the pump action rod of the old model 10 it tells me that a real craftsman made this weapon.The older I get, the more I enjoy the things that are becoming rarer by the day.

[HammerMan/LongbowMan]

I love hammer guns.  That is all I shoot, if you count the h&r single shot a hammer gun too.  I've been looking for a bernardelli in 12, 16, and 20 gauge.  Right now I have a Stevens 235 12 gauge that I'm shooting, but I always liked the splinter forearms and straight grips of the english style guns better.  I'm not much for the American style of doubles with the bigger forearms and fat pistol grip butstock.  Fausti makes a nice looking hammer that I'm interested in, but I haven't found anyone that sells them in the USA.  I also emailed Fausti about them and the only thing they emailed me was that they would be at a show on the east coast and that I could come look at them.  So much for trying to make a sale.  It would have been nice to know prices and where to buy one.  Oh well, long live hammer guns .

[JBlk]

I bought a 235 at an auction recently but it has a dent in the left barrel and the previous owner had removed the hammer from that side.The barrels are in pretty good shape except for the dent.The gun locks up tight and I am looking forward to get it in shooting shape.

[Questor]

I can't recall how many tales of accidental firings I've read from old guns of that type. Evidently they are prone to it.

Most of the guns I use do have external hammers, though, but they are modern guns, like T/C Contender and Encore, revolvers, and 1911.

[JBlk]

I really don't beleive that external hammer guns are any more dangerous than internal hammer guns.Accidents usually are not caused by the weapon but rather the user.You can glance at a hammer gun and tell if its cocked, but its hard to look at a saftey and tell if its engaged.