Help IDing/more info

[FoxintheHenHouse]

It does look like a rebarrel, to 16 gauge, to me also. If you don't have any way to measure the bore, at least get a choke gauge to check the chokes, which may help tell you which gauge it is.

FoxintheHenHouse

[R.R.]

Well,
I just thought that it would be a simple first test to rule out a 16....
as I have never owned one that would fit a dime...
Perhaps they exist.
But if it is a 12 to 16 conversion barrel, you may be right...
Despite the chamber sizing, the bore size and chokes are really unidentifiable.....
And that would be why I asked if the 'poster' had a caliper or rule.
Despite the decent pictures, it would clear up much of the speculation.
As far as the 12 ga, the dime test is useless... period.

[MARSHFELLOW]

I would suspect the best test would be a nice new plastic shotgun shells.... in the breeches.
You have gotten very very good info from knowledgeable people from long distance.... by all conventional & factual wisdom its a 12ga gun. Perhaps rebarreled?

[FoxintheHenHouse]

Just curious, have you found out what gauge Fox you have yet? It's been about 10 days or so, you must live quite a ways from someone with any kind of knowledge of shotguns.

FoxintheHenHouse

[X-Factor]

Hey everyone I know its been almost a year since I last posted, for which I apologize. I very much appreciate the help I was given and wasn't trying to argue as much as reconcile what I was seeing with what I was being told...like telling me the sky was green. I still have not found - though I recently found a lead to - a proper smith/expert to take the gun to for further inspection.

This morning, while showing the piece to my Fiancee who hadn't seen it, I tried again to chamber a basic plastic 12 ga shell. After some wiggling I did manage to get it to at least chamber though it was a tricky affair; the base rim nearly grazed the rear face. To my mind this settles the debate about gauge assuming it's absolutely impossible to chamber a 12ga shell into a 16 or 20ga breech.

Hopefully I'll be able to get it to the expert (IE gun shop owner) this next week. I noticed he had a nearly indentical one on his rack for sale, though a shorter barrel and a 20ga I believe.

And no, I do not have ready access to authorities on older firearms.

Again, apologies on the late reply and resistance to help before.

[callaojoe]

It's got a 12ga serial number, and looks like a 12ga to me..... DOM of 1931, according to this.
https://www.doublegunshop.com/dgsnos1.htm

I'd take it to a reputable gunsmith, get it all checked out then take it hunting, or shooting clays.

Looks to be in excellent shape, and I do love a 30" 12ga SxS.

[X-Factor]

It's got a 12ga serial number, and looks like a 12ga to me..... DOM of 1931, according to this.
https://www.doublegunshop.com/dgsnos1.htm

I'd take it to a reputable gunsmith, get it all checked out then take it hunting, or shooting clays.

Looks to be in excellent shape, and I do love a 30" 12ga SxS.

Walks like a duck talks like a duck....

At least get it checked out. Not sure I want to shoot it but probably should just to verify it does. I so rarely get to go shooting anymore...barely shoot enough to stay competant for work.

Thanks for the input. I, like my late father, keep her tucked away in a closet.

I also inherited (but is still at mom's because I haven't had a proper place to display it) a fantastic child's size Kentucky style long rifle. Researching THAT is baffling to say the least. It was kept hanging over the fireplace. An odd visual considering the man - an intellectual attorney with little to do with the outdoors. Prized possessions, both.

[callaojoe]

Kentucky rifle will be a lot harder to find information on, unless there are some unique identifying marks on barrels, lock, etc.....

They were made by just about anyone, anywhere. Heck, even I made one a few years back.

You could post pics of it on the American LongRifles site, those guys can often tell you something just by look'n at pics of the rifle.. Various schools of builders, etc, etc.

They have an Antique Firearms collecting forum, would be a good place to ask.

I made the mistake of posting pics of rifle I made once.... Got called out for using a germanic lock on a Southern Mountain rifle, but hey i was building the rifle for me, and wasn't trying to historically replicate someone else's rifle.