Help Grading and ballpark value

[stumpstalker]

Pardon me if you are well aware of this, but when you say, “The inner barrels are in good shape!”, I have some concern that you may be looking at shiny-smooth inner barrel walls that may have been aggressively honed to remove superficial corrosion and/or deeper pitting.

Add my voice to those who advise that you have a qualified person measure the minimum barrel wall thickness of that very appealing and high-condition vintage gun before anyone shoots it.

[Devon Dwinnell]

I’m not planning on shooting it any time soon and I have inspected and had a gun smith inspect the inner barrel and they are in quite good condition as is the rest of the gun. The smith informed me that there would not be any issue firing it with the proper pressure loads. My concern is grading and valuing the firearm.

[Dean Romig]

You can order a research letter through this forum if you wish. The letters are priced at $100 each for Forum Associates but only $40 each for PGCA Members who pay $40 annually.

A letter will tell you the ‘dollar quality’ of your gun but you have already been told that it is the equivalent of the Grade 1, however the numerical and letter grading system had yet to be developed.





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[Devon Dwinnell]

Indeed and I appreciate the help in grading it from all of you.

[Drew Hause]

It is a high condition gun. I believe with the straight stock, checkering, border engraving and Twist barrels it would be a $75 grade.
1874 Price List



This is another Plain Twist lifter in much lower condition
https://www.gunsinternational.com/gu...n_id=102415781

Value is significantly related to whether the gun can be used, which requires answers to these questions:
1. What are the chamber lengths?
2. Does the gun have step chambers as Dean suggested, or short forcing cones?
3. What do the bores measure?
4. What are the end of chamber, 9" and minimum wall thicknesses (and location thereof)
5. Does the gun have chokes and if so what are the constrictions?
Please check with your gunsmith and we could be of much more help with that information.
BTW: what shell pressure did the gunsmith say would be appropriate?

[Devon Dwinnell]

Thank you very much! I will look into getting these answers.

[Bill Murphy]

Devon, about one in a hundred people who call themselves "gunsmiths" own the measuring tools that are necessary to proclaim your gun safe to fire. It sounds like your gunsmith looked down your barrels, saw a shiny surface, and proclaimed it safe to fire. That is about all most gunsmiths can do. It is not enough.