Barrel disaster question

[Virginia Hessler]

Hi
I'm looking at a gun that I'm guessing someone wanted to open up the choke on. It appears they drove an oversized mandrel down the first inch and a half of the barrel, it swelled the end of the barrel getting rid of the choke. To make matters worse it appears to have been a hexagon mandrel so it's not only swollen but has the lines pushing out even further. I feel that just trying to hammer the metal back would be sloppy I'm pretty sure it must be stretched and not sure of the result.

I like the gun and it is a high grade, short of chopping the barrels I'm not sure how I would handle this. I do not have any pictures, I am only looking at it I won't buy it unless I can come up with a good plan to restore it.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Thank you, Tom

[Brian Dudley]

It may be something that Merrigton or Briley may be able to repair properly. But it will likely mean taking the barrels apart in order to do the required work.

[Mike Franzen]

I'm interested to hear what the experts have to say about this. On a lighter note you could claim it is a Parker Paradox gun and question if this isn't "factory".

[John Campbell]

Sounds like yet another product of the garage gunsmith.

But a lot depends on your term "high grade." If it's a DH or above, it might be worth fixing. If the damage isn't too severe. And Kirk Merrington would be the only person I'd trust with the repair... which would cost about $1000 with reblack I'd guess. Maybe a bit more.

The good news is that you can possibly use this flaw to get the gun cheap.

[Dean Romig]

Once you own the gun I would recommend you try to find another set of suitable barrels that can be properly fitted to the gun. I don't believe you'll ever be able to put choke back into the original barrels and still be able to shoot it for years to come.

[Virginia Hessler]

Thanks guys
It's over I passed on it. The price was not discounted enough to take the gamble on this. And as was mentioned the barrels may never be right.
Tom

[Bill Murphy]

How high a grade?

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Yes, was it a dollar grade or a graded gun? Gary

[Virginia Hessler]

It was a C, but considering the work to be done I don't think it was a bargain.

Tom

[Jeff Christie]

Too bad. C's are really nice. Shade tree gunsmiths should be hung.