Long tang question
 

Hi
I just got a DH that I am doing some work on and it seems to have an extra long tang on the receiver . Maybe this is common but I have never seen one of these, attached is a picture of it.
Any info on this greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Tom

Are they both 12Gauge?

Look for an aftermarket weld line on the bottom side.

Interesting. What are the frame sizes and serial numbers?

12 gauge
No way this was an add on, I looked closely it's part of the receiver and it's perfectly inletted into what I believe to be an original not messed with stock.
1.5 frame 62, thousand serial.
Thanks, Tom

Look closer. I am sure you will find a joint.

Lengthened tangs are sometimes found and usually not factory.

A letter might help shed light on it. If there is complete information available for one, it should list such a modification if it was done when new.

I cleaned it up real well and looked under a pretty good magnifier and see no evidence of modification .
I will assume since no one has seen this as a stock item it must have been modified, and I must say by a very good welder.

Thanks for the replies, Tom

We need more pictures, close ups of the top and bottom of the tang. It's not uncommon to add more material than needed to aid in grinding/filing down to a smooth joint.

Parker Pages published an article about three years ago on a hammergun with an aftermarket extended top tang and that is the only one I had ever seen until yours today.




.

There was also another hammer gun discussed a while back on this forum along with a hammerless gun. Also, I used to own a back action lifter with an extended upper tang.

All of them aftermarket. Some jobs cruder than others.

A good gunsmith, proficient at gas or TIG welding can add material and dress it down to be virtually impossible to detect with the eye, naked or magnified.
However, a dilute solution of nitric acid, applied across the weld and base metal, will clearly show the weld, heat affected zone, and base metal, as distinct shades.

I guess it's an add on, it's a perfect job. I think what threw me off was the patina on the metal is not disturbed, so I'm guessing this was done many years ago and it all aged the same.
Since this is not original and I really don't care for it I will remove it. If this was an original oddball receiver that would be cool and it would stay, but it's apparently not so it's coming off.
Thanks, Tom

Tom, Little things like this are added character to the gun. Because you said the inlet into the original stock is a good job, I'd leave it alone. It will always be a conversation point. If it were an A grade, maybe even a B grade, it might be a different story, but D grades are relatively common.

I'd leave it too for it's uniqueness.

You would have to fill that vacancy in the stock and that would likely show to some degree.

Edgar
I follow your thinking, and I would but in the bigger picture I just bought this gun and when I got it home and examined it real well I found the stock is broken at the wrist. I took a beating on this purchase. My fault. I glued it up but am not satisfied with the result, so I'm thinking new stock and if I'm going there I might as well make it original.
Thanks, Tom