Reader Forum

I wish I could offer a better answer but at this point your choices are limited to shooting factory loaded lead ammunition until you can find lead shot, or trading for a gun designed to handle steel shot. Break Open Actions Paul Mazan’s "Tightening Break Open Actions" was great! It is nice to read an article about these guns written by someone knowledgeable and enthusiastic about them. I am in the process of refurbishing a HHH (House Hasson Hardware Company) 16 gauge single with a full choke and 32" barrel.

It was first purchased in the early 1900s for $4.50 with a box of shotshells. Stamped on the barrel is, "- PAT. date May 14,1901, SN322774." The gun is still in great condition. I rebrowned the barrel and receiver and refinished the forend and stock in the mid 1960s. It was not fired again until the mid-1980s by my son. The Damascus barrel has deteriorated inside in circles while the outside remains pristine. I would like to clean and preserve the inside of barrel.

Also, the breach lever (surface screw mount) was replaced with a terribly-worked, homemade replacement and I would like to find a proper lever that fits snug. I have a high mechanical aptitude, have been employed in several machine shops in my youth, and have machine experience with mills, lathes, welding, and sheet metal fabrication. Since retiring in 2014 I’ve been learning more gunsmithing. Hugh Author Paul Mazan responds. Thanks for reading and writing in about my article.

I think that most of us that write articles on repairing and restoring these old guns do so out of a love for them and a desire to see them safely used again. Unfortunately, your description of the condition of the inside of the barrels of your shotgun make it unlikely that it will be safe to fire even with light black powder loads. The deterioration of the inside of the barrel in circles is an indication that the softer iron used in the process of making the Damascus has rusted away over the years.

My suggestion would be to restore the gun to a condition that will make it a prized family heirloom and display it proudly. I would include a note on card stock rolled up in the chamber giving the known history of the gun, who owned it, and clearly stating that it is unsafe to fire. That should make it a family treasure to succeeding generations as well as keeping the grandchildren

or great grandchildren safe from trying to shoot it. Replacing the top lever is a difficult proposition. The first hurdle is to find out who made the gun. Many of the "hardware store guns" were made by Crescent Firearms but many were also imported. I searched the Internet and found that House Hasson Hardware is still in business and has a nice nine minute video on the company history you may enjoy at their website, HouseHasson.com. They are located in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Although it is along shot, you might contact them and see if company records indicate who made the guns with their name on them. That information could lead you to a company like Numrich Gun Parts Corporation who might actually have atop lever listed under the name of the manufacturer. You could also take the homemade top lever to gun shows and check with some of the parts vendors and try to locate one that would be usable.

Half the fun of restoring old guns is finding parts that either fit or can be modified to work. Last but by no means least, if you have the tools or are really handy with a file you can try to make the part yourself. Preserving the interior of the barrel is a tricky proposition. The rings you describe would look like the surface of the Moon under magnification. The first step is to remove the rust all the way to the bottom of those pits.

I would start with a good cleaning to remove all the loose rust, dirt, and/or residue from the last time it was shot. I would follow that with a liquid rust and blue remover and follow the instructions for neutralizing it after it has done its job. Then I would use a preservative like Boeshield (Brownells #686- 901-004) that will seal the surface.

The real trick is keeping the rust and blue remover from contacting any of the refinished parts because it will remove that beautiful brown finish you put on the barrel and receiver in a moment. I hope that will help you along the way in preserving this family treasure for generations to enjoy. Once again, thank you for writing and the nice words. I do truly appreciate knowing you enjoyed the article. T. C. Montgomery Paul Mazan’s "Tightening Break Open Actions" was a great article on break open side-hammer guns.

I am particularly interested in learning more about T. C. Montgomery shotguns. Can you point me in the right direction to find out more about these beautiful old guns? Steve Adams Author Paul Mazan responds. The only references to the T. C. Montgomery shotguns I have been able to find are on Google. It appears they were made in the late 1800s by J. P. Clabrough & Bro. They were in business from 1870 until 1893 in England.

It appears they were in business making shotguns in Birmingham and perhaps had a sales office in London. If you remove the barrels you should find English black powder proofs under it. British proofs would be crossed halberds or crossed scepters with a crown. The J. P. Clabrough company would most likely have used the T. C. Montgomery name for their lower grade guns while producing their high grade guns under their own name. That was a fairly common practice at the time as I understand it.

I have not followed up on researching the company any further. Be very careful and have the gun inspected by a gunsmith before attempting to fire it. The barrels are most likely Damascus and would not be safe with any smokeless load and probably not be safe even with black powder loads.

My recommendation with Damascus barreled guns is to hang them on a wall where their beauty and craftsmanship can be admired after placing a note on heavy card stock in the chambers with the notation that the gun is unsafe to fire so that some future owner won’t injure him/ herself. That card can also contain a record of what you learn about the gun and who has owned it. That can make the gun a nice family heirloom if it has been in the family for any length of time. Think of it as a one-gun collection. AG