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Old August 14, 2001, 11:05 AM   #1
CANIS
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W.C Scott ?

I have an opportunity to get a W.C. Scott Hammered 12 ga. Double sidelock in good mechanical condition and fair bores. I have searched the internet and found most of these guns to be fairly high priced. The barrels have been shortened to approx. 20" but appears to have been done well.

Can anyone tell me about this company and their shotguns?

I'm picking this thing up for what seems to be a really nice trade!

Are even the serviceable "beaters" worth quite a few bucks?

TIA

canis
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Old August 14, 2001, 11:39 AM   #2
PJR
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ARRRRGGGGHHH!!!!

Anyone who would take a fine English sidelock and cut the barrels to 20" should be horsewhipped in my humble estimation. WC Scott was a Birmingham maker and one of the better ones.

It is very likely that this gun was chopped for cowboy action shooting which raises the issue of chamber length. Many of these guns came with 2-1/2" chambers. In the likely event this gun was used for cowboy shooting it means either the chambers were lengthened (probably by someone with a borrowed reamer and a Black and Decker) or 2-3/4 loads were used in the short chambers creating the potential for pressure concerns.

I suppose you could sleeve the gun which means replacing the tubes in the chamber but that's $2,000 and up for a decent job.

Unless you have a special need for a short-barrel hammer gun that may have either had the chambers altered or used with ammunition it was never designed for I'd pass.
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Old August 14, 2001, 11:48 AM   #3
CANIS
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PJR,

It does kind of irk me that the gun was chopped. I'm not sure if it was ever used for Cowboy action shooting though the person that has it does participate in such events. I am also certain that the chambers have not been reamed. Has the chopping of the barrels seriously damaged the worth of the gun. I am literally getting it for a song! (less than $400)

Thanks,

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Old August 14, 2001, 02:21 PM   #4
Dave McC
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I'd personally like to cuss out whomever bobbed those bbls,but...

A coupla quick things:

If you like the shotgun, buy it. Just rest assured that the idiot that shortened it turned a $2000-4000 shotgun into a $200-400 one. It still should handle OK for some things,like quail and grouse.

2 1/2" shells are becoming available. B&P imports a load for short chambered guns like this. Others are available, check with anyone you see at the range with a classic SXS game gun. Woodcock Hill in Pa has them also, check in the back of Shooting Sportman,etc, for the addy and ph #.

Like all old shotguns, a good smith should go over it before the first shell's fired.

Last edited by Dave McC; August 15, 2001 at 05:45 AM.
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Old August 14, 2001, 04:19 PM   #5
CANIS
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I appreciate the info guys. It really does bug me that it was bobbed off. I am investing a total of $250.00 in it which I feel to be a pretty good deal for what is still a very well made piece. Other than the cut barrels, it still has most of the finish and a nice patina on the barrels. If nothing else it will be used for quail. It also is coming with some .410 tubes so that might increase the fun factor a bit.

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Old August 14, 2001, 10:10 PM   #6
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Okay, now that I'm calm.

Dave has the price reduction and the ranges about right. For $250 and with the confidence that the chambers are to spec then why not? At that price, how can you go wrong? You could probably recoup the costs of the gun by parting it out.

With very few very, very expensive exceptions, the English don't make hammer guns any more. If it were my gun I'd seriously consider getting it sleeved.
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Old August 15, 2001, 05:51 AM   #7
Dave McC
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For $250 I'd buy it, load up or buy some low pressure rounds in proper hulls, and have a great time killing quail and woodcock with it.Cylinder bore works great at 25 yards with the right loads.

Being the intemperate tinkerer I am, I might have to putz with the balance and stock fit a bit, but this would be a nice toy to have as is.

After the check clears, I would have to let the idiot know just what he had done. Maybe he'd learn...
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Old August 15, 2001, 05:58 AM   #8
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Of course, if the gun is that nice you could always have a new set of barrels made for it, then sell it for a few thousand!

Cowboy action shooters have destroyed many otherwise fine old doubles

Maybe all those new Chinese Model 97s will stop the practice.


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Old August 15, 2001, 09:21 AM   #9
CANIS
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The guy swears that he is not he one that bobbed it off. Anyway, what exactly would be the estimated cost of getting it "sleeved" and what exactly does this process entail? Since this is my first quality double (the shortened barrel notwithstanding!) I am not very conversant on how to recondition or bring a gun such as this back to it's original glory!

Thanks for all the great comments so far!

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Old August 16, 2001, 04:34 PM   #10
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Sleeving entails cutting the barrels off just ahead of the chambers, reaming the chambers slightly and inserting and soldering new tubes into the breech. As distressing as this description might appear, this is the method most over/under manufacturers (Beretta, Browning, et al) use to make their new barrels.

This is very specialized work and should be done by a highly-trained specialist in English doubles. Those guys don't work cheap. You might pursue sending the gun to England to have the work done. Expect $2,000 and up. I would have a smith who knows double guns examine the piece and get his recommendation on whether sleeving is an option.
Try the BBS on this website for the name of a qualified smith who can do the job:

http://www.shootingsportsman.com

PS. I wouldn't mention the chopped barrels. This could cause many of the double gun fanciers to gnash their teeth in despair. Just ask for a gunsmith who can sleeve a WC Scott.
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Old August 16, 2001, 07:35 PM   #11
CANIS
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The guy I got the gun from is also sending some .410 inserts that Savage used to make. Should make for some safe and fun shooting until I get the cash to get it sleeved - which I am going to do for Christmas! There's a guy in Kerrville TX that specializes in english doubles!

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