St. Etienne sxs oddity.....20ga on 16ga frame?? Need help please

Famas · March 14, 2025, 05:40 PM

Hello to all - So I've recently acquired a very nice St. Etienne SXS shotgun, hammerless. All markings and proofs places this piece as made between 1900 to 1925, for smokeless powder.

One thing however has thrown me off completely: It is clearly marked as 16ga....yet a 16ga shell will NOT fit.....it is too big. HOWEVER, I discovered a 20ga shell fits perfectly and shotgun closes as it should. A friend suggest it may have been made as a 20ga on a 16ga frame....but we cannot find any markings to indicate this.

At this point I'm reluctant to fire it, but I was curious if anyone out there may have heard of such a thing, let alone encountered such a piece?

Any information is greatly appreciated!

Smoke & Recoil · March 14, 2025, 06:37 PM

Check the chamber good, it may have a gauge reducer...look on ebay and you'll find them, search
16GA to 20GA Shotgun Adapter.

Smoke & Recoil · March 14, 2025, 06:52 PM

Picture

Famas · March 19, 2025, 04:43 PM

Hello and thanks for the reply. Definitely no gauge reducers present. I'm afraid the mystery persists.

Jim Watson · March 19, 2025, 11:06 PM

Spare tire
Long string
20 g shell

**Mike Irwin** · March 25, 2025, 08:59 AM

I wonder if it might have been sleeved at some point?

March 14, 2025, 05:40 PM	#1
Famas Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Location: French, currently living in US Posts: 164	St. Etienne sxs oddity.....20ga on 16ga frame?? Need help please Hello to all - So I've recently acquired a very nice St. Etienne SXS shotgun, hammerless. All markings and proofs places this piece as made between 1900 to 1925, for smokeless powder. One thing however has thrown me off completely: It is clearly marked as 16ga....yet a 16ga shell will NOT fit.....it is too big. HOWEVER, I discovered a 20ga shell fits perfectly and shotgun closes as it should. A friend suggest it may have been made as a 20ga on a 16ga frame....but we cannot find any markings to indicate this. At this point I'm reluctant to fire it, but I was curious if anyone out there may have heard of such a thing, let alone encountered such a piece? Any information is greatly appreciated!

March 14, 2025, 06:37 PM	#2
Smoke & Recoil Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: East shore of Lake Michigan. Posts: 731	Check the chamber good, it may have a gauge reducer...look on ebay and you'll find them, search 16GA to 20GA Shotgun Adapter. __________________ Sent from my Tandy 1000

March 25, 2025, 08:59 AM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,642	I wonder if it might have been sleeved at some point? __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 19, 2025, 04:43 PM	#4
Famas Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Location: French, currently living in US Posts: 164	Hello and thanks for the reply. Definitely no gauge reducers present. I'm afraid the mystery persists.

March 19, 2025, 11:06 PM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,175	Spare tire Long string 20 g shell