Museum Piece or Project Gun?

[Magnocain]

I recently picked up a Bluefield Clipper single shot 12ga shotgun for $125 (total). My plan was to use it as a project gun. I want to cut down the barrel to 18.5" (currently is 32"), and maybe try to get it to be able to fold in half.

After doing some research, it appears that this gun may have been manufactured in the 1800s, making it over 120 years old. A Civil War veteran could have bought it new. I also found that these guns are fairly common, and that maybe I even paid too much.

I have fired it, first by putting it on a sled a firing it remotely. It shot just fine (better than my Maverick 88), although the extractor is not great. Some shells fall in front of the extractor, requiring a careful removal. Other times the extractor doesn't work, and I have to use a cleaning rod to ram it out from the muzzle. I probably had 5 issues per box of shells.

Anyway, in the expert opinion of Calguns, should I keep this shotgun as is for it's historic value, or is it a piece of junk that would be fun to mess with?

[humble servant]

I think it's cool the way it is, even though it looks like someone got to it with a wire brush. I'd keep it the way it is. Even if it's not valuable it's 120 years old. It made it this far why change it now?

[G-forceJunkie]

Not all old things are valuable. With no history, who bought it new is inconsequential, It might have been some POS child molester just as easly as civil war vet. I would do whatever makes you happy.

[71MUSTY]

I would have paid the $125. just to use it as wall art.

[Red9]

Id buy it for 125 as well. Cool piece thanks for sharing.

Sent from my LG-TP450 using Tapatalk

[Flintlock Tom]

This was an appraisal from 2011:

Bluefield Clipper is a trade name used on shotguns produced by Crescent Arms of Norwich, Conn. They made good quality, inexpensive shotguns for many hardware and department stores in the late 1800's and early 1900's. They were made in 12, 16, 20, and 28 gauge with various barrel lengths. All guns had external hammers until 1905 when their first hammerless gun was introduced. They had Damascus or Armory steel barrels depending on the retailers specifications.

Values are: excellent-$450, very good-$350, good-$300, fair-$250, poor-$200.

[ARFrog]

My family has a similar Cresent Arms made double barrel shotgun that was my Great Grandfather's. I think sentimental value trumps historical vale here. The main issue is not to try and shoot it with "modern" ammo to avoid disasterous results. So, a wall decoration/conversation piece may be the direction you are headed.

We were going to sell ours last year but one of our family members decided he wanted it for a cabin. It looked like value was in the $80 - $125 range. Here is a photo:

image.jpg

[Mr. Beretta]

I would have paid the $125. just to use it as wall art.

Exactly!

[Magnocain]

Thanks for the info! I now have a third option of "wall hanger".

[CBR_rider]

An acquaintance of mine once had something like yours for sale with a killer looking stock (the wood was in great shape/had a really cool pattern to it). He wanted $350 for it, wouldn't budge, and I wasn't willing to spend that much on wall art... that's the route I would probably go (looks kinda cool and no safety issues with a project gun that way).

[musketjon]

Can't tell from the pics if it's Damascas or fluid steel. If it's Damascas, DO NOT shoot modern loads it--PERIOD!! Also, the chambers are probably 2 5/8 inches, not 2 3/4, hence the ejection problems. Black Powder loads are not difficult to make. I have an ITHICA "Crass" model made in the 1890's with twist barrels and I load BP loads for it. It's always a conversation piece at the trap range.
Jon

[johnthomas]

I recently picked up a Bluefield Clipper single shot 12ga shotgun for $125 (total). My plan was to use it as a project gun. I want to cut down the barrel to 18.5" (currently is 32"), and maybe try to get it to be able to fold in half.

After doing some research, it appears that this gun may have been manufactured in the 1800s, making it over 120 years old. A Civil War veteran could have bought it new. I also found that these guns are fairly common, and that maybe I even paid too much.

I have fired it, first by putting it on a sled a firing it remotely. It shot just fine (better than my Maverick 88), although the extractor is not great. Some shells fall in front of the extractor, requiring a careful removal. Other times the extractor doesn't work, and I have to use a cleaning rod to ram it out from the muzzle. I probably had 5 issues per box of shells.

Anyway, in the expert opinion of Calguns, should I keep this shotgun as is for it's historic value, or is it a piece of junk that would be fun to mess with?

Is it Damascus or regular barrel. You do not want to shoot modern shells in a Damascus barrel, they were designed to shoot the powder that was available in those days. Black powder.

[Spyder]

Cut it.

[Magnocain]

It doesn't look like the barrel is Damascus. See photos.

What is a good way to tell if the chamber is 2-5/8"?

[ARFrog]

Best answer in my opinion...get it inspected by a competent gunsmith if you plan to shoot it.

Even if not a Damascus barrel the issue is quality of steel on an older shotgun and pressure differences of old shells from "back in the day" vs modern shells.

There are perhaps many places to follow up on the Internet but here is one that talks about hardware store shotguns:

https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=247589