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1887 lever action 10ga. dent in barrel - take it out?
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The Great State
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August 27, 2023 - 8:27 pm
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All, I have an 1887 shotgun in very nice condition and it has one little ding, maybe pencil lead sized (maybe a bit bigger), in the barrel around the area of the front handguard or just past towards the muzzle. I discussed it with my gunsmith when he had it in for maintenance and he didn’t want to address it even though he had the tools, saying it could make it worse or not turn out good potentially.

It really only bothers me because it’s the one physical “defect” other than faded case coloring and aging. Wanted to ask you collectors here for your viewpoint…would you leave it or find someone to push it out? 

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August 27, 2023 - 8:36 pm
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Jeremy P said
All, I have an 1887 shotgun in very nice condition and it has one little ding, maybe pencil lead sized (maybe a bit bigger), in one of the barrels around the area of the front handguard or just past towards the muzzle. I discussed it with my gunsmith when he had it in for maintenance and he didn’t want to address it even though he had the tools, saying it could make it worse or not turn out good potentially. 

Unless you find a gunsmith who tells you positively he can remove it without the risk of “making it worse,” I’d forget it. Seems way more trouble than it’s worth.

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August 27, 2023 - 9:57 pm
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I had a Colt shotgun with a dent in the barrel.I found a piece of steel rod which fit loosely in the barrel and chucked in a vise. I slid the barrel over the steel rod and gently started tapping the barrel with a lead hammer. Voila, the dent disappeared. Don

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August 27, 2023 - 10:12 pm
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Jeremy P said
All, I have an 1887 shotgun in very nice condition and it has one little ding, maybe pencil lead sized (maybe a bit bigger), in one of the barrels around the area of the front handguard or just past towards the muzzle. I discussed it with my gunsmith when he had it in for maintenance and he didn’t want to address it even though he had the tools, saying it could make it worse or not turn out good potentially.

It really only bothers me because it’s the one physical “defect” other than faded case coloring and aging. Wanted to ask you collectors here for your viewpoint…would you leave it or find someone to push it out? 

  

Please post a clear picture of the offensive dent (ding).

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August 27, 2023 - 11:35 pm
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86Win said
I had a Colt shotgun with a dent in the barrel.I found a piece of steel rod which fit loosely in the barrel and chucked in a vise. I slid the barrel over the steel rod and gently started tapping the barrel with a lead hammer. Voila, the dent disappeared. Don

  

I’ve done the same thing with dents in a scope tube, but I’m rather surprised it worked with a loose fitting mandrel; one I used was made to a very close fit. Brownell’s sells dent-expanders made for this purpose.

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August 27, 2023 - 11:52 pm
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Jeremy-

A dent that small would barely intrude into the bore and would probably not give the tool much to push against, I’d be more concerned that it would deform the barrel. I’ve never tried it but I’d be inclined to let it ride.

 

Mike

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August 28, 2023 - 11:24 pm
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Bert H. said

  

Please post a clear picture of the offensive dent (ding).

  

Hey Bert see below link for three pics, I can take others if it helps but this shows it pretty good. Let me know if some scale would help.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/TLo1D72563cncDd6A

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August 28, 2023 - 11:27 pm
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Thanks all for the comments. I may just leave it, just bugs my OCD a little ?…..if someday I find someone who can take it out confident that it will look untouched maybe I’ll do it. 

Pics in Google link one reply above to Bert if anyone wants to look. 

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August 29, 2023 - 12:28 am
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Jeremy,

While that is a very noticeable ding/dent, and it would bug the heck out of me too, I am not confident that it can be removed without any trace of it being there. At a minimum, the finish is going to thin out in that spot and be noticeably lighter in color. Does the dent visibly protrude into the bore? If it does, it should be possible to remove the dent (or at least most of it). It the steel moved laterally/horizontally versus vertically in the area of the dent, it will be next to impossible to remove all traces of it.

Bert

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August 29, 2023 - 1:48 am
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I’ve got to agree with Bert on this.  You may find someone to lift the dent some, but the metal no doubt is stretched in the ding and it won’t compress back by being raised, if you ask me.  It would appear significant enough I bet it also shows on the inside.  I have known one smith, now deceased, I am sure who used heat and extreme cold to shrink metal and move it gently.  Maybe, just maybe, one of the old school wizards can minimize the ding enough to make you happy.  Who and when?  I’ve no idea any more.  The best SHOTGUN smith I am aware of now days is Rob Roberts, but this may not be something he is used to doing.  Look him up online and at least ask his opinion.  You never know what he may be able to do.  The barrel is likely a lot softer than current guns.  It also seems to have a twist pattern in the photo, which may complicate the problem as well.  Good luck and let us all know, please.  Tim

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August 29, 2023 - 1:56 am
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For what its worth, I looked up Simmons as they do a lot of barrel work.  They at least state they remove dents, but its noted “at customer’s risk”.  I’ve no doubt all will say or imply the same.  They may be ones to show the picture and at least talk to them and see what they say in their expert opinion.  They also may have someone in mind to refer you to who may assuage your angst.  Tim

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August 29, 2023 - 2:00 am
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Rather unfortunate location. Been there awhile, even if removed completely the “shadow” will remain. I like guns with character.

 

Mike

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August 29, 2023 - 2:56 am
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Bert H. said
Jeremy,

While that is a very noticeable ding/dent, and it would bug the heck out of me too, I am not confident that it can be removed without any trace of it being there. At a minimum, the finish is going to thin out in that spot and be noticeably lighter in color. Does the dent visibly protrude into the bore? If it does, it should be possible to remove the dent (or at least most of it). It the steel moved laterally/horizontally versus vertically in the area of the dent, it will be next to impossible to remove all traces of it.

Bert

  

Now that you asked, I looked down the lit up bore and I cannot see it at all, if even the most SLIGHTEST at best. I think after thinking on it some more, I’m with you all, “the juice isn’t worth the squeeze,” as we say at work all the time…..probably best to leave it alone and just tamp down my OCD with something else Kiss, not worth hunting for someone and leave it as part of the gun’s story.

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August 29, 2023 - 2:58 am
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tim tomlinson said
  The barrel is likely a lot softer than current guns.  It also seems to have a twist pattern in the photo, which may complicate the problem as well.  

  

Tim, that may just be the lighting and the speckled bluing pattern left on it, it doesn’t have the Damascus steel, but yes, I agree. I’m going to trust my non-wizard (but yet highly capable) level gunsmith here and go with his recommendation to leave it. Cool

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August 29, 2023 - 2:59 am
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TXGunNut said
Rather unfortunate location. Been there awhile, even if removed completely the “shadow” will remain. I like guns with character.

 

Mike

  

Agreed, sir!

If you’re ever in the Denton area, would enjoy an in-person meet & greet. Stay safe.  

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August 29, 2023 - 3:53 am
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tim tomlinson said
I’ve got to agree with Bert on this.                                                                                                                                                                      Tim

Well now… that must have hurt!Wink

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August 29, 2023 - 1:25 pm
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Oh!  It did!Laugh

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August 30, 2023 - 1:54 am
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tim tomlinson said
Oh!  It did!Laugh

  

LaughLaughLaugh I don’t know the backstory here, but I laughed anyways!  I love this forum so far…

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August 30, 2023 - 2:06 am
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Jeremy P said

tim tomlinson said

Oh!  It did!Laugh

  

LaughLaughLaugh I don’t know the backstory here, but I laughed anyways!  I love this forum so far…

  

Tim and I have been poking fun at one another for more than a decade now… he is a retired “Bullet catcher ground-pounder” (U.S. Army), whereas I am a retired “Squid” (U.S Navy Submariner).  We often joke that we cannot remember what our own names are, so we use the brand name on the label of our skivvies to address each other.  He is frequently “Fruit” (short for Fruit of the Loom), whereas I often answer to Mr. Hanes, or Jockey, or BVD.

Bert – a.k.a. Mr. Hanes

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August 30, 2023 - 1:05 pm
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The other alternative is to pull out our driver’s licenses to see who we are!  But its more thrilling pulling on the waist band to see the label.Embarassed

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