Years ago I took a SxS pin-fire shotgun in as part of a money owed deal. Gun has no markings, and the bore is smaller than a 12 gauge. Action breaks cleanly but no way I would ever try to fire it. Wood stock is typical of many abused SxS shotguns, grip is wrapped in thin brass flashing with brads holding it in place, screw missing and another screw doesn't match, etc. Some rust, but I haven't tried to clean it up.

Question, would you keep it as a conversation piece and hang it over the mantel or stand it in a corner near the wood burning stove and lie about how great grand dad fed the county with game he shot and drove off the Injuns, or sell it or ???? With Xmas coming I have a few friends that would probably appreciate it since it will be an original type gift. Not many of these pin-fire guns available. Any thoughts will be considered.

Thanks in advance.

Because I am a sucker for old tools and firearms, I'd refurbish it. It would be a fun project that has no deadline.

Id have to see it, to see the condition. If it looks cool with the patina and battle scars I'd leave it alone, if it look ed better refinished, I'd do that.

If you refinish an old gun, you've just eliminated any collector value that it might have had.

Old repairs and old damage does not do near as much to reduce the value as anything (other than light, careful cleaning) that is done today.

Renaissance wax is your friend.

BC, I'd keep it original and lie to Grandkids about fighting Indians with it.

Are there any proof marks on the barrels? If so, they may help you date the gun. Some proof marks were only used during certain time frames. Unfortunately, there are some that haven't changed in 150 years so it really depends on what you find. A lot of pinfires shotguns were 16 gauge. Based on the era when pinfires were made, the barrels could possibly be Damascus.

I have a pinfire SxS that was owned by someone in my family generations ago. I spent some time researching it and based on proof marks it was made sometime around 1850-1860. The name engraved on the rib was a town in Germany near where my family is from. I even have some empty cardboard pinfire shells that have never been loaded with powder or shot (my dad purchased these back in the early 60's). It was covered in rust by the time I got it. I used bronze wool to lightly clean it and knock off the rust, but it still looks its age.