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Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 27

I have a 16-ga N. R. Davis SxS. What chamber pressure is safe for this gun? Can it use modern (Remington, Federal, Winchester) loads? What about modern buckshot loads? Kent Impact tungsten matrix?

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

It's always best for that to be done by a competent 'smith hands on than over the net Wink

Here's a Davis focused website http://www.scottcreative.net/Default.asp?ID=133
As with any classic gun, I would first advise a careful check and clean by a doublegun specialist smith, and only using low pressure loads like those offered by RST and Polywad. Let us know what part of the country you are from, and we might be able to recomend a smith near you.

Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 280 Location: Southern Ohio

N R Davis guns were made from 1878 to 1935.. If you can post the exact wording on your gun, we can pin down the time frame of manufacture. Whatever the age, it will have 2 9/16" chambers.. I wouldn't put anything in it that would develop over 7,500 PSI chamber pressure, no matter what a smith says.. MDC

Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 27

Thanks--I'm leaving for vacation in a few minutes, and the gun is down in the safe...but I'll pick up this thread next weekwhen I get back.

I live in Southern Maryland, about 30 miles southeast of DC.

Reprint Davis catalogs are available from Cornell Pubs
http://www.cornellpubs.com:80/Templates2/Davis%20c1912.htm

You might have these folks do a good check and clean:
John Schubert Schubert's Gun Shop
Lynchburg, VA
434-851-6044 (cell)
jschuber1@adelphia .net

Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 27

Lynchburg is a 6-hour drive away. I doubt I'll be using any gunsmiths there. (But thanks for thinking of me).

Member Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 781

Consider taking it to Albrights, it's on the Eastern shore but that sure beats Lynchburg.

I dont know another smith in the DC area that I can recommend for classic guns, they are alittle think on the ground here...whoever you use needs to be familiar with these guns and if they dont produce a proper gauge to measure wall thickness at multiple points all along the length of the barrel find an new one smith.

When the vintagers is going on at Pintail Point there will be a crowd of them for a few days them just over the Bay Bridge.

Jeff

Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 27

Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 27

Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 27

On the right barrel at the breech end, it says "SELECTED FORGED STEEL".

On the left barrel, "PROOF TESTED 16 GAUGE"

On the left side of the receiver, it says, "DAVIS CERTIFIED SHOTGUN" and "CRESCENT-DAVIS CORPORATION NORWICH CONN. U.S.A."

Under the left barrel, at the breech end, is stamped "1723", which I assume is a serial number.

"J" is stamped on the barrel lug.

Nothing else is written on the gun.

Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 27

Oops, I take that back. "1723" is also stamped on the frame and the forearm. Embarassed

Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 280 Location: Southern Ohio

Your gun was made sometime after 1930.. Savage bought out Davis in mid 1930, in late 1930 or early 31, they also bought out H D Folsom, and merged the two companies to form Crescent-Davis. They discontinued the Crescent, in favor of the N R Davis..They continued Davis production till 1935, but sold guns from parts and inventory as late as 1942. The Davis guns are easily recognized by the squiggly line engraved around the barrels, about 3" from the breach face, some people, unknowingly mistake this line for the end of the chamber.. If your gun has 3 1/8" chambers, they have surely been lengthened..I would be very carefull what type of loads I use in it.. MDC

Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 27

I measured the chambers on the inside, not on the outside.

Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 27