Shotgun ID, please help

[headoftheholler]

A friend of mine was given an older sxs 12 gauge shotgun and we need help ID'ing it.
The only exterior markings are on the top of the rib it is marked "BELGIUM LAMINATED STEEL" After disassembly under the barrell it has various stampings on both barrells that include a circle with a crown on top of it with the letters E L and G inside the circle, a diamond with 12 and a "C", an ittalic ELG. I know this isn't much info but someone must hae a similar gun. thanks Andrew

[westkybanded]

Pictures, pictures, and more pictures are needed.

Close ups of the water table and the bottoms of the barrels.

The stampings you provided are most likely proof marks, and the initials of an inspector that checked the gun before leaving the factory.

Does the shotgun have hammers? Ejectors? Single or double trigger? Any engraving?

There were a ton of old Belgian manufacturers that could have made this. The thing doesn't need to be shot without a thorough inspection by a gunsmith that specializes in antique shotguns (NOT the guy at gander mountain, or the fella that works out of his garage)....


ALSO!!! Don't get your hopes up that this is a super valuable collector piece. There were a TON of these cheaper Belgian shotguns imported during the 1880's, 90's and on. They usually end up hanging on a wall somewhere as decoration, and command prices in the $50 - $100.00 range.


The gun most likely has damascus barrels and is probably chambered for 2.5" shells. Any modern loading will be of a pressure that would destroy the gun, and likely your friend's eyesight.

[trust me]

A lot of the Crescent guns and the like were imported with no names. The ELC marking is common on them. They were mass produced for sale through hardware stores and catalog retailers like Sears. The early
Crescents were not marked, so yours may be back to 1900 or so if that's what it is.

As above, don't get any ideas that it is valuable. Most are sold as wallhangers in the 100-200 range, a little more if in extra good condition.

[headoftheholler]

Sorry about the vauge description, it has exposed hammers, not damascus barrells (although with the marking "laminated steel" could it be damascus underneath the blued steel?) . 31" barrells. dual triggers and a single ejector. Prince of wales type rounded grip. I did some research on google, all the marking I described were from Belgian proofers. The bluing and wood are in good shape. Not expecting big money just some history. No digital camera though.

[headoftheholler]

Also, is there a product to remove slight stains in a wood stock?
More than likely will become a pretty wall hanger. Funny though someone would produce a firearm and not mark it.?!

[trust me]

Those guns were imported in bulk, and they were sold to various retailers and were to be marked by them. Some of them didn't get marked, like yours.

I've always wondered about the "laminated" marking, but it sure sounds like Damascus to me. As you know, Damascus is where they take several thin layers of steel and forge them together to make a single layer. The barrels can have beautiful patterns that way, but the black powder of the day would slowly eat away at all those edges and eventually they aren't safe to shoot anymore.

As far as the stains on the stock, the only thing I can suggest is to strip and refinish it. A lot of those old gunstocks have cracks and breaks that you won't know about until you unscrew it and it comes to pieces in your hands.

[headoftheholler]

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't all damascus barrells have some type of pattern in the metal? By the way thanks for the help.
-Andrew

[westkybanded]

Yes, damascus barrels do have a pattern to the steel, and it may become pronounced with some serious buffing. However, if it is truly good quality, the lines will be almost invisible to the naked eye. Some older Japanese swords have been observed (under a microscope) to have several hundred thousand layers to them. They can't be seen without magnification.

[.45Lee]

Damascus steel makes a truly lovely blade , as well , with a high degree of polishing. It's my understanding that even modern black powder will destroy a Damascus barrel-and possibly the shooter!

[westkybanded]

A good gunsmith can let you know about the quality of your damascus. Some are more than fine even with smokeless powder, but it's a must to get them checked.