it is a 12 gauge double barrel about 26 inches in total length the barrel is only about 12 inches it looks pretty old and is petty worn the only thing i can sorta make out is the name on the side i think it says H Piffer?? there is some small markings on the the gun too by the serial number but not sure if that would help
i can email a pic i cant get it to work here sorry

Forum rules are 10 days membership and 25 posts before you can post pics.

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Could it be H PIEPER? Add a little oil to the metal, sides of the receiver and top of the barrel, it can help to read the words..

Welcome to the forum.

That's likely to be your main problem. Barrels that short have most likely been cut down. Assuming this is not a black powder muzzle loading weapon, it will have to be BOTH at least 50 years old AND in original condition to qualify for the ATF curio and relic (C&R) exemption. So if it isn't that old and wasn't manufactured with those short barrels originally, it may be an illegal short barrel shotgun (SBS) hot potato that can't be sold and that you don't want the law to catch you with. There is an ATF FAQ on short barrel rifles and shotguns.

So your first job is finding out if it is old enough and in original condition. The make and serial number may lead you to that information. If it doesn't meet the necessary qualification, you have to take one of several actions. One is to file a form and pay a $200 tax to retain possession of it legally. Another, if you don't want it, is to at least remove and dispose of the short barrels (no longer have them in your possession) to come back into compliance with the law. You can keep the rest of it, but only if you no longer have possession of the short barrels. If you just found it somewhere and don't want it and don't want to pay the tax or try to dispose of the barrels, I would call the local Sheriff and say you've found a sawed-off shotgun and have him send a deputy out to pick it up for destruction. Don't try to transport it anywhere yourself. Getting caught with it in your car if you don't have the right paperwork could easily lead to jail time.

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"First contemplation of the problems of Interior Ballistics gives the impression that they should yield rather easily to relatively simple methods of analysis. Further study shows the subject to be of almost unbelievable complexity." Homer Powley

Many of the older shotgun did not have serial numbers. If it has Damascus barrels (they look like thin spirals on the barrels) then it is an older one (probably pre-1900). but if has damascus barrels and especially if it was cut it should not be fired with smokelss powder loads. they were weak and subject to rust between the individual wraps that make up the barrel; and cutting them would be a way to introdue moistur to the spirals.

Also many had short chambers (less than 2 3/4") and should NEVER be fired with 2 3/4 inch 12 ga loads as it really increases the pressure with the plastic well into the forcing cone.

Not only should you check with the ATF on those short barrels; but many states have sawed off shotgun laws. So even if passes the federal standards, if may be a felony to own in in your state.

A modified shotgun like this has no real collector value....might want to deep six the barrels and move on.

A qualified repair can be achieved by cutting the barrels off just ahead of the hinge/hook & boring the remaining chamber/stubs straight, to accept two new(er) full-length barrels with the chamber end(s) turned down just enough to slip inside the "new mono-block" for soldering & re-ribbing. (aka: "sleeving")

A Peiper wouldn't be worth either the time, the $$, or the effort - IMHO, but YMMV, of course.


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