Volunteer Arms 20 ga.
I have a 20 ga single shot volunteer arms shotgun.the first three numbers of the serial number are 793.can anyone tell me when this shotgun was made and what company made them..thanks.
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Prior to the early 30's could have been a Crescent product. After Savage bought Crescent out during the depression, could be Stevens.
In any case it probably dates between 1910 & 1940? At this late date not likely anyone would really know. The serial number not likely to mean anything. As the manufacturer made the same gun with different Trade Names and Store Brand names.0 -
cut and pasted from google of volunteer arms
Volunteer Arms Co. was a trade name of Belknap Hardware and Manufacturing, a large wholesale/retail in Louisville, KY. It operated under that name from 1907 until 1986. The Volunteer Arms Co single barrel shotguns were actually the Iver Johnson Champion model. The Champion was manufactured from c. 1909 until the mid 1970's.0 -
(quote)
"Prior to the early 30's could have been a Crescent product. After Savage bought Crescent out during the depression, could be Stevens.
In any case it probably dates between 1910 & 1940? At this late date not likely anyone would really know. The serial number not likely to mean anything. As the manufacturer made the same gun with different Trade Names and Store Brand names."(/quote)
EDIT #1, I got my information re "Volunteer" shotguns from the "Dictionary of Guns and Gunmakers" by John Walter.0 -
From about 1880 to 1940 there was great interest in the United States in all things having to do with shotguns. making, selling and shooting. Wholesale sporting goods dealers, retail chain stores and independent sellers (you local hardware store) wanted shotguns with names of their own choosing on them to sell. The major makers were only too happy to meet this demand. They would take one of their standard models and stamp almost any name in the world on it as long as the buyer bought a minimum number and paid for the die needed to stamp the name on the gun. Many times the seller owned the name and bought their guns from whoever had the best price so many guns with the same name could be made by more than one maker. Guns with the name VOLUNTEER ARMS CO were made by three makers, Crescent Fire Arms Company of Norwich, CT (1892 to 1930), Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works of Fitchberg, MA (1871 to1993) and Stevens Arms & Tool Company of Chicopee Falls, MA (1864 to date). There is also a VOLUNTEER name (no ARMS CO) that were made by the same makers and also Crescent-Davis Arms Corporation of Norwich,CT (1930 to 1938) and Davis Warner (the same company, just a different name) The guns were made for and sold at wholesale by the Belknap Hardware Company of Louisville,KY (what else ?) a wholesale sporting goods dealer. Crescent Fire Arms Company was the largest maker of such guns followed by Stevens Arms & Tool Company. When we don't know who made the gun, we'll blame or credit it to Crescent. I have serial number-year made tables for Crescent made single barrels which go up to 796,001 made in 1936. The serial number on a Crescent made gun will be located on the bottom tang just behind the trigger guard. If you gun was made by Crescent, it was made in 1934. Savage Arms Company bought out Crescent Fire Arms in 1930 but continued to make Crescent marked guns until as late as 1938 using parts left over in the warehouse. There are no published tables for Stevens made guns. Value? You didn't ask but everyone wants to know. These gun were utility grade but well made,inexpensive guns selling new for $15 to $25. The haven't appreciated that much over the years. Today value will be determined by the condition of the gun, the amount of original finish remaining on the metal and wood as well as the mechanical condition. A prime condition example (rare as these guns were used hard and received little care) that appears to have come out of the factory yesterday afternoon might bring as much as $125 at auction while a rusty metal, rotten or broken wood and missing parts piece of junk fit only for parts salvage or as a whiskey still stirring stick might bring as little as $10. Most I have seen sold on the various gun auction sited have sold for between $50 and $95. 0
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