Hopkins & Allen SxS hammerless shotgun
Pawn shop find yesterday. From the condition of the wood and the metal would have thought this was from the 1960s, and very well preserved, but appears to be much earlier.
Very few markings- Hopkins & Allen Arms Company, Norwich Conn USA on the left side. Barrels have serial number (44707) and numbers 10. Water table has two patent dates, last one is 1895. There does not appear to be a gauge marking, but a 12 g shell fits. SN on barrels, water table and forearm match. Barrels are 30 inch, do NOT appear to be Damascus. Splinter forearm, blondish stock, no markings on buttplate or grip cap other than a sunburst sort of design. Nice color case hardening on reciever.
Trying to research H&A shotguns, but there is not a HUGE amount of info where I can find it. Anyone? Bueller? Anyone?
What the heck did I buy? Gun looks WAY too new to be around 100. No signs of sanding of wood, etc. Thanx in advance for any insights into this very nice two hole shootsgun.
Very few markings- Hopkins & Allen Arms Company, Norwich Conn USA on the left side. Barrels have serial number (44707) and numbers 10. Water table has two patent dates, last one is 1895. There does not appear to be a gauge marking, but a 12 g shell fits. SN on barrels, water table and forearm match. Barrels are 30 inch, do NOT appear to be Damascus. Splinter forearm, blondish stock, no markings on buttplate or grip cap other than a sunburst sort of design. Nice color case hardening on reciever.
Trying to research H&A shotguns, but there is not a HUGE amount of info where I can find it. Anyone? Bueller? Anyone?
What the heck did I buy? Gun looks WAY too new to be around 100. No signs of sanding of wood, etc. Thanx in advance for any insights into this very nice two hole shootsgun.
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A H&A is generally thought of as a low end gun, but not always the case. Some were quite nice. DOM will probably be difficult to determine. Quite often a hint will be as to just exactly how the gun is stamped.
Info on the watertable will lead you in the proper direction if there happens to be a serial record somewhere. Since H&A was considered a second tier manufacturer, this is something I really don't know.
If you detect a barber pole effect on the tubes, then you may assume a type of damasc. Since no tubes of this type were ever produced here in the US on a commercial basis, and since the beginning of WW1 effectively halted the import of such, it would be fair to place the gun as pre 1914 or thereabouts. Just remember that a refinish and blue will often obscure laminated tubes.
One further possibility is cast steel tubes. Do not confuse such with compressed or fluid steel. Since the last patent is 1895 it's safe to assume that the gun was made somewhat after that date. Fluid steel was available around that time (1900) but damascus was still more popular. Nitro capable tubes (I didn't say proofed because the US has no such standards.) came into their own long about the same period as WW1. Usually the tubes of such will be stamped with some form of the word "Nitro".
Based on your description and a bit of intuition I have a feeling that you have a refinished gun. If it's determined that you have laminated tubes that are presently hidden, then the best that can be said is that whomever did the work had talent.
Wikipedia...
In 1874 Converse sold his interest in the company to brothers William and Milan Hulbert, giving the Hulbert's 50% of the company's assets and capital. Hopkins & Allen became the exclusive maker of Merwin Hulbert revolvers as a result of this. Following the bankruptcy of the Hulbert brothers in 1896, Hopkins & Allen went bankrupt in 1898. The company was reorganized as Hopkins & Allen Arms Company but lost its factory and machinery in a fire in 1900, also along with the great robbery in 1905 shortly after, thieves cleared out the whole warehouse.[2][3]
The Hopkins & Allen Arms Co. - Norwich, Connecticut, 1904
Hopkins & Allen rebuilt its factory in 1901 and produced 40,000 firearms a year. In 1902, the company acquired Forehand and Wadsworth, for whom it had been making revolvers under contract. The company was awarded a contract to build Mauser rifles for the Belgian Army early in World War I, but the contract fell apart after Germany invaded Belgium. Although the company continued to manufacture firearms, it never financially recovered and went bankrupt in 1916 with Marlin-Rockwell purchasing its machinery, inventory and designs in 19170 -
You did receive my Email,did you not? 0 -
UPDATE
Through the very kind help of Mr. Fall. I now know the model (New Model Hammerless Double) and the date of manufacture (Jul-Aug, 1913). The barrels do not appear to be twist/ damascus, and the gun will be going to my smith for a check of chamber length, condition and safety.
Metal, wood, and even the finish of the stock and forearm are danged near perfect, and it looks as if this gun sat in a rack for 95 years of its life. [:D] If suitable, this one will get some low brass dove loads, and a trip to a recently cut corn field.
Thank you again!0
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