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Identifying a shotgun

a berger
I have a shotgun with no markings that I am trying to identify. It is a single shot 12Ga break barrel with a unique trigger guard break release. I have shown it to a couple friends who compete in trap, and nobody has any idea what it is. I thought I would test the experts.

The buttstock was previously removed, but the forearm is present. It appears to be something like mahogany, and I see no way to remove it. The gun appears to have a shell ejector, and the manual hammer is v-noched for visibility. It has a 30" barrel with a bead at the front. The only marking is a 3 digit number in the reciever below the barrel, visible once the break is opened.

Any help would ge appreciated.

I do have pictures, but am not sure on how to upload.

Thanks.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • Mossbergboogie
    How to post a pic

    http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=259294
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  • a berger
    Thanks for the link on how to post pictures.

    Here are a couple:

    [img][/img]img3969f.jpg
    By aberger_1 at 2011-03-02

    [img][/img]img3967.jpg
    By aberger_1 at 2011-03-02

    [img][/img]img3964rg.jpg
    By aberger_1 at 2011-03-02

    [img][/img]img3960q.jpg
    By aberger_1 at 2011-03-02

    Thanks again for any help.
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  • hrf
    It appears to be the "American Side-Snap" made by Shattuck and Iver Johnson late 1870s-early 1900s. Look at top of barrel near breech end with a magnifier and there may be faint markings.
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  • 1KYDSTR
    Dang! You beat me to it HRF! The identifying marks on most shattucks were in the buttstock (grip cap and butt plate) and the barrel legends are likely gone. Going to be a bummer trying to get a replacem,ent buttstock, and the correct buttplate and grip cap?...good luck on that one! Something interesting to note is the notched hammer. This really looks like a rifle application to me. When fully cocked, does the rear V of the hammer line up with the front bead? If so, I wonder if this wasn't intended to be a 12 bore rifle? Doesn't seem to be a lot of sense in putting a rear sight on a smoothbore like this unless it was meant as a stopping rifle/slug gun.
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  • a berger
    The v does line up with the front bead, althought il looks like it would have you aiming high. I don't see any preceptible rifling in the barrel, although it does seem to neck down a few inches in.

    The receiver(?) looks fairly clean and there are no markings anywhere excepy a 335 under the barrel on the receiver.

    Thanks for the leads. It does look more like a IJ instead of a Shattuck, althought so far I have not been able to find much on any dating. It has a couple things in common with some early Champion guns, but not others. The break lever seems higher up and it doesn't have any pat. markings.

    ab
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  • B17-P51
    Have you tried simply pulling down on the tip of the forend with your hand? Do this while the gun is closed.
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  • a berger
    I have tried pulling it down gently, but there was no give at all and I didn't want to damage anything. Are you thinking there might be markings under the fore?
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  • Ned Fall
    The gun is an Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works SIDE LEVER OPENINGMode made form 1879 to 1886. The forearm is walnut. There are no off the shelf replacement butt stocks available for this gun. After all it is 125 years old. You can have one made or watch the gun auction sites for parts or a parts gun. I made a replacement stock for the gun I have.
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  • a berger
    Thanks Ned,

    I have had someone esle tell me it was a CS Shattuck. Do you know how can I tell the difference since there are no other markings besides the "335" in the receiver?

    Thanks again
    A-B
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  • hrf
    Ned, it is a Shattuck, the frame contours are different from the I. J.

    Compare to this one: http://arms2armor.com/store/product996.html
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