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Imperial Arms shotgun info wanted

jojogunne
Greetings all,
This single-shot shotgun is stamped
Imperial Model 13
Imperial Arms Co
Philadelphia,PA
I have found little information for this firearm, except that the company appears to have ceased operations about a century ago. A 12 gauge shell is slightly too large - this is 13 gauge?? The serial number is 0225. 30" barrel.
It looks like a "Granny Clampett" gun. Can anyone tell me anything more about it, please?
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Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • Ned Fall
    You have a "Trade Brand Name" shotgun. That is a shotgun made by a major maker (and before 1940) for and was sold by a wholesaler or retailer who chose the name to go on the gun. Shotguns with the name IMPERIAL MODEL 13 were made by Isaac Hollis & Sons a gun maker located in Birmingham. England from 1861 to 1900. The gun was made for and sold by the Hudson's Bay Company of Canada, a retailer and trader.To confirm that the gun was made in England look on the bottom of the barrel for English proof marks consisting of either crossed scepters or halberds (spear battle axe) with a crown on top and letters in the intersections. I can't confirm that the gun may be a 14 gauge but it is possible. I can confirm that the gun will have damascus barrels and is not safe to shoot using modern ammunition. Need to know any more?
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  • jojogunne
    Thank you. Any and all info is much appreciated!
    I can find no evidence of any barrel markings, even beneath the forearm.
    Since it's an old gun with an unusual gauge, I have no plans (or shells) to even consider shooting it. But I'm really more of a layman here. What is a damascus barrel?
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  • jojogunne
    OK, I found out about damascus barrels. This gun doesn't really look like the examples I saw, but maybe those good looks are hidden beneath the petina...
    There seems to be more search links for this gun than in my earlier attempts. Not much info, though. Thanks again.

    Guess there's no point to retrieving it from that sunken boat... [:D]
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  • Ned Fall
    I may have been wrong with the first information I gave you. I looked one more time in two reference books add found the following: Guns with just the name IMPERIAL MODEL 13 were made by Issac Hollis & Sons for and were sold by the Hudson's bay company. Guns with the name IMPERIAL ARMS CO PHILADELPHIA PA were made by Georges LaLoux,aBelgian gun maker from 1920 to 1940, seller unknown. Take one more look at the bottom of the barrel for any proof marks. A Belgian made gun will have proof marks consisting of the letters "ELG" in an oval with a crown over that. There were several guns with some form of the name IMPERIAL, one with Just IMPERIAL made by the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company which will have no proof marks. Guns with the names IMPERIAL NO 3, IMPERIAL NO 4 ,MADE IN ENGLAND, IMPERIAL NO 5, (THE) IMPERIAL MODEL 1911, and IMPERIAL GUN WORKS all mace in England and one more by Georges LaLoux named IMPERIAL GUN COMPANY.
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  • jojogunne
    I took another good look. The info I included in my original post is the only marks I can find on this gun. The gun shows none of the damascus barrel characteristics, even under the forearm, so that later date you provided makes more sense (to me anyway).
    I said I was a layman. Translate that to mean I'm not a greenhorn; just an owner but not a hobbyist. I got this gun from my deceased father. I don't know where he got it, but I know it wasn't part of his collection. He was a hobbyist/NRA lifer.
    I really do appreciate your time and helpfulness. Thanks again for the info.
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