D.N. BISWAS & CO CALCUTTA
Gentlemen, I have recently lost a father in law who has a double barrel side by side 12g shotgun. the scribe on the receiver is D.N. BISWAS & CO CALCUTTA with a made in the USA stamp on the top of one of the barrels along with matching numbers on all components. I have been assigned the task of finding out it's worth and a little history. I have found that it's and India company and some of there components end up in some very pricey guns. We want to know if it's a $25 gun ( we will fix it up and have new wood made for sentimental value) or if it is worth much more (we would leave it alone) anyone who could help would be much appreciated. I have contacted the local gun shop who could find no information on it? Thank You
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Made in the USA on a gun sold in India. Hmm.
Pictures?0 -
Hello Chums a picture is as they say worth a thousand words If you look art the first few post on this forum they are marked STICKY and one is instructions on how to post pictures Rather then trying to get the whole gun in the picture we need closeup of just one part at a time think of it as our EYES looking from about 6 inches away in focus with good lighting
EDIT Looks more like a crescent arms They made guns under many names.
EDIT #2 well the good news is it is all matching serial numbers I do believe it is U.S. made as most other countries had to use proof marks I do think it as made by Crescent Arms it for sure is not an Ithaca The receiver is what is called a SIDELOCK Type action . I think at best it is a wall hanger one of the weak points of side lock is the butt stock tends to break/split as yours did and replacements stock would cost more then the gun is worth0 -
yeh, I have found a lead it may be made by Ithica? Maybe there's a relationship between the two companies? I will work on getting Pic's to post. It's a double trigger, internal hammer or hammer less, however you would describe that. I found a old magazine from the 20's with a pic that looks very similar. 0 -
here are the pic's 
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Anyone heard of this brand,or have any books to recommend? 0 -
You need to take the barrel off and take a picture of the receiver table and the bottom of the barrels with whatever marking there are. 0 -
These are the ONLY marks I could find on the gun. 0 -
Ithaca only made boxlocks... So not an Ithaca. Not a Fox or Chinwester either! (Tang gets toungled.) Same for Stevens and Hunter. Quality is nowhere good enough to be a Smith, Lefever or Baker.
Which pretty much leaves Crescent as the prime suspect. Especially since it has fluid tubes and is almost certainly a post WW1 product.0 -
Wow, that's very interesting information! Sounds as though this piece has had allot of history. I am from east central Iowa, would anyone know a place I could have this looked at around the area?
His wishes were to redo this gun. However, he was sensible and would not have done that if it had any value. Any idea's on the value?0 -
Very little value there. Crescent, Hopkins & Allen, and a few others are pretty much considered second tier makers. Obviously there are certain exceptions, but yours probably isn't among them.
Considering the condition of your stock it's questionable if a repair is possible. Then again, a good woodworker can do wonders. As to a replacement stock... Best to forget it.
Value vs. cost is what it all comes down to. If in good condition your shotgun probably wouldn't exceed the $350 mark. I doubt it could be repaired for that amount, so it looks to me like a money pit awaiting.0
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