Skip to main content
Live chat will not be available on Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor day. We will reply to your request as soon as possible.
Help Center Community Shop

Herters Single Shot 12 guage 1902 with Pics

1988z01
Hey Folks:
I have a Herters Single Shot 12 Guage that I am trying to find some information about. It is a very interesting piece. It is obviously very old, but has been well cared for and stored. There are relatively few markings. The only indication I could find for it being a Herters was from the butt plate. Oter markings are as follows:
Barrel: X-FULL
Forend: 44
Stock: 44
Frame: Left side states SPECIAL MATCH .12 The right side states PAT. DEC, 02 The frame looks like a case hardened frame from a Colt Single Action Army. Directly behind the trigger guard has a 92. Inside on the trigger guard appears to be a 0012 or 9012. On the right side of the frame, there is a round tab that can be lifted. This reveals the screw that is the breakdown point of the shotgun. On the inside of the tab is a 3892.

I would appreciate ANY information someone might have on this.
http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab306/1988z01/Gun001.jpg
http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab306/1988z01/Gun002.jpg
http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab306/1988z01/Gun003.jpg
0

Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • nmyers
    "Very old"? Maybe 40-50 years old is very old to you, but to some of us that's pretty recent.

    George Herter sold firearms & accessories through a mail order catalog in the 1960's & 1970's. Most of the guns he sold were copies of name brand guns produced by various European companies. There's no way to know who made your shotgun, but maybe one of our readers can recognize the model that it is based on.

    Neal

    EDIT: I think Perry Shooter is right; your shotgun just looks too "European" to have been popular in this country, especially during the Herter catalog era. Try to get photos close enough that we can read the stamped markings on your gun.
    0
  • perry shooter
    I suspect the HERTERS is just a replacement butt plate. Pictures are almost a must look at the top of this forum at topics labeled STICKY to post pictures
    0
  • 1988z01
    quote:Originally posted by nmyers
    "Very old"? Maybe 40-50 years old is very old to you, but to some of us that's pretty recent.

    George Herter sold firearms & accessories through a mail order catalog in the 1960's & 1970's. Most of the guns he sold were copies of name brand guns produced by various European companies. There's no way to know who made your shotgun, but maybe one of our readers can recognize the model that it is based on.

    Neal
    0
  • 1988z01
    Thanks. I had no idea how old. Just about everything I have is from the 60's and 70's. 40 to 50 isn't as old as I thought. I just love the way it looks. I hope someone can tell me a little more as well. Thanks so much.
    0
  • 1988z01
    Thanks. I put some links to some pics. Hope you can see them. Like I said. Just looking for any info I can find.
    0
  • Hawk Carse
    Agree with Perry, that is an old old single barrel that has been refinished and capped off with a Herter's replacement buttplate.

    Are there any proof marks visible with the barrel off the action?

    If not, it is likely minor American make, if so, it is from wherever the proofmarks show. Probably Belgium, maybe Spain.
    0
  • 1988z01
    I took the action apart. Underneath the barrel when it was removed from the action/frame, there was the number sequence 11893. There was also a B. Underneath the trigger guard, when removed was a 38. With that, and the two numbers that come after the trigger guard, it makes a 38 92. After a good look at the trigger guard, it is a 9019.

    Thanks to everyone helping me out.
    0
  • b.goforth
    this is a Hopkins & allen model single barrel shotgun, a 1909 catalog call's this the model 3612 but may have also been called by other names and model numbers. H&A had a habit of changeing names and model number quite often. i have seen this model just marked with the name "Cannon Breech". i believe it is a safe bet to say this single barrel shotgun was made between 1906 and 1917. but it could have been made for a shorter time as parts for it does not seem to show up in later parts catalogs.

    the patent dated in 1902 could be one issued to w.h. davenport which H&A abtained with they purchased the davenport business. although i can't seem to find any issued in december 1902 he did have a couple issued to him for this type of hinge pin in may 1902. i would say the barrel marking X-FULL means it is choked real tight. i don't know just how long Herters has been in business but i do know i have seen ads in preWWll american riflemen for them.

    this single barrel has all the trapping of a brand name shotgun, marked "Special Match.12" and made by H&A one of the largest manufacturer of brand name firearms. if herters is old enough it could have been made for them.
    bill
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity