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Need details on Old Shotgun "Border City"

Michael45
I inherited my grandfather's old shotgun and I have no idea of the manufacture or the value of the gun. It is a single shot, breaks in the middle and says "border City" on the side. Any help would be greatly appriciated.
Thank you
Mike
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Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    It was common during the early years of the 20th Century for local hardware stores to sell what are known as "Store Brand", utility grade shotguns. Your shotgun could have been made by any one of a number of manufacturers who specialized in these types of guns.

    Value even in excellent condition would be nominal, as their is little collector demand/interest in these guns.

    As it could be approaching 100 years in age, take it to a competent gunsmith for inspection and test firing, if you intend to shoot it.
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  • Michael45
    Thank you for your response it is greatly appreciated.
    Mike
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  • Ned Fall
    Rufe-Snow has it almost correct. The only thing I would change is the type name of the gun. I call them "Trade Brand Name" shotguns if they were made before 1940 and "Store Brand Names" if made after 1940-45. It was quite common from 1880 to 1940 for wholesale and retail sporting goods dealers, hardware stores and general stores to want shotguns with names of their own choosing to sell. The major makers were only too happy to meet this demand. The biggest maker ever of such guns was Crescent Fire Arms of Norwich,CT (1892 to 1932). It has been said that Crescent would make as few as twelve guns with some name on the as long as the buyer paid for the die made up to stamp the name on the gun. When we come across an unknown name we blame it on Crescent until proven otherwise. I have documented over 400 names that were used by Crescent (401 now). Be advised that these were utility grade inexpensive guns when made and were designed for the ammunition in use at the time which was either black powder or early low pressure smokeless powder. They were not designed for modern high pressure smokeless powder and certainly not 3" magnum shells. I strongly recommend that these guns not be fired. Would it be possible for you to post a photograph of the gun?
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  • He Dog
    If you have built your list by assuming the attribution to Crescent until proven other wise, the list can hardly be called definitive. One would want verification that Crescent built it before adding it to the list.
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