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Info needed on inherited shotgun

daddysgirl
Hello.

I am in need of any information and estimated value of a shotgun that was owned by my father who recently passed away.

He left me with four guns, but the one in question is an old 12ga. single barrel shotgun.

Here is all I know about it: It was manufactured for Montgomery Ward & Co. by Colt. It has the words "Hawthorn Viking" engraved on it. And it has a golden colored receiver (which I have been told isn't very common).

I know my father took it to several local gundealers and no one could give him any information on it. It wouldn't be a very big deal to me, but we just buried my daddy yesterday and someone has already approached me about buying this particular gun. My dad would have my hide if I sell it without finding out everything I could about it first.

Thank you for any info you can provide.
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Comments

12 comments

Date Votes
  • Herschel
    If you know it was made by Colt, you must have already done some research on the gun. My reference book shows a Hawthorn single barrel shotgun sold by Montgomery Ward but is shows the maker to be unknown. It is probably not a very valuable gun and I would expect the sentimental value to your family would be greater than what it would sell for. Hawthorn was a name used by Wards for several different models of guns.
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  • yachtdave
    http://www.forthehunt.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=28879678

    Dave
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  • daddysgirl
    Thank you for replying.

    I'm surprised your book would list the manufacturer as unknown since this gun is stamped with the Colt name.

    Do you happen to have an idea of when it might have been manufactured? I did read that Colt only produced shotguns for about 10 years, but it didn't say which years they were producing them.

    I'd really appreciate any info you might have.

    Thanks again.
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  • asa
    Colt never actually manufactured any shotguns; the early doubles and 1960's autos and pumps were European made, though the Coltsman pump was a Franchi frame and was assembled by Kodiak and Mont. Wards, perhaps explaining the confusion about Colt being the maker. The store brand crossover lists I have describe the Hawthorne as the model 110, made for Mont. Wards, single barrel shotgun, maker unknown. Unless the info. I have is mistaken, the gun wasn't made by Colt. I'd keep it in memory of your Dad. It's monetary value isn't-to be truthful-much.
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  • asa
    When you said "single barrel" shotgun, I didn't realize it was a pump. Since some of the Coltsman pumps were assembled by Wards, perhaps some of the Hawthornes were stamped "Colt". I give up.
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  • mark christian
    The term single barrel provides little information since pumps, semi automatics, bolt actions and single shot break tops all have single barrels. Everyone here is going to look at the store brand cross over list in their reference guide so we need to know what type of shotgun we are searching for.

    "Nothing can ever be made 'idiot proof' because idiots are simply too clever"!
    Mark T. Christian
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  • daddysgirl
    Sorry about that!

    It's a 28" full choke pump shotgun.

    The stamp reads "by Colt".

    Thanks!
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  • daddysgirl
    One more thing.

    These are the numbers I've found on it: EJN450 and on the receiver 15175.

    Don't know if that will help at all, but I thought I'd throw them in.
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  • D. Bryan
    Is a Model No. stamped on the barrel?

    Active old guy who lives with two dobermans.
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  • daddysgirl
    The numbers I listed above are the only ones I saw on it.

    Thanks!
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  • Herschel
    daddysgirl, I had to do it the hard way but after looking through my old issues of Gun Digest I found a Hawthorne Viking listed in the 1961 edition. It did not mention who made the gun but did say it was marketed by Montgomery Ward. Price for the blue model was $79.95 and for $84.95 you could get the blue or gold finished receiver. In the same book, the Remington model 870 was priced at $89.45 and the model 12 Winchester was $109.95. Another popular pump shotgun in those days was the Ithica model 37 which was priced at $94.95. This does not directly answer your questions but it's as good as I can do.
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  • mark christian
    That is a prime example of why you should NEVER toss away anything firearms related! I suppose now we are right back to the Coltsman again. If it were made by Franchi for Colt there should be an Italian proving mark located on the barrel as well as the receiver, probably near the front of the trigger gaurd along with a two digit letter code which would indicate the date the gun was proven.

    "Nothing can ever be made 'idiot proof' because idiots are simply too clever"!
    Mark T. Christian
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