Empire State Arms Co.

pogybate

July 12, 2005 20:22

I picked up a early single barrel shotgun at an Estate sale that had Empire State Arms Co. on the barrel. Never heard of that Co., nothin in search, could that have been a distributer?

SEMPER FI

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  rufe-snow

  July 12, 2005 21:51

  I found "Empire" & "Empire Arms Co" listed in a couple of my references. Their "Trade Names" used by a number of different manufacturers, on various types of firearms. Chances are "Empire State Arms" is the same.
  
  

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  pogybate

  July 13, 2005 03:42

  Thanks for the info Rufe.
  
  SEMPER FI

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  peabo

  July 13, 2005 05:34

  I also tried to find info on Empire State Arms some years ago and came up with the same that rufe-snow suggested. In my case, it is assumed that this hand gun was mfg. by Iver Johnson for Empire state arms.
  
  
  
  
  Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see !!
  NRA Life Member

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  captkirk3@dslextreme.com

  July 13, 2005 07:06

  EMPIRE STATE, Made by Meriden Firearms, and distributed by H & D. Folsom....1900's
  
  EMPIRE ARMS; Made by Meridian and distributed by H & D. Folsom...1900's
  
  EMPIRE ARMS CO. Made by Crescent for Sear-Roebuck & Company, c. 1900
  
  EMPIRE; Made by Jacob Rupertus 1858-1888
  
  
  
  Captain Kirk, Tech Staff

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  b.goforth

  July 13, 2005 08:58

  peabo,
  the revolver in your picture was manufactured by Meriden Firearms Mfg. Co. in the early 1900's. the money behind Meriden was actually sears, roebuck & co. who marketed most of meriden products, which included shotguns (double and single barrel) and top break revolvers. other names used by meriden on top break revolvers were chicago arms, howard arms, eastern arm, several different combinations of empire arms and some more i can't think of at the moment. one feature of meriden top break revolvers is the front sight with the upcurve at the front and rear. meriden revolvers were not the highest quality (they were manufactured of malable iron not steel). most will be found today in very poor condition and those that are still in shootable condition should be not fired. they are like the 'rgs' of a few years back safe when new but not meant for a lot of use.
  
  the only thing meriden firearms mfg. co. and iver johnson arms & cycle works have in common is that they both manufactured revolvers for the fred biffar co. under the name 'secert service special' along with at least three other manufacturers.
  bill

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  peabo

  July 13, 2005 11:48

  Thanks for the info b.go I printed it and will keep it with the revolver. This one appears to be in good shape, fired very little(it belonged to my Grandmother). I fired it myself about 25 years ago with 32S&W crtgs. Didn't blow up!!
  Did not mean to hi-jack your thread, pogybate, but thought we both might learn something about Empire State Arms Co
  Thanks
  
  Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see !!
  NRA Life Member

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  pogybate

  July 13, 2005 11:58

  No problem Peabo, lot of good info[:D]
  
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