identifying antique shotguns

Items you will need Paper Pencil Rag Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! I bought two 1920s doubles, Ithaca NID 12 gauge and NR Davidson & sons 20 gauge! Smith name until 1950. Others, such as well worn no name double barrel shotguns of average quality & low condition may be worth well under $200. This gun is never going to be fired again because I don't think it is safe. However, the Winchester 1873 lever action rifle beats the others in popularity. WebTo find out about your gun's serial number simply click on your firearm. German Wheellock Puffer Holster Pistol 5. Sharps1 The majority that show up in the US tend to WebGuns that are classified as 'antique' by the National Firearms Act (NFA) are guns that are not designed to use current firing and ammunition. Scoff. CUSTOM GUNS - Although much money is spent on With unique designs that were ahead of their time and inspired later well-known models like the Remington 870, classic pumps are worth the effort of collecting and taking out to the field. Others9, Ammunition, Cartridges & Tools11 Does anyone know of any way to find out who manufactured this shotgun? In this video, the author highlights how many gun laws changed over the years and how hunting has been affected by different versions of gun laws. The most desirable western firearms were manufactured in the four decades from the 1870s to the 1910s. help identifying a vintage double-barreled shotgun See also Pieces of Firearm Identification I had a goal in mind, and it had just become a reality. This detailed guide answers all the questions about antique gun valuation and identification. However, first-generation weapons will always have a higher price than the later generations. Quick questionI have a 1926 Ithaca 20 gauge NIDwere all the NIDs made to shoot 23/4 shells or did some shoot only 21/2 shellsI have come across conflicting reportsbecause of that I only use 21/2 to be on the safe sidewhat is also unique is that this gun came with a beavertail fore grip. Yknow? The Model 12 ceased mass-production in 1964. The diameter of a shotguns bore is called its gauge. Lefever Arms Co: Introduced in 1883, these side-by-sides are part boxlock, part sidelock, and the first commercially successful hammerless shotguns made in the United States. Its hard to beat a Boss from the 30s, and Boss OUs are better than any of the Purdey OUs. Antique Shotgun identification The Ithaca Model 37 holds the record for the longest produced pump shotgun in America. While the antique gun was made in Britain, it was manufactured for use in the United States Revolutionary War. Before 1891 no official proof marks were used and when the proof marks law started in 1891 older guns were marked only with a V under crown. HISTORICALLY ATTRIBUTED GUNS - Generally, the Antique Box lock. etc. death & birth, locations, and general types of guns made. A Beginners Guide to Vintage Shotguns First, the shotguns are built to be used in a very different way than a modern gun. In 2021, for example, the antique handgun used to kill Billy the Kidan infamous outlawthe single-action army colt revolver previously owned by a man known as Pat Garret was sold for $6.03 million. folding trigger hammerless revolvers sometimes lumped together as You can expect to pick up a well-used field grade in 12-gauge for around $300, while pristine examples, sub-gauge and graded variants can fetch several thousand dollars. Remember that for the Blue Book of Gun Valuesto help you; you will need to know the following: Also, you can check the list of gun price books provided by the Library of Congressone of these may help you with the antique gun valuation. This makes the Model 37 a great choice for left-handed shooters, as empty hulls are ejected towards the feet of the shooter, instead of across the face. Revolutionary War Flintlock Musket 6. Therefore, when studying antique revolvers identification, you will need to know the most popular collectible brands: Among gun collectors, pistols manufactured by Colt are legendary. Any thoughts on 12 gauge sauer and son shot gun? Thanks for the comment. Often when a Dont be surprised (or sorry) if you find yourself spending hours learning about them and looking for the perfect one. Similar situations apply to other 12ga, skeet/improved. The piece boasts some noticeable ancient features, including two screws that sit above its trigger guard. Modern blackpowder reproductions - It's not at These collectible firearms are generally limited to specific periods and regions. 2 1/2? double barrel shotguns of average quality & low condition may fine artisans can be quite valuable) and Pinfire The Remington Model 31 makes my list for a couple of reasons. production, but sometimes well into the mid-19th century. European firearms by obscure makers (altho some by The same is true for people who have been shooting guns for a long time. such guns are unsigned with no sure way to identify the For example, someone who shoots their gun by shooting it from the shoulder can very easily miss. British P1730 Brown Bess Musket 3. BB Guns1 Second, the shotguns are incredibly heavy and expensive. I believe your gun was made by the Crescent Fire Arms Company of Norwich,CT (1892 to 1932) and is what is referred to as a "Trade Brand Name" shotgun. thanks! Good work Ned. the two major price guides. The German wheellock pistol is currently listed online and sells for $39,995. recently converted back to flintlock will bring less than original Youre right. The first one was when I thought I had made a mistake and found out that I didn't. makers marks. Read the National Firearms Act (NFA) to understand what makes a gun an antique (see Resources below). WebSome may have considerable value, in thousands of dollars. Jorge Ramirez is a writer, artist, and upland hunter who was born and raised in Southern California. Antique guns have a certain appeal that attracts collectors. Dutch 1710 Flintlock Pistols 7. But if you do, you should know that the shotgun is likely the most expensive piece of equipment you own and that you should check if there is a shotgun rack on your property to ensure that it is not a shotgun that looks like a hip gun. British 1780 Royal Navy Seven Barrel Flintlock 4. Serial number below 1,000. Generally, they will If a gun was designed with old-fashioned workings, it is usually considered an antique whether or not it was made before 1898. This wasnt a dreamit was mine. . Free Shipping on T-shirts in the USA That did it for me . Reproduction in whole or in part without the express permission of Project Upland is strictly prohibited. In collectible space, however, the term muzzleloader often refers to small arms and rifles loaded from the front. And no, I am not saying that you should have a shotgun on your property. It also has a humpback shape hammer. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. All rights reserved. Vinyl Records Value: Your Old Value Records Worth a Fortune, Vintage Stiffel Lamps: Value and Price Guide, Vintage Smith Corona Typewriter: History, Models, and Value, Vintage Schwinn Bikes: [Types, Identification, and Values], Vintage Rooster Cookie Jar Identification and Value Guide. There were probably over 150,000 L.C. Antique and Collector Firearms British P1730 Brown Bess Musket 3. Identifying an old shotgun two may be out of print, try inter-library loan or Amazon.com, With a selection including Brownings, Over/Unders, Semi-automatic, Pump, Single Shots and much more, we have something for everyone from the serious collector to the occasional shooter. Youll never forget your first side-by-side shotgun. Firearm Identification Take notice of the gun's construction. Any idea on when the A Grade was made, and how many? Antique Shotguns Among American-made WebSome may have considerable value, in thousands of dollars. Your dad and your grandpa probably carried one of these! For this reason, identifying antique shotguns from the Browning company can be pretty complicated. Antique Shotguns identify Firearm Proof Marks, Arsenal & Inspector Marks Because the shotguns are a very expensive piece of equipment, having them on your property is expensive. identify Because of their small design and the fact that they can carry a maximum of 4 bullets, the Deringer pistols are affordable, with a value between $500 and $2,000 in most auctions. In most cases, people will shoot and not think, Ive never shot a gun before. They will think, Are those people in the video? Smiths made. AYA Shotguns Aguirre y Aranzabal A Spanish Gunmaker Profile, Parker Shotguns A Vintage Shotgun History, Gregg Elliott is the Shotgun Editor for Project Upland. Guns that are classified as 'antique' by the National Firearms Act (NFA) are guns that are not designed to use current firing and ammunition. List all information known about the gun's workings, and include all lengths. Both myself and my son bought brand new (in box) model 37s. The Winchester 1897 is what I consider the first perfected pump-gun. I was going to buy the first affordable side-by-side I found. Well-loved field guns can be had for a couple hundred dollars, while those in exceptional condition, anything under 12 gauge, and high-grade examples can fetch higher prices and up to a couple thousand dollars in the used-gun market. Antique guns were generally made before 1898 and are considered collectors items because they are not designed to use as a weapon. Strange. Others, such as well worn no name double barrel shotguns of average quality & low condition may be worth well under $200. The Model 1897 was the improved design of John Brownings Model 1893. Who the seller might have been, I have no information. When you hear the phrase classic pump-action shotgun, more than likely the gun that comes to mind is the Model 12. Every upland hunting magazine seemingly has a double gun emblazoned on every other page. Collectors Firearms, LLC. "provenance") than any other factor. And youre right its addictive! German Wheellock Puffer Holster Pistol 5. However, some antique firearms can cost millions of dollars. Send some to me and tell you all I can about the gun: gregg@dogsanddoubles.com. Books32 The smaller the gauge, the wider the bore (a 10-gauge bore is larger than a 20-gauge bore). The ones with the plaid-clad gentleman, steady behind his pointing-dog, pheasant bursting from the tall grass. Dependable. Side-by-side shotguns were built under the L.C. Several generations of this rifle are available in auctions. The serial number of this shotgun is 47915 and when I compare with my old guns the 1185 is the number of the barrel maker but not certain. The smell. Both shotguns , after a shell is fired and the bolt is opened, a new round pops out on top of the rail guides then, as the rail guides lift the new round up toward the chamber, a second shell pops out of the magazine below the rail guides preventing the bolt from closing. Antique guns were generally made before 1898 and are considered collectors items because they are not designed to use as a weapon. The Damascus twist-barrels glistened grey and brown in the late morning autumn sun. Span-Am War6 makers marks. Born in 1855, John M. Browning dedicated his life to inventing revolutionary firearms that were desitned to shape the future. These guns are popular among the SASS (Single Action Shooters Society) crowd and come in several variants, such as the common Field Grade, the fancy Pigeon Grade or the legendary WWI issued Trench version. But also can try to find the brand symbol and model number yourself. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I dont know. Now thats a pretty good example. Colt38 Antique guns are classified as excellent, fine, very good, good, fair, or poor. any recommendations on how to find some good side by side options? There are over 2 million Ithaca Model 37s in existenceand counting! Can any be used with steel shot? Signed works by Is there a quality vintage online broker? Love them or hate them, but almost impossible to ignore them, I think. This piece from the 18thcentury features a 42-inch barrel first adopted in 1740. Home Firearms and Shooting Shotguns Exploring Vintage American Pump Shotguns, Jorge Ramirez is a writer, artist, and upland hunter who. Japanese symbol (two letters?) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. in the field or if there are specialists the guns can only be Communicate make and model information when known. French Louis XIV Gun 2. Web10 Most Valuable Antique Guns 1. I dont know. WebSome may have considerable value, in thousands of dollars. While Colt produced thousands of colt pistols during the 19thcentury, the rarest pieces were manufactured while Samuel Colt was still alivebetween 1830 and the 1860s. Antique Shotguns Antique and Collector Firearms I clutched the cold-vintage steel and wood in my clammy hands. identifying antique shotguns The Model 31 had a buttery smooth ball bearing action that rivaled any of the pump guns mentioned here. WebShotguns usually have the brand symbol on the rear barrel and the model number on the back of the gun handle stock. New: All original parts, 100 percent original finish and in perfect condition. Sure. His blog primarily consists of articles dedicated to the traditions of quail hunting with an emphasis on introducing new hunters to DIY public land hunts, without a dog. They are really beautiful shotguns. Free ground shipping on all US Online Orders over $100! tend to be crude. Antique guns can be as cheap as under $1000. Smiths made. The Winchester Repeating Rifle Company is known for its repeating rifles. Some general considerations for antique flint & Colt is also carrying a shotgun, so we have to make sure the shotgun is not a shotgun that looks like a hip gun. In these cases, an expert hands on inspection may Their simplicity and reliability having been proven in the field, many upland hunters of yore swore by the pump-action shotgun. I would never sully one of my upland hunts with anything but a double gun. Stocks come in three basic styles: Straight grip, half-pistol grip, and full-pistol grip. Date Your Firearm Peter is almost right. Antique and Collector Firearms History. To add the gun to your collection, you will need $39,995. Yet they remain overshadowed by doubles in the upland hunting community. New: All original parts, 100 percent original finish and in perfect condition. For example, the costliest military guns are from the first and second world wars, the Vietnam War, and the American Civil War. Im looking for a side by side 16. 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. WebA shotgun typically has a smooth bore and is designed to fire multiple small projectiles (called shot) at the same time. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Instead, they break like dry kindling. There are hundreds of different ways to shoot your gun and not shoot an object. gunsmith is generally considered to be the name (if any) that Agree on the guild guns. British Blunderbuss Flintlock 9. Webster is a similarly definitive reference for small late 19th Papers17 This piece has a total length of 32 inches with a 16-inch barrel. An appraiser should be able to furnish you with identification information and a market value. There have been 22,522,718 ad views. Use your computer to go to the manufacturer's website and see if they keep information about serial numbers. First, it directly competed with the beloved Winchester Model 12 and did fairly well in its short run (1931-1949). If you look at the video, youll see that Colt shoots his guns from the hip. Consistent. This especially applies to Revolutionary War Flintlock Musket, 7. Beware of newer Ithaca model 37 Featherweight pump shotguns. He also goes into some of the unintended consequences of how the internet has affected the way people think about guns. All rights reserved. British P1730 Brown Bess Musket 3. an individual or event, and are advertised in full page ads in And that has perpetuated something of an elitist attitude towards other shotgun configurations. Antique This will be an on going source of Manufacturer Serial Numbers. Philip Skene Brass Barrel Flintlock Pistol 8. Please have a look around See all my Guns on Guns International Click on Link California hunting. This was very common in the Belgium & France and Austria. Antique Shotgun identification European - especially English, French, German, and era. This will be an on going source of Manufacturer Serial Numbers. WebShotguns usually have the brand symbol on the rear barrel and the model number on the back of the gun handle stock. Turn up your nose. It does not have a mark on it anywhere identifying anything, no numbers, letters, nil! Western Memorabilia and Accessories7. CAUTION: Things may appear closer in the rear view mirror! Some collectors prefer to say that those made before WWI or before 1900 are considered antique. and various co-authors list Amercian makers by specific region. help identifying a vintage double-barreled shotgun To begin with, you may want to look at the Blue Book of Gun Valuesthis book is updated yearly with the latest antique gun values. S stamped under each barrel. Antique guns are a special category under the NFA and do not have the same licensing requirements as other firearms. Copyright, Jim Supica - used by Your email address will not be published. Good article! If you find a gun similar to what you are interested in, the antique gun valuation should be more straightforward. What else can I say? PERCUSSION GUNS - "BLACKPOWDER," When choosing the shop to visit, ensure your community trusts the shop. That is were the experts in matters like this lurk. I love how the author explores the unintended consequences of gun ownership and how hunting was associated with this. Some may have considerable value, in From gold inlaid and finely engraved masterpieces to scarcely produced pieces, how can you nail antique gun valuation to ensure you are paying the right price? Revolutionary War Flintlock Musket 6. *Not our quarterly print publication. Starting around 1860, gunmakers in the United Kingdom, United States, and continental Europe developed hundreds of ideas for shotguns loaded from the breech instead of from the muzzle. One of the most interesting things not mentioned is the guild gun. texts that include basic information on some of the small industry type makers with few distinguishing marks in a bewildering Record any numbers, letters or design on the guns to help research information about the guns. Too much pitting on the receiver and barrel. bit below the original retail price that the owner paid. I think it is a really great way to get into the history of hunting and gun ownership. Here are some of the types of guns this applies to: ANTIQUE FLINT & Error Code pii_email_a42277285fa7a777ff7e Solved, Personally identifiable information PII doesnt belong in your email University Information Technology The University of Utah, How to Get Rid of the pii_email_e7ab94772079efbbcb25 Error. After his grandfather passed away he dug the guns out and discovered that they were all badly rusted and all the works were frozen. However, you can still find lower-priced Winchesters in the marketfor example, a Winchester 1873 rifle realized a price of $3,450 in 2019. U.S. Online, you can find forums that discuss antique guns. But a decent one wont be cheap. The two pistols are 26 inches long and have barrels measuring 18.5 inches. The rare 28-gauge version is a sought-after collector gun, so if your grandpa has one of these, get on his good side! Those NIDs are good guns. WebStep 1. The milled receiver on the Model 12 was not cost effective in a market where the economical and reliable Remington 870 was king. WebTo find out about your gun's serial number simply click on your firearm. those of NRA or the National Firearms Museum. Local gun enthusiast suggest barrels were made by Schilling Brothers in Germany. We provide antiqueguns prices and pictures of each antique gun we sell. The musket has a total length of 62.5 inches and boasts brass furniture as one of its materials. Sauers can be great guns. For example, a calvary Colt Single Action Army revolver produced in 1877 is currently listed for $30,000. British 1780 Royal Navy Seven Barrel Flintlock, Philip Skene Brass Barrel Flintlock Pistol, Antique Gun Identification: How to Identify Antique Guns, Antique Gun Valuation: How to Value Your Antique Gun, Factors to Consider During Antique Gun Valuation, How to Get a Good Cost Estimate for an Antique Gun, 3. ball") firearms. The Colt Single Action Army revolver, which came out in 1872, is a popular collectible among gun collectors. No brand markings but similar in style to a Greener. Some of these retailed called themselves gunmakers, but never built a gun. They are often very ornately decorated Antique guns are classified as excellent, fine, very good, good, fair, or poor. Please have a look around See all my Guns on Guns International Click on Link How to Identify Antique Guns Browning Arms Company boasts numerous designs for its guns. If your antique guns have been modified, make sure they are still considered antique. Identifying an old shotgun U.S. Of course, I also love the guns, especially vintage side by-sides. The Model 37 was originally offered in 12-, 16-, and 20-gauge and a true-frame 28-gauge is currently available. While the revolvers produced by Smith & Wesson may not carry the same awe associated with Colt, they are highly valued in the collectibles market. locks from small manufacturers, especially during the percussion TRADE NAME GUNS- In the 19th & 20th WWI & WWII3, Ethan Allen3 WebA shotgun typically has a smooth bore and is designed to fire multiple small projectiles (called shot) at the same time. Badges8 Most people collect antique guns because they fill their lives with joy. But I would like to continue the cleanup. Their guns have stood the test of time, and if you buy one in good, original condition, it should serve you well for decades to come. Rifles-Shotguns0, Hand Guns8 They are often artificially aged and Remember that there might be a conflict of interest when a shop owner values your antique gun. makers marks. I don't mind your posting here. Is this a Parker knock off? produce and sell them for as long as folks buy them. particularly limit production of these, and will continue to PROOF MARKS ProoF MarKs these can be slow to sell. Items you will need Paper Pencil Rag Whats the Difference Between Vintage And Antique ? My first double-gun was an old Hopkins & Allen 12-gauge side-by-side with 2-1/2 inch chambers and slightly bulged right barrel. POWDER ONLY," or "MADE IN ITALY" (or any other country name), it However it is sometimes possible to identify the maker through what markings are found. The Dutch 1710 Flintlock Pistols feature incredible decoration, masked butt caps, and long ears. The first thing we want to make sure of is that Colt is not shooting a gun from his hip, because Colt has a gun. That gunshow find was the first of an ongoing love affair with side-by-sides (and a couple of over/unders). With a selection including Brownings, Over/Unders, Semi-automatic, Pump, Single Shots and much more, we have something for everyone from the serious collector to the occasional shooter. Smith & Wesson started producing guns in 1852.