Old Side by Side

SteveE

I have a 12 Guage side by side Hammer shotgun that was my great grandfathers.The name on the reciever is American Gun Co..New York On the barrel is Armory Steel ..Choke Bored On the under side of the barrel is the serial #145429. It is also on the forestock lock It dont have any more markings ,not even a guage markingIts about as rough as you can get and still be fully operational. No splits or cracksI'm curious to the age mainly because its priceless to me. But if anyone knows an approximate value I am curious about that too.Thanks Steve E.

SteveE

I have an old "Scheilly, Vitre le Francois" shotgun that I would like to know more about. I contacted a gun shop in the town of Vitry le Francois in France. I sent them some photos and the person responding stated that it was possibly worth about 1000 Euros. Where can I sell or trade this gun? Gun show? Also, I'd like to know it's age etc. The gun shop never replied again to further questions. It was difficult to communicate due to the language barrier. Thanks for any help, Bob S.

rhmc24

Shotguns like you describe may date from 1900 plus or minus 20 years. Someone may have info about maker which could pin down the date closer. In a gunshop a 'all there and workable' gun in poor condition would price $150 plus minus 50 as a wall hanger. People like to see them hanging over their fireplace. More detail info might afford a closer value estimate. Hope this helps.

AdamsQuailHunter

Your great grandfather's shotgun was made by Crescent Firearms Company of Norwich, Connecticut. Crescent began somewhere about 1892. They were well made but utility firearms. The fact that they were well made is why many of them survive until today.Crescent Firearms Company was bought out by H&D Folsum of New York City so they could add an American made sidelock, side-by-side to their range of imported guns.Big bunches of these "hardware guns" were produced in a ton of private brands as well as in Folsum's house brand -- "American Gun Co. of NY". In 1922 the "Crescent" brand replaced the "American Gun Co. of NY" and is found on many thousands of doubles still existing to this day.If found sound by a gunsmith competent in older Damascus and armory steel barreled shotguns, it can still be used with light field loads. Do NOT subject this old girl to 2-3/4 magnum loads, she was never designed for it.I am glad to hear that it is priceless to you and hopefully will stay in the family where it belongs. I have one that is a Damascus barreled hammer gun, and I hunt with it regularily. However, I am willing to load black powder shotshells for it and have a gunsmith who has fiberoptic equipment check the barrels at the end of every season to make sure there is no evidence of delamination in the barrels.

nord

Unless you see the mention of Belgium, and you won't I believe... You have a genuine Crescent. Armory Steel denotes a "modern" tube, though the barrels may not be designed for the slightly longer modern shells.If in good mechanical condition a smith could remedy the chamber length and your gun could probably be put back in service.

SteveE

Thanks guys for your answers. I was quite hesitant about shooting her because I didnt know what Armory steel meant. I think now I'm going to get her checked out and shoot a few bushytails this next year . I'm not to sure if I can get a friend to load Black powder for me. Someone mention FIELD loads. Were they speaking of the very low brass shells ? She's 30 " bbl with full tubes on both sides.