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info- forehand & wadsworth

hdwrenchhdwrench Member Posts: 954 ✭✭
edited January 2007 in Ask the Experts
a friend of mine recieved for xmas a 10 ga x 2 7/8 chamber shotgun . it is in nice shape but refinished (tastefully). it is an exposed hammer model with a long barrel .wood and barrel is in good condition ,reciever has a few makes on it .
markings as follows -

on reciever-
forehand & wadsworth
patented aug,16,81

on top of barrel , fine decarbonized steel

any info helpful, value ??

it is a pretty gun and shoots .

wrench

Comments

  • b.goforthb.goforth Member Posts: 982
    edited November -1
    forehand & wadsworth (1871-1890) was formed out of the the last of ethan allen companies when he died. forehand and wadsworth were his son-in-laws. wadsworth retired in about 1890 and company renamed forehand arms co. about 1899/1900 forehand passed away and company sold to Hopkins & allen.

    after wadsworths retirement forehand continued to sell guns marked with the F&W name and this was the case also when H&A took over. i have a copy of a 1902 sears catalog that still list F&W firearms for sale.

    the 8-16-1881 patent date is for patent 245620 which is actually for a side hammer single barrel shotgun (it was issued to s. forehand). due to the fact that there is no indication that forehand & wadsworth, forehand arms co. or hopkins & allen ever made the switch to smokeless powder it would be best not to fire this shotgun with modern ammo.

    without seeing this gun my best guess is it is one manufacture by F&W between 1882 and 1890 and being refinished it has lost all collector value which was samll to begin with and would be worth $100 or less.
    bill
  • hdwrenchhdwrench Member Posts: 954 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    thanks bill, nice reply . i didn't think the gun was worth alot but it is very nice to behold . the gun came with proper ammo ,i think of corrct load to be shot . it is correct type , 10 ga x 2 7/8 . is a black powder load correct in this gun or something different .

    wrench
  • b.goforthb.goforth Member Posts: 982
    edited November -1
    according to an ammo listing i have in a 1902 iver johnson sporting goods catalog the 10 gauge 2 7/8 inch shell loaded with black powder would be the proper load for this gun.
    bill
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