Crescent Firearms

You won't find history of any particular Crescent double barrel model. They basically made one or two models and marked them with whatever name the retailer wanted. Well over 100 different trade names have been found on Crescents. The company was formed in Norwich, Ct, in 1892 and bought by H&D Folsom Sporting Goods the following year. Around 1926 Crescent was sold to Stevens (which was already owned by Savage) then merged with NR Davis (which they also purchased) to form Crescent-Davis Arms. The Crescent name disappeared completely about 1932.

Crescent operated from 1893 to 1930. There doesn't seem to be any source to pinpoint dates of manufacture by serial numbers. Crescent was a subsidiary of H&D Folsom Sporting Goods, New York. Many of their products were sold through Folsom's retail outlets, but Folsom was also a large wholesale dealer and many Crescent guns were marked with the names or trademarks of other retail chains and even independent hardware stores. Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co, Chicago (1882-1962), retailed the Victor shotguns which were manufactured by Crescent Arms, Norwich, CT (1893-1930).

You can get some double barrel parts from GUNPARTS. com

You might would try "DIXIE GUN WORKS" out of UNION CITY, TENNESSEE, they have a butt stock that I believe can be fitted to most any old Crescent Double. They do carry a variety of different butt stocks and if they don't have an exact match, if you do much wood working or know a good gunsmith they probably have somthing that could be easily match to fit your shotgun and still retain an original look.

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There is a wealth of information by Nick Niles in the Gun Digest book of Guns and Prices 2005 Edition, ISBN #0-89689-324-3 and library of congress # 2005906853

The value varies widely with condition and gauge. I think that prior to 1912 only 12 gauge sterlingworths were made. The 20s (and 16s)began production in 1912 or 1913. Usually the earlier ones are worth a little more than later (after about 1930) ones. A 12 gauge from the early years in near-mint condition would be worth around $2000, an average 12 would be in the $1000 range and one in poor shape (broken stock, pitted barrels, dents in barrels, etc) ordinarily would be worth more like $400 to $500. Twenty gauge prices corresponding to these would be about $3000, $2000 and $1000.

Is "fin fire" a typo for "pin-fire"? If so, I'm certain that it is not a Crescent shotgun and even more confident that it was never used by Wells Fargo Co. I would guess that someone tried to increase the selling price of an inexpensive double by adding the Wells Fargo stamp and a saddle ring. Have the barrels been cut off, too? There are so many shotguns with fake WF Co markings that no informed collector will pay any premium for this mark unless it is accompanied by a bill of sale listing the stage company as the buyer or seller and positivly identifying the gun. It would probably sell for $150-$250 as a wall decoration for a yuppie's rec room.

That would be "1915," not "915." It replaced the 1894 Favorite. The Favorites are popular. In well-used condition they bring $100; in great condition they can get into the $300 range. Just about any gun guide (Flayderman, Blue Book, etc.) gives lots of info about these popular Stevens rifles.

There's not much information available. Crescent made several million single and double barrel shotguns from 1883 to 1930. They marked them with at least 200 different trade names, Victor being one of the more common ones. Singles usually sell between $25 and $75, depending on condition, but they were only $3-$10 when they were new.

This was a trade name used by Anciens Etablissments Pieper in Belgium 1894 and later. Importing utility shotguns from Belgium pretty much ended when WWI started in 1914. Making any exposed hammer double barrel shotguns pretty much ended about the same time. This gun may have short (2 9/16") chambers and damascus barrels, and if so it will not be safe to use modern off-the-shelf ammunition. Value is primarily determined by how well it looks over a yuppie's fireplace, usually between $150 and $250.

Trade name used by the H. & D. Folsom Arms Company on shotguns made for the Belknap Hardware Company of Louisville, Kentucky. Folsom was a sporting goods wholesale & retail company in New York. Actual manufacturer would be Crescent Firearms of Norwich, CT., or it may have been imported from Belgium. Typical hardware-store gun that hung behind the kitchen door or in the barn of every farm in the early 1900's.

Plymouth was a trade brand shotgun made by Crescent Fire Arms Co and later by Davis-Warner Arms Co. It was distributed/retailed by H & D Folsome. Shotgun Markings also lists a hammer double barrel by an unknown Belgian maker and indicates the retailer was Spear & Co.

check with the agency that issues the permit. No one agency for all states, since most do not require gun permits.

It was made by Crescent arms, but could be a J Stevens Arms , as Crescent was bought out about that time. There is a wealth of information by Nick Niles in the Gun Digest book of Guns and Prices 2005 Edition, ISBN #0-89689-324-3 and library of congress # 2005906853 Models, prices, and history. Also acomplete listofALL the names associated with Crescent F.A. Co

Elgin Arms Co was a trade name used by a Chicago hardware/catalog store. The shotguns were sold to them by the HD Folsom Co. The actual manufacturer may have been Crescent, most were, but could have been any of a number of other manufacturers. sales@countrygunsmith.net

W. W. Greener was a high grade English gunmaker in the 1800's. Doc Holiday was carrying one of his doubles at the OK Corral. Belgian manufacturers would put similar, sometimes identical, names on utility grade shotguns for import to the US. There's no history or documentation on many of these, but Joe Vorisek has documented 'A Greener' as a product of Henri Pieper, Leige, Belgium.

The Chicago Long Range Wonder gun was introduced in the late 1920's. The value of this weapon as of 2014 in excellent condition is 75.00.

I have the same model as you. I inherited from my great grandpa, and to the point of my understanding it was distrubuted around the 1930's.

With only the name to go on, the stock answer is "about 1900" but it could have been made as late as the 1940's. Value will be $35 - $75 if it is a shooter with fluid steel barrels or about the same amount as a wall decoration if it has a large side hammer and damascus barrels.

I found a set for my Enders Special Service a.k.a. crescent on eBay of all places. It took some time and alot of questions, pictures and measurements but was worth the wait. There are many barrel sets that will fit with a little tinkering.