Shotguns

The shotgun is a Mossberg 500. The Standard Catalog lists this at $200 in Very Good condition. Deduct 20-30% for having a Montgomery Ward name stamped on it.

A SxS in useable but not like-new condition will bring between $100 and $250. A 20 gauge or .410 will be in the mid to upper part of that range and a 12 or 16 gauge in the lower to middle part.

The Standard Catalog of Firearms lists 67 different side by side models made by Stevens. Many of them had exposed hammers, either back-hammer boxlocks or sidelocks, and most were manufactured during the time "A&T" was included in the name (1886-1916). If your gun has twist or damascus barrels, it is basically a wallhanger. If it also has side hammers, then at least it is a wallhanger with some value - generally $125-$150. If it has fluid steel barrels, regardless of the hammers, it could still be a useable gun if approved by a qualified gunsmith. Value as a shooter would be $200-$250.

The best information I have suggests 1920-1932.

Eastern Arms was a Sears Roebuck trade name and the only reference I find listing a .38 revolver says they were made by Meriden Arms, which was a Sears subsidiary and in business only from c. 1905-1915. If your gun has grips marked Forhand Arms, I'd bet that the whole gun was made by that company and marked with the Sears name. That would agree with your estimate of the age as the Forehand name was used from 1890 to 1902. The only top-break .38 Revolver I find listed is the "Perfection Automatic" but my references disagree on the exact dates of production. The Standard Catalog of Firearms says 1898-1902 while The 1983 Official Price Guide says they were all made before 1899. The Standard Catalog suggests a value of $150 in NRA Very Good condition. I don't think the Eastern name would affect the value either way.

Sir Go to ithacagunsusa.com and ask Nick stump, He should beable to help you. Sarge

Springfield Arms Co was a trade name used by Savage/Stevens in the 1930's and 40's. I can't find a date for the production of a model 53 or 53A. Actually, it is not listed in any of my newer books, but a 21-year old Official Price Guide lists it as a bolt-action single shot. If this is it, it should be a good shooter and a great heirloom, but a poor investment. Even in excellent condition, it would probably bring only $100-$125 retail. Well - maybe it was a good investment. That old price guide shows it at only $45.

Western Arms Company was a division of Ithaca that made inexpensive shotguns that appear identical to the Ithaca made Lefever Nitro Special from 1929 to 1946. Yours was made in 1932. Only 400 guns Western Arms Long Range Guns were produced that year, the worst of the Depression.

Single trigger versions range fro $150 to $400 in useable to excellent condition.

Try Nurmirch(that may be misspelled) their web site is e-GunParts.com. They should have what you need.

Bridge Gun Co was a trade name used on guns made for Shapeigh Hardware Co., St. Louis, Missouri, c. 1920-1940. They were made by various manufacturers, but a .410 single shot is likely to be an Iver Johnson Champion.

It can't be too old. I can't find any record of American Arms, Inc prior to 1985. They imported European firearms and manufactured a few pistols in North Kansas City, Mo. Went out of business in 2000.

This should be a Savage 18-D.

Stevens made two model crack shots the 26 and the 16. The 26 was a lever operated gun and the 16 had a thumd piece on the right side of the receiver to open the breech. the 16 was made from1900 to 1913 and the 26 from 1912 to 1939.Each model had a smoothbore feature that could be ordered and the designation would then be 16 1/2 and 26 1/2. These guns in very good condition bring decent money but if average ho hum condition they are around 1 to 2 hundred dollars. . Pete

what are the dinstenctive markings on this rifle and where do you find them.

The first answer tells you the distinct features - Lever Action or Thumb piece to open the action (Rolling Block). And if you want to know if you have a smoothbore version, look down the barrel.

That is not a rolling block it is a falling block design.

The Revelation brand name was used by Western Auto from the 1950's to around 1970 on guns made by various manufacturers.

Since Savage has been making shotguns for well over 100 years, you won't get an answer unless you can identify the model or at least tell us the action type (single shot, double barrel, bolt action, etc.). If it is a "modern" gun, ie., made since 1900, you can get a pretty good idea of a utility gun's value by checking the sporting goods department at Walmart. Locate the least expensive new gun that is similar to yours and figure your used one is worth 1/2 to 2/3 as much.

With that serial number, you have a first-year (1894) gun, which MAY get bids a bit higher. It definitely gets the 30% premium for being classified as an antique by the BATF. 38-55 is one of the more desireable calibers and should add another 10% to the price. Assuming it is a plain sporting rifle in NRA Good condition (90% original finish and all original parts), the price guides suggest a base value of $1350, so yours should have a retail value around $1950-$2000.

American Boy: Trade name used on firearms retailed by the Townley Metal and Hardware Company of Kansas City, Missouri, c. 1900-1920.

If it is really mint (unfired, practically untouched since it was manufactured), it might bring over $200.

The American Gun Company was the "house brand" of H&D Folsom Sporting Goods, New York City, c. 1895-1930. The guns were manufactured by Crescent Arms, Norwich, Connecticut. Their single barrel shotguns sold for less than $10 when new. Their double barrel shotguns sold for $10-$15 when new. Old trade-name shotguns are not generally collected and not safe with modern ammunition, so are valued solely as a mantle ornament. The value of these guns if they are broken, badly worn, or rusty is less than $50. In like-new condition, it might be over $200. In "average" condition, it would probably be about $125. Here's verbatum from Standard Catalog of Firearms: "American Gun Co. / Norwich, Connecticut / Crescent Firearms Co - Maker / H & D Folsom Co - Distributor / Side x Side Shotgun A typical trade gun made around the turn of the century by the Crescent Firearms Co. to be distributed by H & D Folsom. These are sometimes known as "hardware store guns," as that is where many were sold. This particular gun was chambered for 12, 16, and 20 gauges and was produced with or without external hammers. The length of the barrels varied, as did the chokes. Some were produced with Damascus barrels; some, with fluid steel. The latter are worth approximately 25% more." Although not mentioned in this listing, there were also single shot break action shotguns similar in configuration.

Wautauga was a trade name used by the Whitaker, Holtsinger Hardware Company of Morristown, Tennessee on firearms they retailed.

Folsom, a sportings goods distributor and retailer in New York, was probably the wholesaler. They did not manufacture any firearms but Crescent Firearms of Norwich, CT was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Folsom.

Folsom also distributed arms made by a variety of Belgian firms. If you can find "ELG*" in an oval mark, probably under the barrel, it is Belgian, otherwise, most likely Crescent.

Crescent operated from 1893 to 1932.

Well, Jon, everything I told greyeagle applies to your gun, too. But, being a 410 makes yours worth about twice as much - about $100-$150 depending on condition.

Western Arms shotguns Ithaca marked guns with the Western Arms trade name for Montgomery Ward and/or Sears Roebuck. Ithaca Gun Co. can be contacted via email at: info@ithacagun.com Office is located at: Ithaca Gun Company, LLC 901 Route 34B King Ferry, NY 13081 Phone: 315.364.7171 Fax: 315.364.5134/( THIS ANSWER IS TOTALLY INCORRECT. WESTERN FIELD WERE MONTGOMERY WARD GUNS PRODUCED BY STEVENS. WESTERN ARMS IS THE ECONOMY GRADE OF ITHACA PRODUCED 1929 TO 1941.)

Look in the yellow pages under "gunsmiths". In my opinion, the firing pins should probably remain missing on this old shotgun. It was not built for modern ammunition and may not be safe. If you intend to fire it, get a qualified gunsmith's approval and use only the proper shells.

Oxford Arms Company was a trade name used by the Crescent Firearms Company on shotguns made for the Belknap Hardware Company of Louisville, Kentucky, c. 1890-1920.

It will not have a serial number.

I have an Oxford 16 gauge side-by-side. It has a serial number. Take the barrels off and it is in the slot that holds the barrels.

Sorry, Danny, I should have said it MAY not have a serial number. Even if there is one, There are no records available to date these old utility grade shotguns.