Shotguns

What's a barrel number? Serial numbers were not required on shotguns in the US before 1968 and most manufacturers did not use them. Many were marked with a "batch number" for internal record-keeping/quality control, etc. and various other numbers for various reasons unknown and unimportant once they left the factory. If your gun is marked "J. Stevens & Co" it was manufactured from 1864 to 1886. From 1886 to 1916 they were marked "J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co", and after 1920 "J. Stevens Arms Co". Sometime in the 1940's the marking was changed to just "Stevens" and usually accompanied by "Savage Arms". Authentication means paying a recognized expert to examine the gun and sign a certificate stating that it is an original product. I think, in the case of a Stevens shotgun, there is little chance of it being "counterfiet" and no one will care if it has a few replacement parts.

Assuming it is in useable condition, it should be worth $250.

Diamond Arms Company: Trade name used by the Shapleigh Hardware Company of St. Louis, Missouri on imported shotguns they retailed. WWI pretty much ended these imports and later guns may have been made by any of several US companies. A single shot is possibly an Iver Johnson Champion, a double barrel likely to be by Crescent or Stevens. There is little collector interest in these old utility guns and shooters would rather have newer firearms, so they are not highly valued. Singles sell for $50-$75, doubles for $125-$150.

If there are no other marks, it will be pretty difficult to identify the maker or exact age of your shotgun. I can say it was definitely made after the 1914 patent date, so it is considered a modern gun by collectors. I can also guarantee you that it was not used in any war. There haven't been any double barrel shotguns used by any army since the US Civil War, and only a few then. Unless it has fancy engraving, carving, or silver-plated parts, it's neither rare nor valuable, but as your grandfather's gun it should be priceless to you and your cousins.

I have know nothing about J.N. Scott, but there is another thread on this page that has some information.

John - I can't find this brand name in any listing. I suspect it was probably marked for a retailer who wanted to offer his "private label." From about 1890 to 1915 there were millions of inexpensive (usually Belgian-made) double barrel shotguns sold in the US under hundreds of trade names. If you will post all the markings and tell where each is found on the gun, we may be able to verify or disprove this, but most likely it is one of these and the value would be about $125-$150 to someone who wants a mantle decoration. The "Aristocrat" was made under contract by Stevens for the Supple-Biddle Hardware Company in Philadelphia, PA. The hardware company went out of business in the early 1920's. If the action is tight and the barrels ring true, then it may be shootable with standard 12ga loads - mine is.

It shouldn"t matter to use screw-in chokes with buckshot. I prefer slugs, myself.

From your limited description, I'd say: Probably 1890-1914. No, not safely. Very little ($125-$150 as a mantle decoration).

Richland was an importer. Zabala Hermanos (Brothers) of EIbar, Spain, made the gun. Spanish shotguns range from the lowest to the (at least near) highest quality, and the values vary accordingly. Would need to be examined "in hand" to make a good guess.

Judging by your serial number your MX-8 was probably built about 1969. The MX-8 was concieved and built for the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Yours is probably a Type Two, which refers to the forend iron. I think Perazzi is currently building the type 4.

http://www.e-gunparts.com/dept.asp for parts I have one, manufactured in the '70s by Savage Arms. Approximate value is 140.00 - 180.00 USD.

The "Nitro" refers to smokeless powder, so certainly not much before 1900, probably a few years later. The "and Tool" part of the name was not used after 1916.

I have a Savage FOX 20 guage purchased 1969 in CA. Don't know what the value would be today. Mormor, Northern California Chad, I have the same shotgun in 12 gauge. My local gunshop tells me it was made in the late 60's or early 70's and has a value of around $350. Not a bulls-eye, but hit the target. Keith Fitzsimmons Overland Park, Kansas

There are just too many variables to Ithaca shotguns to be able to give you a estimated value. If you go to the shotgun message board at Antique Guns you can find some true Ithaca experts. Be prepared to tell them EVERYTHING that is marked on the gun and WHERE it is marked. You will need to remove the forestock and barrels to find marks on the flats of the receiver and bottom of the barrel. Also, give the condition as a percent of ORIGINAL finish remaining, and either fully describe the engraving or give a link to photos.

Over and Unders are made up of alloy metals that are softer than normal because they want to keep them light and easy to carry, I would not shoot slugs threw this, you could swell the choke if it is 'FULL'

Nitro Hunter: Trade name manufactured by Crescent Firearms, Norwich, CT, and retailed by Belknap Hardware Company of Louisville, Kentucky. "Nitro" implies that it was intended for smokeless powder. Not much collector interest in hardware store guns, but if it is checked out by a qualified gunsmith, it may be worth $200+ as a shooter.

Your gun is a Mossberg 500 with a Wards name. If you can't get parts from a local gunsmith, try Numrich Gunparts

I'm not sure what the question is, but I have one. It is a bolt action, magazine fed shotgun. Mine is 16 ga. I have seen them from 12 down to 410. My neighbor has a 12 ga. and uses it all the time. I use mine for dove, squrile, and turkey. I paid $60.00 dollars for it at a gun show about 12 years ago. I have owned several shot guns during that time autoloaders,pumps, but it is the one that has stayed and goes to the field, when I want to bag game. In fact it is the only shotgun in the house at this time. I have never been able to find out what the choke is on it, it looks like 2 zeros next to each other, but it has more range and a tighter pattern than my son in-laws mossburg 12ga. pump. numrich gun parts corp. www.gunpartscorp.com has parts for them all.

C.J. - Check with a local gunsmith first. If he can't help,. try Numrich Gunparts .

John - The Nitro Special name was used by J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. You didn't tell us what kind of a shotgun it is, but I suspect it is a break-open breech single shot or double barrel. It may have side-hammers, or a boxlock with rear hammers or a hammerless boxlock and the barrel(s) may be either laminated or fluid steel. All those things and the condition of the gun will affect the value. It MIGHT be worth $250 if it is a good to very good boxlock with fluid steel barrels or less than $10 for any variation in broken/worn out/rusted condition.

Mary Ann, I assume the shotgun you are refering to is a of the semi-auto flavor. If so your problem could be anything from just needing a good cleanig, to a pitted chamber or ammo that is to low powered. You could try detail stripping the gun for a serious cleaning or if this is beyond your skill level I would recommend taking it to a good gunsmith or armorer.

Dave

Mike, it is possible that you have a broken or missing extractor.

Dave

Mary Ann - Check the yellow pages for a gunsmith. He can tell you what parts you need and get them.

I have the same problem with my Remington 870 lefty. Although, my shells wouldn't eject when the gun was brand new and out of the box. When my barrel was machined at the factory, grooves were left in the first inch of the chamber. When the shell was fired the brass casing would expand and grab onto these grooves. I would tug so hard on the pump handle to eject the fired shell that ejector pin would rip the rim off of it.

An entire afternoon with 220 grit sand paper will fix the problem.

National Arms Company: Trade name used by the H. & D. Folsom Arms Company on firearms made for the May Hardware Company of Washington, D.C. and also for the Moskowitz and Herbach Company of Philadelphia, PA, c. 1900. The guns would have either been made by Crescent Firearms of Norwich, Ct, or imported from various Belgian manufacturers.