Any where from $250 to $550. Depending on the condition of the gun.
It depends on the grade,hammer or hammerless,damascus,condition of case colors and wood and blueing,etc.Also a bunch of other factors like engraving,length of barrels,how they are choked.I just put $1600 in a 1889 G grade hammer with damascus in good shape...Mike
If the gun is in good condition with no rust it would be a great mantle piece. Because of it's age(?) it might not be as safe to shoot modern ammo. For this, the guns' money value would be approx. $65-$125.
Can't be before 1892 or after 1931. If it is hammerless AND has fluid steel barrels, it is after 1903. Open hammers and/or damascus barrelled guns continued to be manufactured after that date also.
They are still being made.
No.
Some did, but not all.
The use of damascus barrels on guns began to decrease pretty rapidly after 1900, although they were still fairly common up until the start of WWI. If you have a breech loading gun with damascus barrels it will probably date from 1875 - 1910. Most damascus barrels on U.S. guns seem to have actually made in Belgium. There is a lot of debate as to whether any damascus barrels for shotguns were actually made in the U.S. It seems likely there may have been small numbers produced in the U.S. However, Belgium had a large gunmaking trade at the time, with a lot of barrel makers specializing in damascus barrels, so it was generallly cheaper to import them than to make them.
The time of the First World War pretty much ended the importation of Damascus barrels. US manufacture started petering out in the 1890's.
About $100 or so. The damascus/twist steel barrels are generally considered unsafe to shoot with modern ammunition.
Empire Arms was a trade name sold by Sears Roebuck. If it has the Crescent name on it, it would date from about 1893 to 1930. If it has open hammers and damascus barrels, it is more likely to be an early gun. Hammerless guns and fluid steel barrels were introduced about 1907, but sidehammer guns were not discontinued.
If it is marked "J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co" it was made between 1886 and 1916 when "Arms & Tool" were part of the company name. Value will depend on the configuration and condition. Side hammers usually go as mantle decorations, especially if they have damascus barrels ($75 for single shots, $125-$150 for double barrels). Boxlocks (back hammer or hammerless) in good shape can bring $75 (single) to $250 (double) as shooters.