Colt Model 1883
 

12 ga 1897 game gun, original condition. Fully documented including initials. This came from Westchester NY and was presented upon the graduation of Watson Beach Day from Yale University.

It will be used on wild birds again.

The 12 ga 28” bores are interesting.
Chambers 2 3/4”. 4” forcing cones.
Right: .721 , constrict to .710, choke .011
Left : .725, constrict to .704, choke ..021
4” choke tapers.

7lb2oz total wt.


WBD

That is certainly a very nice shotgun. I hope that you have many enjoyable hunts with it. Please correct me if I am wrong, if memory serves me, I believe that the Colt shotguns were actually made for a period of years by the English firm of C.G. Bonehill of Birmingham to Colt's specifications and exported into the U.S. until the McKinley Tariff was introduced in 1890 which over a period of years ended the association with Colt. It certainly appears to be a quality shotgun.

Bruce,

Thanks for posting this one. I have never seen a Colt hammerless shotgun. Howis W.B. Day related to you?

Ken

Very nice! Thanks for sharing

Just the same initials, that’s all. No known relation. A friend found the gun, called me and told me I needed to have it. He picked it up and sent it to me.

I understand that these guns were made in New Haven on special order only and that fewer than 8,000 were made. I’ve only seen one other Colt Mod 1883.

Here is another documented 1883 Colt 12 gauge shipped to J.P. Lovell Arms Company in Boston Mass. It was shipped June 7, 1892. Bores are .734 R, .732 L, chokes are .014R, .027 L. The gun weighs 8lbs 0oz. 30" barrels.

Great gun. Great photography.

Many thanks.

Thanks for showing the beautiful guns.


Here is a page from my reprint of the 1890 John P. Lovell Arms Co. catalogue depicting both the Colt hammerless and the top lever exposed hammer gun.

.

Bruce - fantastic gun and story. Original gold inlaid 1883’s are incredibly rare - I think this is the 3rd I have seen. I searched the past auctions and only two others have been sold publicly in the last 20 years. Oddly enough both of them had been offered publicly a couple of times each at different auctions.

If anyone sees a vintage gun that is gold inlaid “J.S. Loewensteiner “ please let me know! :rotf:

So Bruce, if we are hunting with you and you are using that gun, do we address you as Watson? :) BTW that is one very nice shotgun!