Hunters Special

Wayne Johnson · 04-14-2013, 05:30 AM

In the course of my poking around the shotgun rack at the gun store, I encountered a 12 ga double with no markings that I can find except the words "Hunters Special."

It seems to be a well made gun, and is priced in the same price range as the Parker Trogan I purchased recently. The barrels are probably 28-30 inches.

I'm not thinking about buying it. I've bought enough recently, but I'm always curious when I find somehting I don't know anything about.

I hope nobody minds the questions, but this place seems to be full of information.

winplumber · 04-14-2013, 06:34 AM

Go to the L.C. Smith collectors web sight it will tell you all about it. Oddly enough I just bought a double yesterday marked Montgomery Ward Co.and its made by Hunter Arms for them. Its a 20 ga and the price was right .

Wayne Johnson · 04-14-2013, 06:56 AM

Thanks for the info. I wasn't coming up with anything that looked right searching for "Hunters Special." Too generic I suppose. When I finally thought to add side by side shotgun to the search, I started to find stuff.

Thanks for the help.

Drew Hause · 04-14-2013, 10:48 AM

Hunter (No 's') Special, with the Smith rotary bolt lock-up, production was 5,971 1937-1945.

More infro here
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17126039

Confusion exists related to the Crescent 'Hunter' sidelock made for Belknap Hdw. and a 'Fulton Arms Company' by the W.H. Davenport.

Hunter Arms made a number of tradename guns using the Fulton 1918-1919 (including a Gladiator for Sears), and later the Ranger for Sears. Dr Jim and I are submitting an article to DGJ about the tradename Fultons.

In reviewing the Hunter Arms shipping records and the 1904 Annual Report, Dr Jim also discovered that the Hunter Arms boxlock 'Hunter' was first made in 1904, but not patented until 1911. The name was changed to the 'Fulton' in 1915. No boxlock Hunter guns are known to exist.