Hatfield Uplander

[jefferyconnor]

Anyone have any thoughts or first hand experiences regarding these guns? I remember reading they were USA made and had maple stocks and were well reviewed back in the 80’s.

[Garry L Gordon]

They are nice guns. The maple used for stocking the guns is quite hard and often splits at the head. I purchased one from Ted when they first came out, visiting their factory in St. Joseph. He had to replace my stock and did so without issue.

[jefferyconnor]

Do you still have that gun, mobirdhunter? Can you post pictures of it?

[Garry L Gordon]

Do you still have that gun, mobirdhunter? Can you post pictures of it?

Jeffrey, Here's the only picture I have handy. As I recall, it's a model II. Dennis Potter was doing the engraving for Ted at the time (again, if my memory serves me). Their graded models had French Grey finishes, but the base model was color hardened (and looked very nice). The hard maple stocks generally had great figure and a deep, rich coloring (just like his Hatfield Squirrel Rifles). I still have the catalog somewhere. I hope this helps.

[Garry L Gordon]

Jeffrey, I forgot to mention that although the guns were assembled and fitted out in St. Joseph, the barrels and receivers were manufactured abroad (Italy, as I recall). Good Ole American hard maple, though(!)

[John Dallas]

Wasn't one of their guns presented to President G H W Bush?

[Garry L Gordon]

Yes, and Ted showed me the gun that had just been completed. It had a gold inlaid presidential seal on the trigger plate. I think the honorable President could not keep it due to some law regarding gifts. It was a nicely appointed gun.

[todd allen]

I bought one new. A 20/28 ga. two barrel (gauge) set. Both BBL sets were choked IC/Mod. It was a good little quail gun. Sold it in a moment of weakness

[jefferyconnor]

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/shotguns-american/hatfield-uplander-20-gauge.cfm?gun_id=101623847

This is the one I was considering. I believe the screw in chokes might not be original. I always worry about the possibility of point of aim changes and sloppy workmanship with aftermarket screw in chokes.

Does anyone remember if Hatfield offered screw in chokes?

[jefferyconnor]

Jeffrey, I forgot to mention that although the guns were assembled and fitted out in St. Joseph, the barrels and receivers were manufactured abroad (Italy, as I recall). Good Ole American hard maple, though(!)

I knew about the Italian barrels, I had the impression the frames and the rest were made by Hatfield. There is an interview from 1987 I found and read online.

[Garry L Gordon]

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/shotguns-american/hatfield-uplander-20-gauge.cfm?gun_id=101623847

This is the one I was considering. I believe the screw in chokes might not be original. I always worry about the possibility of point of aim changes and sloppy workmanship with aftermarket screw in chokes.

Does anyone remember if Hatfield offered screw in chokes?

I bought mine early on, and I know they made changes (Ted told me when I returned mine for a new stock that they were contemplating going to walnut). I never saw an option for screw-in chokes, but I was not actively looking at them after I bought one. There is nothing about screw-in chokes (or custom choking for that matter) in the catalog/flyer that I still have.

[Garry L Gordon]

...also, those early guns had solid rubber recoil pads. Here's a photo of my first stock that lives in my library (and was easy to get to). Ted had a try gun and took me to the local skeet range for fitting. The first stock had the added spacer, but the second one was a truer fit and did not have the spacer. I could not see much detail in the GI photos, but that butt plate did not seem to fit well (but, again, I could not get much detail). I would sure ask pointed questions about the stock head.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

I was a guide/huntsman at the National Grouse and Woodcock Hunt in Grand Rapids Minnesota in 1989, was 35 yr. old. They had one on display for auction , and I lusted after that gun. I was shooting my VH 16 1 frame back then. Wonder how many Hatfield shotguns were produced, you rarely see them up for sale . Thinkin' the screw in chokes were aftermarket.

[jefferyconnor]

...also, those early guns had solid rubber recoil pads. Here's a photo of my first stock that lives in my library (and was easy to get to). Ted had a try gun and took me to the local skeet range for fitting. The first stock had the added spacer, but the second one was a truer fit and did not have the spacer. I could not see much detail in the GI photos, but that butt plate did not seem to fit well (but, again, I could not get much detail). I would sure ask pointed questions about the stock head.

Thanks for pointing that out. That buttplate does look poorly fitted. Every picture on the net I could find show Uplanders with a solid red-brown rubber pad bevelled at the top like yours.

[Bill Murphy]

Jeffery, the GI gun wouldn't be my choice to spend $1559.00 on. Just my opinion.

[Richard Flanders]

What Bill said.