American Arms Whitmore

[Will Penny]

I have a 10 gauge that has a frame and forend iron that is exactly 10 digits
apart from the barrels and forend wood low 1000 numbers. I cannot fathom that somebody made 1 out of two as scarce as they appear to be. Is this a parts gun that was finished at the close of production? I was interested on the peoples opinion with more knowledge than mine. This is a grade with a quail on each side.
Thanks in advance for your knowledge.
Will

[Dave Noreen]

That is certainly what it sounds like. I have never recorded an American Arms Co. Whitmore with a four-digit serial number. Mine is two-digits and the others I've recorded are three digits. Post some pictures.

102995

[Will Penny]

I have to apologize, after getting the parts in bright light I can see all numbers are 1026. The frame is hardest to read at most angles, it looks like 1036. I hope the pictures are of good enough quality. Any info is appreciated, I have the booklet on this company. I know there is info that comes to light from time to time in the gun world.
Thanks, Will

[Dave Noreen]

Nice. That is a bit nicer than the others I've seen. Unusual that the engraver put the quail on the left side between the pins, but the snipe/woodcock on the right side above and in front of the front pin.

My gun serial number 63 only has two patent dates Aug 7, 1883 (No. 282,429), & July 17, 1888 (No. 386,174), and three screws in the trigger plate.

103038

103039

By serial number 421, there is a third patent date July 29, 1890 (No. 433,262), and a fourth screw in the trigger plate.

103040

103041

Serial number 643 is perfectly plain with no engraving and Twist barrels.

103042

My gun has a plain checkered butt plate. By 421 they were using the Bluffton, Ala. butt plates, even though on the ribs they are still marked BOSTON.

103043

103044

[Daryl Hallquist]

Interesting pictures. That distinctive rib appears on the rather high grade Crescent Triumph. I have wondered if there was any connection between the American Arms Whitmore and the Triumph.

[Dave Noreen]

The rib on a Triumph Hammerless --

103062

The patent date on the two Triumph Hammerless guns I have pictures of is June 16, 1885. There are two patents with that date in Larry Schuknecht's book -- P
.A. Altmaier No. 320,038 for a Safety and F. Beesley No. 320,040 for a Hammerless Cocking Mech.

[Daryl Hallquist]

The Whitmore Patent boxlock is not commonly seen. Here's a Graded one, maybe a Grade 2 or 3.

https://i.imgur.com/LgA5EmZ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/l7Eie87.jpg

[Will Penny]

Your grade 2 has the same damascus pattern as mine but the quail on mine is on the left side.

[John Eurom]

I just purchased a Whitmore at auction and will have to wait until it arrives but the auction photos are decent. Grade 1 serial #278; 12 ga. 30" twist pattern barrels. Bottom of frame marked Whitmore Pat w/last date July 20th 1890. This gun has cock indicators in the frame and Bluffton buttplate.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zkG4EU6Ybc2ZGj6m7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/K5bQ9dUN4uUeCZry9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/G1i3gJuoWjh8eyUD9

John

[George Davis]

Cornell has a pamphlet listing all the firearms brands/names which Cresent Arms Manufactured. It's very interesting.

Cornell Publications cornellpubs.com abby@cornellpubs.com
Publishers of over 5000 old gun catalogs and firearms books
PO Box 214
Brighton, MI 48114
810-225-3075

[Dave Noreen]

None of the other American Arms Co. Whitmore guns I've saved pictures of have indicators. Don't see them mentioned on the only flyer I've seen. It shows Twist barrel guns $50, Laminated steel barrel guns $55 and Damascus barrel guns $65. 10-gauges were $5 extra on guns below $75. "Special guns made to order from $75 to $300 according to finish."

[charlie cleveland]

nice old guns lots of questions to ask about these guns that may never be answered...charlie

[John Eurom]

None of the other American Arms Co. Whitmore guns I've saved pictures of have indicators. Don't see them mentioned on the only flyer I've seen. It shows Twist barrel guns $50, Laminated steel barrel guns $55 and Damascus barrel guns $65. 10-gauges were $5 extra on guns below $75. "Special guns made to order from $75 to $300 according to finish."

This is the only example of a Whitmore Hammerless double I have seen with indicators. I am glad I was able to get it bought. There were five other Am. Arms Co doubles on the Kramer auction. Four were FOX Side-Swing models. One was a pre Am. Arms with GEO H FOX on top rib. Another was a trans model ~'76. The other two were high grade '78 models. There was also a Semi-Hammerless with engraving that matched the engraved model I have. They are the only two I have witnessed with engraving.

So much yet to learn,

John