Didn’t I warn you? Those extra tight chokes are contagious!





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You did warn me Dean. I have shot skeet and trap very well with this Sterly and i can not put it down. It is a fun gun to shoot. My parkers are crying in the gun safe. Lol

Thanks Researcher, for posting the info on the 44-40 and 44 XL. Never seen those ads before. I've been thinking of working up a load for what I think is a 44 XL I picked up a little while back. It is a Walters and Son stamped laminated steel, but the worn areas look like fluid steel. The pattern is visible below the forend. Belgium made posing as British. Tiny little thing.

Attachment 84375

I always had a soft spot for the Crescent Arms hammer doubles. Had a few of them and they all held up their end of the bargain. I also have a soft spot for the Stevens 311. That was my Pappy's favorite (and only) double gun and in 16g too. It took countless rabbits and pheasants on the farm. Still have it. Only thing I ever did was add a recoil pad to give it some length. Still a good, solid gamegetter.

Until shortly after The Great War, H & D Folsom Arms Co., owner of Crescent Fire Arms Co., had the guns they marketed marked American Gun Co.

H & D Folsom Arms Co. Catalog No. 11 --

Attachment 84401

H & D Folsom Arms Co. Catalog No. 18 --

Attachment 84402

H & D Folsom Co. Catalog No. 23 --

Attachment 84403

Dave, were the Cresent's made in Batavia?? Where was the manufacturing plant??

Crescent guns were made in Norwich Connecticut until bought up by Savage

Folsom later acquired Baker in Batavia and some Baker guns were made with the crescent name on them, among others.

H & D Folsom Arms Co. bought the fire arms part of the Baker Gun & Forging Co. circa 1919, and moved production to their Crescent Fire Arms Co. factory in Norwich, Conn. A lot of the Folsom era Bakers don't have an address on them, just BAKER GUN CO. on one lock plate and BATAVIA LEADER on the other, but here is one with the Norwich, Conn. address --

Attachment 84410

Attachment 84411

All the Folsom era Bakers have an F in the serial number. It appears the Batavia Leaders and the Black Beauty Specials have a lower serial number range --

Attachment 84413

Attachment 84412

While the graded guns are in the 201xxx range --

Attachment 84414

J. Stevens Arms Co. combined the Davis-Warner Arms Corp. and the Crescent Fire Arms Co., both of which they acquired early in The Great Depression, as the Crescent - Davis Arms Corp. which continued in Norwich, Conn. until 1935, when it was dissolved and the remains moved to the J. Stevens Arms Co. factories in Chicopee Falls, Mass.

Attachment 84415

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From 1937 to WW-II the Crescent - Davis guns were listed on the last page of the J. Stevens Arms Co. Wholesale Price List.

Attachment 84425

But the pictures they used were old Springfield No. 311 and 315 pictures. From this time period we see some really strange combinations of Stevens, Crescent and Davis parts put together.

Researcher, you need to write a series of books!!

Another thread idea is ones you wished had turned your head and left your heart alone. Thing is I have been trying to forget about those

Often listed alongside the Winchester 24 as the ugliest side by sides ever made are these Stevens/JC Higgins/Model B/etc. .410's. The squared off receiver might be a little off-putting, but they are tons o' fun for not a lot of money (although the prices do seem to be going up)…

https://i.imgur.com/7qCLl2Gl.jpg

Actually I never turned my nose up at mine; I've always rather liked it :)!

I guess we're showing off our 410 doubles.

Here's my Ithaca Lefever Nitro Special 410 with 26" M/F barrels. As you can see, it's a later one. Weighs 5# 12 oz.

I've had this one for 51+ years. Paid $150.00 + $7.50 tax from Pearson's Gun Shop in Auburn, NY.

It has accounted for many cottontail rabbits and a few grouse.

In fact, I was grouse hunting with a PGCA member (Tom) quite a few years ago and was standing in some heavy cover with some tall Norway Spruce trees scattered here and there. I noticed something dropping from above.

It was grouse poop and some of it landed on the stock of my 410. Have you ever had a grouse poop on your gun? Almost justification to shoot them in the tree but it took flight and away it went. No shots taken.

All in good fun and sport.

https://i.imgur.com/9O6BKXG.jpg

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

https://i.imgur.com/2pgI04t.jpg

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

I was the guest of an old gentleman on an Iowa pheasant hunt a few years back. Though he could afford to shoot anything he wanted, his gun of choice was a well worn Stevens 311, in 12 gauge.
When asked, he explained that he has hunted with that old gun since he was a kid, and he shot it well.
And, he shot it well!

Phil, your flat frame .410 with checkered walnut is a thousand dollar gun, or close, today. There are other variations that sell for close to that. They will kill a pheasant and are easy to carry.

Julia's Marlin fake LC Smith 410 is deadly in her hands

I have heard about the Winchester 59 for many years and always said why would anyone want one. I heard the stories of those that loved it and others cursing the butt heavy feel among other things. Never handled one until a couple months ago. One was in a local gun shop and I chuckled at it and picked it up. It felt pretty good but still not my taste. I went back for other things a few times and always picked it up. Well the price was 299.00, it was in decent shape and had a modified barrel. I said what the heck lets give it a try and bought it. Took it down back to the range, set up the trip wires and shot it from many angles and both split and stacked doubles. It was a very fast handling gun that pointed well for me. Not sure how many birds I shot but only had one miss. So far so good but more shooting needed for a better assessment. Sure does carry nice at 6 and a half pounds!

In the right hands, the guns mentioned, would take as much game as a Parker Invincible, Fox G Special, etc.

I recently bought a Model 59 from a cousin of mine. It was family heirloom and the price was a giveaway, so I have one now. I still have not shot it.

Was the word "Woolner" etched or carved anywhere on it?... That's the only one I would like to own.





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