It seems that many of our double gun manufacturers shot for a $25 actual net selling price gun -- Remington K-Grade, L.C. Smith 00-Grade, Lefever Arms DS-Grade, A.H. Fox Gun Co. Sterlingworth. Parker Bros. tried with the Trojan, the very first flier giving a price of $25.50, but they couldn't do it and by the second flier the price was $27.50. Ithaca gun Co. came in even cheaper With their $30 List Price Field Grade with an actual net selling price of $19.50, claiming they could put out the gun for less money because of their water power.

It does seem that way! $25 must have been a practical and psychological price point threshold for farm and blue collars back then. I remember reading that the Flues Ithaca had few parts, fast lock time and was inexpensive to make.

Farm & blue collar workers got cheap Belgian imports (T. Barker, Sam Holt, W. Richards, etc.) or Crescents Fire Arms Co. under their numerous trade brands, J. Stevens, H & R, Iver Johnson, W.H. Davenport, etc. That $25 price point was for prosperous farmers and young entrepreneurs.

Makes sense. Even then though, some of those cheap old guns shot loose pretty fast, so it would have made sense to save up for at least a Stevens. H & R and IJ might have been okay too?
Actually, what do you think of the functionality of the cheaper guns, Researcher? I'm kind of showing my own assumptions when I rate them that way. I've always thought of Stevens as solid guns, though.

the old stevens is a solid gun in my book....charlie

J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. and the J. Stevens Arms Co. made a lot of shotguns under their names and numerous "trade brands" with most have stood the test of time. I started my bird hunting career with my Mother's RANGER trade branded version of a J. Stevens Springfield No. 315. It had been restocked to a straight grip for her with a quality trigger guard by my great uncle who was a gunsmith in Seattle. I'm not much of a mechanic, and try to let those who know what they are doing go on the inside, but I suspect Crescents of soft parts. IMHO the best of the lower priced doubles are Ithaca's Lefever Nitro Specials.

This is an Ithaca Crass Grade 6 which is one of my personal favorites.

WOW. When it's lovely to be crass...

NDG

I know folks are currently enamored with Bulino or Banknote engraving, but give me the (still-real, but stylized,) engraving of the early 20th century. Teddy Roosevelt once said "I know what I like," but he was talking about apples, not art. With art I think for most it's rather "I like what I know." Makes you want to know more.

On the bottom of the frame, that dog climbing the fence is so cool!