American Arms Whitmore
 

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

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.

Attachment 102995

Pictures
 

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

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.

Attachment 103038

Attachment 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.

Attachment 103040

Attachment 103041

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

Attachment 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.

Attachment 103043

Attachment 103044

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.

The rib on a Triumph Hammerless --

Attachment 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.

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

[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/LgA5EmZ.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/l7Eie87.jpg[/IMG]

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

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

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

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."

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

Am. Arms Co., Whitmore
 

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