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I am in the process of acquiring a Three Barrel Gun company Drilling in. 16 x 16 over 30/30. A rare configuration for an American made Drilling.
A very early gun made in NY, before they moved to WV.
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Something doesn't add up there. While Frank A. Hollenbeck was from New York State, he was down in Baltimore working with Baltimore Arms Co. around the turn of the century, and then went up to West Virginia and founded the Hollenbeck Gun Co. in 1901 to make his double and three-barrel guns. After Frank went bust in 1904, local businessmen took over and the business reemerged as the Three-Barrel Gun Co. in 1905, and pretty soon, Uncle Dan's son Frank Lefever became plant superintendant. Frank A. Hollenbeck returned to New York, and perhaps he took some parts with him?!? While it appears the majority of the three-barrel guns made in West Virginia were 12 x 12 x .32-40, they were also made in 16-, 20- and 28-gauges, and a great number of rifle calibers -- .22 WCF, .25-20 Win., .25-20SS, .25-25 Stevens, .25-35 Win., .25-36 Marlin, .30 WCF (.30-30), .32 Ideal, .32-20 and .32-40. Thumbing through my copy of the old Three-Barrel and Royal Gun Co. ledger, I'd estimate that after serial number 550, .30-30 was the second most common rifle caliber.