.410 Hammer

[Bruce A Lyons]

Always wanted a .410 double. Like hammer guns. Entry level, needs work, but has great bores and nice wood. Marked American Gun Company New York. I presume it's a Crescent.

[Researcher]

Nice!!

For some reason, the H & D Folsom Arms Co. used the name "American Gun Co." on the guns they made at their Crescent Fire Arms Co. factory in Norwich, Conn. that they marketed, and that they sold to others that weren't ordered with a "trade brand" from the late 1890s until after WW-I. We do find a few higher grade guns from this period that are marked "Folsom Arms Co. New York" --

Engraved H&D Folsom 379074506.jpg

Early on these little hammer doubles were offered in 28-gauge and .44XL.

Catalog No. 11 Small Bore Double Barrel Guns.jpeg

Along about 1915 they began chambering the No. 44 to take the newly introduced in North America 2 1/2 inch .410-bore shell.

Catalog No. 18 Small Bore Double Barrel Guns.jpg

By about 1920 they began using the Crescent Fire Arms Co. name again.

Catalog No. 23.jpeg

[Bruce A Lyons]

Thank you for the great information. Was wondering about the 44XL. Chambers measure 2 1/4 inches. Zero choke. In fact my gauge will rattle a little at the muzzles. You have to push the top lever over to get it to lock up. Has side to side play. Roll pin looks OK but barrel hook has seen better days. Need to finish my Anschutz before I fool with it.

[Researcher]

My book on .410-bore shotshells say Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co. introduced them in 1914. No .410-bore shells were shown in the 1913-14 Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co. catalog, they first appear in the 1915-16 Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co. catalog --

1915-16 Catalog Small Gauge Loaded Shells.jpeg

2-inch .410-bore Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co..jpg

Those remained the offerings through the 1923 Remington Arms Co. Inc. catalog --

1923 .410-bore loads.jpg

2-inch .410-bore Remington Arms Co., Inc..jpg

These loads were 3/10 ounce in the 2-inch shell and 3/8 ounce in the 2 1/2 inch shell.

The .410-bore shell first appears in the 1916 Winchester catalog offered only in 2-inch.

By the mid-1920s progressive burning smokeless powder was applied to the 2 1/2 inch .410-bore shell --

Super-X .410 3-8 oz. 7 1-2 Chilled Shot.jpg

Shortly after the 3-inch .410-bore shell was introduced in 1933, our manufacturers upped the payload in the 2 1/2 inch shell to the 1/2 ounce we know today.

NITRO EXPRESS .410 half ounce load.jpg

[Drew Hause]

Bruce: It is likely that American Gun Co. New York guns were marketed by Sears.

A very rough estimate of DOM per Joseph Vorisek
Model 44 44/40 & .44XL c. 1910 to 1915,
Model 44 "Midget Field" .410 - 1915 to 1927,
Model 44 Improved .410 bore - 1927 to 1932.

Estimated production 36,000 or about 1,600 yearly.
1910 – 001 to 1,600
1911 – 1,601 to 3,200
1912 – 3,201 to 4,800
1913 – 4,801 to 6,400
1914 – 6,401 to 8,000
1915 – 8,001 to 9,600
1916 – 9,601 to 11,200
1917 – 11,201 to 12,800
1918 – 12,801 to 14,400
1919 – 14,401 to 16,000
1920 – 16,001 to 17,600
1921 – 17,601 to 19,200
1922 – 19,201 to 20,800
1923 – 20,801 to 22,400
1924 – 22,401 to 24,000
1925 – 24,001 to 25,600
1926 – 25,601 to 27,200
1927 – 27,201 to 28,800
1928 – 28,801 to 30,400
1929 – 30,401 to 32,000
1930 – 32,001 to 33,600
1931 – 33,601 to 35,200
1932 – 35,200 to 36,000

More Folsom, Crescent, American Gun Co. information here
https://docs.google.com/document/pub...iu5JGIhfguSXXQ

[Bruce A Lyons]

Looks like I have a 1911 unit. Thanks all for the info. Looks like I have a double rifle of sorts.