Guns that you turned your nose to but have changed your mind

[Researcher]

I thought maybe I had seen some composite barrel 410 s but I may be remembering wrong....does anybody out there have a Damascus or wire twist 410......charlie

The .410-bore shells were first introduced by our North American ammunition companies in the 1914-15 time frame. Apparently Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co. being the first out with them, according to Encyclopedia of The 410 Shotshell in America 1914 - 1942, by Greg Bickford. Apparently their first .410-bore shells were produced at their factory in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. From the 1915-16 Rem-UMC catalog --

1915-16 Catalog Small Gauge Loaded Shells.jpeg

J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. claimed their No. 106/108 single as the first .410-bore gun in North America.

Catalog No. 54, No. 106 & 108.jpeg

However, just to muddy the waters, the 1910 Harrington & Richardson catalog offers their Model 1905 for the .410 Eley --

H&R 1910 Catalog Model 1905.jpg

For a couple of decades prior, out mail order houses, importers and our manufacturers of small single barrels offered guns for the .44-40 shot and .44XL --

.44 shot cartridges.jpg

Little Ladies .44 Caliber Shotgun 1902.jpg

Imported little guns 1912 SD&G Catalogue.jpg

Many of these imported JABCs (Just Another Belgian Clunkers) had twist barrels. Many of the .44XL guns have been bored out to take .410-bore shells. If they have .44" bores like my H & R Model 1905 --

Model 1905 02.JPG

Model 1905 03.JPG

they couldn't have had much of a gas seal with the old fiber wads.