Unmarked Hammer 12 Ga. Shotgun

[B. Dudley]

My guess is that the rear trigger might be some home made replacement. Since it looks nothing like the front one.

[Rocky Nivison]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

My guess is that the rear trigger might be some home made replacement. Since it looks nothing like the front one.

Thanks Brian,
The odd trigger may have been modified for missing fingers or something. When I saved the forum for future generations I realized I misread Drew’s quote, since I was preoccupied with my brothers arrival, and thought this gun was a J. Stevens Arms and Co Model 235. A copy may change everything. Since my great-great grandfather would not have been alive in 1912 this means the J. Stevens Arms and Co Model 235 an improved copy of this gun. J. Stevens Arms Co. may have bought this design or company and improved it. I’ll have to find out when my great-great grandfather went to the other side. It may have only belonged to my great grandfather but ether way this gun could have come first. The odd trigger may have been modified for missing fingers or something.

While I have never shot the gun my uncle told me it is ready to hunt and as an engineer and a silver smith I know he was right. The first thing people notice is how tight it is. There is not a rattle on it even when broken open. It’s not Damascus steel, that I can tell, but I wouldn’t shoot any high power shells through it regardless although it looks like it could handle them with no problem. I can’t wait till I have time to research it further. I would like to contact Stevens but just don’t have time right now, but I will and I will also find out more about my great- great granddad because I think he was a blacksmith. This gun could also have been a proto type.

The odd trigger looks to be a custom fit and the original trigger that came with the gun. Looks like an on purpose design or modification. I will have to take it apart to make sure and will eventually. I need to take the stock and forearm plate off anyway to look for marks or stamps and it needs a good cleaning anyway.

[Rocky Nivison]

I said I hope you would excuse me if I get something wrong, and I hope you will because I have been working from the wrong side of my mother’s family. It was her father’s, father’s, father’s shotgun. Flem Smith was on her mother’s side of the family. My mom is 88 years old. I think I will probably have to eliminate one of my great granddads because he may have been too old to have ever seen a center fire shotgun. My great granddad was probably the first owner of this gun. No one left living that I know knows. I will have to visit the family grave yard to find out. I doubt this gun could have been made after 1912 if my great granddad died before 1912 and was the first owner and assume this is the case. This all took place in Vernon Parish Louisiana the home of Fort Polk, one of the largest army bases in the world. This gun could have come from there.

[Rocky Nivison]

Ha Brian, it’s a 2 finger shooter. Never using a side by side or 2 trigger gun, and trying it out, I don’t think I would have any other way. The first 2 fingers of the right hand fit like a glove. This gun should be about as fast and comfortable as any single trigger model on the market today and the selection of which barrel to use “faster”. The triggers look to be original equipment and not a modification.

[MarketHunter]

It's a J. Stevens for sure, I believe called the Riverside if memory serves. It's not a two finger gun, if you put both fingers inside the trigger guard the recoil of the first shot will make you pull the 2nd trigger everytime causing a double discharge. You put one finger inside at a time, that's just how it's done.


Destry

[Rocky Nivison]

Originally Posted by Destry L. Hoffard

It's a J. Stevens for sure, I believe called the Riverside if memory serves. It's not a two finger gun, if you put both fingers inside the trigger guard the recoil of the first shot will make you pull the 2nd trigger everytime causing a double discharge. You put one finger inside at a time, that's just how it's done.


Destry

Thank you Sir,
I was just thinking about that. Maybe it’s the WW1 army version meant to pull both triggers every time because it sure fills good that way although the one that pulls the triggers may not fill so well. Or maybe it was meant for low brass loads because it would be faster and more accurate to get rid of that thumb switch if you could overcome double ignition. Whatever the case may be thank you very, very much and as soon as all this deer hunting is over with I am going to check it out. There could only be one thing more important than something like this and it is what may be down stream of one of these things and if I thought this old rabbit ear shotgun could handle supper X X 3 1/2” magnum 000 buck shoot I would love to try it out in the morning with 2 fingers.

[Rocky Nivison]

Let’s see as it stands now we have a J Stevens Arms and Co. Model 235 2 Finger Riverside 12 Ga. Double Barrel Rabbit Ear Shot Gun. What do you think should I Asaw it off and bore it out to a 3 1/2 “magnum for title? It sure would make my great grand nephews class mate’s eyes grow a little bigger and you know how kids are, it’s going to happen someday anyway because it would then be a J Stevens Arms and Co. Model 235 2 Finger Riverside 12 Ga. 3 ½” Magnum Double Barrel Sawed Off Rabbit Ear Shot Gun the most dangerous and powerful firearm ever made. I’m going to have it disabled anyway. I couldn’t sleep; passing it on to family, if I didn’t have it disabled because it’s sure enough must be the most dangerous firearm ever made like it stands now. I will probably have to donate it to the local museum to keep something like that from ever happening.

[B. Dudley]

I don't quite follow you Rocky... It's just a beat up old hammer gun that has some home made replacement parts on it.

[Rocky Nivison]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

I don't quite follow you Rocky... It's just a beat up old hammer gun that has some home made replacement parts on it.

Thanks Brian,
It’s a mystery Brian, a what it is, what it was, and what’s it going to be. Something everyone can enjoy. A priceless air-loom regardless of how worthless it is. I found out yesterday the house my grandmother was born in may become another museum of Vernon Parish. This gun was major part of that family and I am sure they all used it and probably would be a better home. Again, to the museum, Pricless. I would like to find out as much about it before passing it on.

[MarketHunter]

If you try to fire that gun with fingers on both triggers then both barrels will go off, it won't matter what kind of shells you're shooting. If you're actually serious about shooting 3 1/2 magum shells in it then I would question your sanity. They do have fluid steel barrels, at least every one I've ever seen, so you could shoot regular field loads in it without a problem if the wall thickness was good. But anything else would just be silly in a cheap old gun like that.


Destry