Favorite scene engraving

[Researcher]

It seems that many of our double gun manufacturers shot for a $25 actual net selling price gun -- Remington K-Grade, L.C. Smith 00-Grade, Lefever Arms DS-Grade, A.H. Fox Gun Co. Sterlingworth. Parker Bros. tried with the Trojan, the very first flier giving a price of $25.50, but they couldn't do it and by the second flier the price was $27.50. Ithaca gun Co. came in even cheaper With their $30 List Price Field Grade with an actual net selling price of $19.50, claiming they could put out the gun for less money because of their water power.

[jeffery c]

It does seem that way! $25 must have been a practical and psychological price point threshold for farm and blue collars back then. I remember reading that the Flues Ithaca had few parts, fast lock time and was inexpensive to make.

[Researcher]

Originally Posted by jefferyconnor

It does seem that way! $25 must have been a practical and psychological price point threshold for farm and blue collars back then. I remember reading that the Flues Ithaca had few parts, fast lock time and was inexpensive to make.

Farm & blue collar workers got cheap Belgian imports (T. Barker, Sam Holt, W. Richards, etc.) or Crescents Fire Arms Co. under their numerous trade brands, J. Stevens, H & R, Iver Johnson, W.H. Davenport, etc. That $25 price point was for prosperous farmers and young entrepreneurs.

[jeffery c]

Makes sense. Even then though, some of those cheap old guns shot loose pretty fast, so it would have made sense to save up for at least a Stevens. H & R and IJ might have been okay too?
Actually, what do you think of the functionality of the cheaper guns, Researcher? I'm kind of showing my own assumptions when I rate them that way. I've always thought of Stevens as solid guns, though.

[charlie cleveland]

the old stevens is a solid gun in my book....charlie

[Researcher]

J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. and the J. Stevens Arms Co. made a lot of shotguns under their names and numerous "trade brands" with most have stood the test of time. I started my bird hunting career with my Mother's RANGER trade branded version of a J. Stevens Springfield No. 315. It had been restocked to a straight grip for her with a quality trigger guard by my great uncle who was a gunsmith in Seattle. I'm not much of a mechanic, and try to let those who know what they are doing go on the inside, but I suspect Crescents of soft parts. IMHO the best of the lower priced doubles are Ithaca's Lefever Nitro Specials.

[WHO]

This is an Ithaca Crass Grade 6 which is one of my personal favorites.

[Nick de Guerre]

WOW. When it's lovely to be crass...

NDG

[mobirdhunter]

I know folks are currently enamored with Bulino or Banknote engraving, but give me the (still-real, but stylized,) engraving of the early 20th century. Teddy Roosevelt once said "I know what I like," but he was talking about apples, not art. With art I think for most it's rather "I like what I know." Makes you want to know more.

[jeffery c]

On the bottom of the frame, that dog climbing the fence is so cool!