Bizarre old gun! Marble safety axe co.

[Col. Plink]

of Gladstone, Michigan long barrel over&under .22 & .44 "Game Getter"!

My dad just gave me the only gun he's likely to ever pass on , as I had no idea he even owned one until a few months ago and he just now got it out of his bottom drawer and gave it to me.

It's the craziest looking thing I've ever seen! Probably a 16" dbl barrel .22 & .44, missing a firing pin for the 22 barrel and part of the hammer for the 44 barrel. It has a pistol grip but looks like it has a deep slot in it to fit a 'broomhandle' stock. Break-open reloading by pusing back on the trigger guard.

WHAT IS THIS?? How old is it? Is it worth trying to find parts for?

 

[41magsnub]

Post fail... no pictures!

 

[fireman 9731]

Yep.

We need pictures.

 

[ATCDoktor]

Do your research. Marbles have a following and can be very valuable.

 

[mnrivrat]

PM sent

 

[Onmilo]

Barrels shorter than 18" and a .44 smoothbore shot barrel= NFA firearm.

 

[dirtymike1]

http://www.fourten.org.uk/nostalgia26.html

Good little write up OP

 

[Col. Plink]

Anybody have access to the BATF curio/relics list? I'm C&R and I believe this one falls inth that category because it's certainly 50+yrs old (mine is the 1909 version apparently). Thanks in advance!

 

[natman]

See page 4:

http://www.atf.gov/publications/download/p/atf-p-5320-8/atf-p-5320-8-chapter-2.pdf

Here's the C&R list:

http://www.atf.gov/publications/download/p/atf-p-5300-11/atf-p-5300-11.pdf

The short barreled Game Getter is listed under this section:

"SECTION IV: National Firearms Act Weapons
Classified As Curios Or Relics Under 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44
The Bureau has determined that the following NFA weapons are curios or relics as defined in 27 CFR 478.11 because of
their dates of manufacture. These NFA weapons, classified as curios or relics, are still subject to all the controls under
the NFA. However, licensed collectors may acquire, hold, or dispose of them as curios or relics subject to the
provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR Part 478. They are still "firearms" as defined in 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44
and 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53."

Time to talk to a lawyer.

 

[Col. Plink]

That's OK, don't know if I'll keep it anyway...

 

[armoredman]

If you do it can equal some time in Club Fed. Get a lawyer.

 

[KodiakBeer]

From the link above: Originally, the upper barrel was chambered for .22 short, long, and long rifle cartridges and the lower barrel chambered for the .44 shot and ball cartridges, but later guns could be had with the lower barrel chambered for the two inch .410.

It sounds like he has the earlier version chambered for .44, so it's not a shotgun, but a pistol and therefore quite legal. Or am I missing something?

 

[dirtymike1]

I guess shot and ball might be considered a shotgun in some eyes... No basis, just a guess...

 

[KodiakBeer]

I think they mean shot AND/OR ball cartridges. .44 specials which apparently came with shot loads as well as the typical lead ball loads

 

[Col. Plink]

To clarify, the .44 barrel is smoothbore.

But does it really matter if I already have my C&R?

The dang thing's gotta be pushin' 100yrs old...

 

[KodiakBeer]

It's chambered for a .44 pistol cartridge (I think...). It has a missing stock attachment, but so do a lot of lugers, broomhandles, etc.

I'm guessing this version isn't NFA, but if it was mine, I'd call the BATF and speak with them to make sure that the .44 version is exempt. If it's considered NFA, then just pay the tax. The collector value will surely cover the cost many times over. If it is NFA and you transfer it, you could get in big hot water.

 

[Grey Morel]

Try a Google search. These things are incredibly well documented, and somewhat common.

I'm willing to bet said Google search would even pull up scans of vintage adds for you.

 

[paducahrider]

44 gamegetter?

Howdy!
The 44 Game Getter/44-40 Marlin/44 Colt Lightning are all listed together in my 9th ed. "CARTRIDGES OF THE WORLD" reference manual(page 133).
It states that Marbles first introduced the Game Getter as an over/under pistol with removable skeleton buttstock, in 1908. The upper barrel was rifled and chambered for .22 rimfire; the lower barrel was smoothbore and chambered for the 44 Shot cartridge. This had a crimped base with cardboard wadding and others were loaded with a wooden or paper "bullet" which enclosed the shot.
Marbles had recommendations as to their usage in the Game Getter.
The general configurations of the cartridge are nothing more than load variations of the 44-40 WCF , with limitations for certain firearms because of overall cartridge length.
Time marches on.
Thanks for your time.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // You Dad has good taste.

The 12" and 15" are NFA regulated as "any other weapon" the 16" is ok since 1939.
Safety axe indicates pre 1911

Model 1908 serial # from A-M then 01-10000

2010 Standard Catalog of Firearms // Exc 1800/ VG 1200/ good 750/fair 550 poor 425

Glad to help with such a gift.
Pic will help further

 

[natman]

The 44 barrel is a smoothbore, chambered for these:

http://www.fourten.org.uk/mwpre410.html

It's an NFA gun. C&R or no, it's time to have a lawyer contact the ATF on the OP's behalf or at least post a question in the NFA section. Get the legal status straight before you do anything.

 

[Col. Plink]

Does it matter if the thing is completely inoperable? (missing a firing pin and part of the hammer).

 

[mnrivrat]

Does it matter if the thing is completely inoperable? (missing a firing pin and part of the hammer).

Nope !