I have an old 12ga single barrel shot gun. I have been told it is what is known as a hardware gun. each part is stamped with number 30488. Possible sears or wards gun made for sale in the early 1900's. The only name on it is Long Tom in a semi script form. Stock has some checkering. any ideas on where to look. I think bought by my grandfather in North Carolina
need history for long tom
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Long Tom: Trade name used by the Sears, Roebuck and Company of Chicago on shotguns they retailed.
The Long Tom was a cheap single-barrel shotgun sold from the 1890s to the 1920s. It was probably made by either the Batavia company in Batavia NY, J. Stevens Arms Company, or Meridian Fire Arms Co.
If you want to shoot it, it would be advisable to have a gunsmith measure the chamber length. A gun of that age is likely chambered for the 2 9/16" shell of the time, not todays 2 3/4" shells.
rc
The Long Tom was a cheap single-barrel shotgun sold from the 1890s to the 1920s. It was probably made by either the Batavia company in Batavia NY, J. Stevens Arms Company, or Meridian Fire Arms Co.
If you want to shoot it, it would be advisable to have a gunsmith measure the chamber length. A gun of that age is likely chambered for the 2 9/16" shell of the time, not todays 2 3/4" shells.
rc
armoredman
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I wouldn't think so.
Pretty sure none of them were damascus steel.
By the early 1900's smokeless powder was in wide use, and certainly by the 1920's the guns were nitro proofed and had seen a few.
The chamber length would be the major concern to me.
rc
Pretty sure none of them were damascus steel.
By the early 1900's smokeless powder was in wide use, and certainly by the 1920's the guns were nitro proofed and had seen a few.
The chamber length would be the major concern to me.
rc
I hunted for years with a Long Tom as a youth. I used off the shelf 2 3/4 shells. At the time I knew nothing about chamber lengths, however I know the shells came out clean and untattered. I gave them to a neighbor for his reloading. If they had been the wrong length the ends of the shells would have been fuzzy and not re loadable. But then again , when I lived down in Florida My friend had a old double Damascus that we used off the shelf shells. Now those shells came out fuzzy on the end, we never could figured out why.Some times I wonder how I survived my teen years. BTW, my Long Tom was so marked and appeared to be a early Stevens 94. It had no finish left, and i have no ideal of its age, I do remember it licked up tight as a vault.
I have one also. It has a 40" barrel. 12 ga.
chamber measures 3" from breech face to beginning of forcing cone.
stamped CHOKE BORED on left side of barrel. stamped GENUINE ARMORY STEEL on top of barrel.
Was my Grandpa's when he was young. He gave it to me when I was around 8 - 9 years old. (65 now) It stood taller then me then. (I also have his old ridged 97 pump).
He added the roughly bent homemade galvanized metal trigger guard. Riveted with nails. (And a little off center).
And since Dad wouldn't let me shoot it yet, I re-varnished the wood. (wish I wouldn't have done that now) I also used my wood burning set to add the checkering. (or that) They did not have that as sold.
Stock is short. About 14 1/2" from back of barrel to the back top of the butt plate. Kicks like a mule.
I take it to the trap range once in awhile. Stand with the butt on the ground, haller PULL. bring it up. load it and shoot hitting the bird way out on it's way down. The guy's always get a big kick out of that.
Does yours have a trigger guard? It looks like this one came new without one.
chamber measures 3" from breech face to beginning of forcing cone.
stamped CHOKE BORED on left side of barrel. stamped GENUINE ARMORY STEEL on top of barrel.
Was my Grandpa's when he was young. He gave it to me when I was around 8 - 9 years old. (65 now) It stood taller then me then. (I also have his old ridged 97 pump).
He added the roughly bent homemade galvanized metal trigger guard. Riveted with nails. (And a little off center).
And since Dad wouldn't let me shoot it yet, I re-varnished the wood. (wish I wouldn't have done that now) I also used my wood burning set to add the checkering. (or that) They did not have that as sold.
Stock is short. About 14 1/2" from back of barrel to the back top of the butt plate. Kicks like a mule.
I take it to the trap range once in awhile. Stand with the butt on the ground, haller PULL. bring it up. load it and shoot hitting the bird way out on it's way down. The guy's always get a big kick out of that.
Does yours have a trigger guard? It looks like this one came new without one.
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I guess Pinedog65 isn't coming back. Anyone else know if they had a trigger guard or not?
I have always wondered since I got the gun. I would have just thought grandpa lost or broke the original except for one the holes drilled all the way through the frame is off center. Noticeably. And nails for rivets. <grin>
I have always wondered since I got the gun. I would have just thought grandpa lost or broke the original except for one the holes drilled all the way through the frame is off center. Noticeably. And nails for rivets. <grin>
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