wards hercules model 50

[jwel]

What years were the wards hercules model 50 in 410 made? This one has a 5000 on the right side.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Monkey Wards. This brings back memories.

What manufacturer actually made the gun? It might be easier to start from there.

 

[Ron James]

Iver Johnson

 

[Steven Mace]

jwel, I believe you're describing a SxS shotgun actually made by Savage/Stevens/Springfield. The Hercules Model 50 sold by Wards was actually the Springfield Model 5000. The Model 5000 was introduced around 1923 and then replaced by the Model 5100 in 1931. Then this shotgun became the Stevens Model 311 in about 1941 and was eventually discontinued in 1989. Hope this helps!

Steve Mace

 

[Ron James]

Oops, Steve Mace is correct, if it was marked Hercules Grade it would be a Iver Johnson, Just Hercules, then Stevens.

 

[jwel]

Thanks! Got it from my dad. Also got a 1910 Remington 11. a 1925 Winchester model 12 , (both in 12 Ga)and a Mossberg 151M-b 22lr. Got all guns dated now except the Mossberg. The Wards is dated approximately.

 

[jwel]

It's probably a dumb question. But, can the gun take 2.5" sheels?I'm asking because inside the barrel, there is a "lip" where the barrel is narrower at the end of the 3" shell. It seems to me that a 2.5" shell. The shot chaege would hit the lip. The barrels say nothing about shell length.

 

[Ron James]

A shotgun chamber is measure by the length of an unfurled shell ( fired shell ) A chamber cut for a 2 1/2 inch shell would be in actuality 2 3/4 inches long.
A chamber cut for a 2 3/4 shells would be 3" long and so on.

 

[jwel]

Thanks! I think it will take both. After I looked at it. It looks like the so called"lip" is actually the change in color from the chamber to the barrel. My Winchester 1300 Defender. That takes both sizes, looks the same.

 

[BADSBSNF81]

Model 151M(b), buttplate changed from steel to plastic, made 1948-1954

http://home.epix.net/~damguy/models.htm for more information.