google is your friend
1)
# 86 - Simmons Royal Shotgun
11/14/96
"Michael E. Cook" -
[email protected]
Maker Model Caliber Barrel Length Finish Serial Number
Simmons Royal Side by side 12 gauge Unknown Unknown Unknown
Don't have gun with me therefore don't have all data at this time. Know manufacturer?
Answer:
Mike, Simmons was a "house brand" name used by some retailer (sorry I don't know exactly who) for several shotguns. The ones I have listed are Simmons model 411 and 411E. These were made by Savage under their own name as the Savage 540DL and 540BDE respectively, and also as the Fox BDE 20 ga. That's all I know. Hope it helps... John Spangler
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2) (likely related)
Enders Royal Shotgun: Trade name used by the
Crescent Davis Firearms Co. on shotguns made for
the Simmons Hardware Co. of St. Louis, Missouri.
Enders Royal Service made for Shapleigh Hardware Co.
AMERICAN GUN CO., NEW YORK
Norwich, Connecticut
Maker—Crescent Firearms Co.
Side-by-Side Shotgun
A typical trade gun made around the turn of the century by the
Crescent Firearms Co. to be distributed by H. & D. Folsom.
These are sometimes known as “Hardware Store Guns,” as
that is where many were sold. This particular gun was chambered
for 12, 16, and 20 gauges and was produced with or
without external hammers. The length of the barrels varied, as
did the chokes. Some were produced with Damascus barrels;
some, with fluid steel. The latter are worth approximately 25
percent more.
NOTE: For a full listing of most of the variations of the Crescent
Arms Co., and shotguns marked with American Gun Co. see
“Crescent F.A. Co.”
CRESCENT F. A. CO.
Norwich, Connecticut
Text and prices by Nick Niles
The company made good quality inexpensive single and double-
barrel shotguns at its Norwich works, beginning about
1892. It was bought by H&D Folsom of New York City, large
importers and distributors of firearms and sporting goods, so
they could add an American-made sidelock hammer, side-byside
to their extensive range of imported guns. The Crescent
guns were offered in 12, 16, 20, and 28 gauges and later, 44XL
shot caliber with Damascus twist laminated or Armory steel
barrels depending on the shooter’s wants. In 1898 VL&D said
these were the best American hammer guns in the market for
the money.
Huge quantities of these “Hardware Guns” were produced in a
profusion of private brands as well as in Folsom’s house brand
“American Gun Co. of NY.” In 1922 the Crescent brand replaced
the “American Gun Co. of NY” and can be found on
many thousands of doubles. In 1905 Crescent’s first hammerless
sidelock was introduced as the American Gun Co. “Knickerbocker”
Model No. 6. This very popular model became the
Crescent “Peerless” No. 6 in 1922. In 1928 it became the Crescent
“Empire” No. 60 and in 1931 the Crescent-Davis “New
Empire” No. 88, “New Empire” No. 9, and “Empire” No. 9.
Crescent was bought by J. Stevens Arms Co., Division of Savage
Arms Corp. about 1930. It was merged with Davis-Warner
Arms Corp. successors to N.R. Davis & Sons Co. and became
Crescent-Davis Arms Corp. In 1932 the operation was moved
to the Stevens plant at Springfield, Mass. where some sidelock
doubles were assembled, Crescent-Davis brand guns remained
in Steven’s full line catalog until 1941 but from 1937 to
1941 the doubles sold in the C-D brand were on either Stevens
or Davis boxlock frames.
I'll let you find the rest on your own ... thrill of the hunt and all.
