Folsom, Crescent & Tradename Guns

H.&D. Folsom Arms Co., Crescent Fire Arms Co. & Tradename Guns

“The Tiffany of Sporting Goods”

In 1888, George W. Cilley bought the assets of the defunct Bacon Arms Co. of Norwich, CT and formed an alliance with Frank A. Foster. Cilley and Foster each held several firearms patents, and both were experienced in firearms design and manufacture.

Production under Cilley began with single shot tip-up shotguns that had an external side hammer. The Crescent Fire Arms Co. was incorporated in Connecticut on March 4, 1892.

THE CRESCENT FIRE ARMS COMPANY

Articles of Association of The Crescent Fire Arms Company

The undersigned hereby associate as a joint stock corporation under the Laws of this State by Articles of Agreement as follows:

ARTICLE I. The name by which this corporation shall be known is The Crescent Fire Arms Company

ARTICLE II. The purpose for which it is constituted is to manufacture and sell guns, rifles and pistols and all kinds of fire arms and to purchase and, hold and sell any property necessary or convenient for the prosecution of said business, and generally do all things incidental to said business

ARTICLE III. The corporation is to be located in the Town of Norwich, County of New London, and State of Connecticut.

ARTICLE IV. The amount of its capital stock is $27,900 divided into 1,116 shares of the par value of $25.00 each.

ARTICLE V. Each of the Incorporators agrees to take the number of shares of said capital stock annexed to his name, each share to be of the par value of $25.00 each and to pay 25% thereof in cash at the time of said subscription and the balance thereof as called for by the Directors.

Dated at Norwich this 23rd day of February 1892.

(There follows the list of stockholders.)

To all persons to whom these presents come: The undersigned being a majority of the directors of The Crescent Fire Arms Company, a corporation organized under the Laws of the State of Connecticut regulating the formation of joint stock corporations and located in the Town of Norwich, County of New London in said State of Connecticut in pursuance of said statute laws hereby certify as follows:

1. The foregoing is a true and accurate copy of the Articles of Association of said corporation, of the names and (not legible:author) residence of the subscribers to its capital stock and the amount of stock taken by each.

2. Said Articles of Association were on this 26th day of February 1892 published at full length in the Norwich Morning Bulletin, a newspaper published in New London County, the same being the county in which said corporation is located.

3. The amount of capital stock actually paid for in cash is $5,580, being 20% thereof.

4. The amount of said capital stock paid for in property is $14,000 and consists of stock, tools, machinery and fixtures and is of actual value of $14,000.

5. And in further pursuance of such statute laws we cause this certificate to be posted with the Secretary of State and a duplicate thereof with the Town Clerk of the Town of Norwich in which said corporation is to transact its business. Dated at Norwich, Connecticut this 2nd day of March A.D. 1902

H.H. Gallup, E.R. Thompson, George W. Cilley, Frank A. Foster; a majority of the Directors.

Rec'd and filed by Willis A. Briscoe, Notary Public, March 4, 1892.

In 1893, the majority of Crescent stock was acquired by H.&D. Folsom 314 Broadway, New York City. Both the 1905 and 1915 Norwich City Directories listed H.H. Gallup as President of Crescent Fire Arms Co.

Information courtesy of Pete Mikalajunas

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=278742

Henry T. Folsom, David Folsom, Anna R. Folsom, & Eleanor T. Folsom, 1916

According to an article in the July 3, 1900 New York Times, the previous day Henry T. was examining a pile of second hand revolvers, picked up a .38 and pulled the trigger shooting and killing a 22 year employee/salesman of Folsom Co. named Peter Koller. Henry was arrested but the shooting was determined to have been an accident.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F20B12FD3D5B11738DDDAA0894DF405B808CF1D3

The list of competitors at the 1898 Grand American Handicap at Live Birds included H.T. Folsom of Orange, New Jersey, using a Francotte

#49

https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll17/id/45661

Henry Titus Folsom (1859-1937) was President of the company, and was succeeded by his son, H. Lloyd (1888-1954) who led the company through the depression and World War II. Lloyd may have designed a pump shotgun marketed by Folsom c. 1920. Marlin made a pump shotgun (Model 16) marked “National Fire Arms Co” for Folsom.

Lloyd's son, Rev. Henry T. (Hank) Folsom, born 1927, wrote Rendezvous In the Bush about his father's and his hunts in East Africa

https://dioceseofnewark.org/content/death-our-diocesan-family-rev-henry-titus-folsom

Other ‘Folsoms’ of that era include Charles Folsom, Est. 1852 and in 1884 at 106 Chambers St., New York, E.A. Folsom, and N.D. Folsom & Co., New Haven, Conn. Any relationship between the companies is unknown

http://books.google.ca/books?id=ZxHOAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA13&dq

1885 Folsom & Co., New Haven

N.D. Folsom, New Haven, 1894 courtesy of Jeff Kuss

H.& D. Folsom was established in 1849 and distributed Birmingham and Belgian made firearms (including some marked W. Richards and T. Barker) under many trade names from 1880 until about 1932.

1881 Catalog

1889 catalog

Fred Biffar was a Folsom Arms Co. representative in 1895

The Folsom “Parker Trap Gun”

From 1882 until at least 1892, Folsom contracted with Parker Brothers to create “The Parker Trap Gun”; 10g & 12g Grade 0 - 2 hammer and hammerless with Laminated Steel and Twist barrels and a special buttplate.

The Parker order books include Folsom 12g guns with 36”, 38”, and 40” barrels; and four 16g with 38” barrels!

Order 14744 in 1882 were Grade 2 guns; 12g listed for $80 (net $50.01 after discount) and 10g for $85 (net $53.14).

In orders 47641 – 47645 there were five 12 gauge at 40 inches, twenty 12 gauge at 38 inches, seven 12 gauge at 36 inches and five 12 gauge at 34 inches. The stocks on the 40 inch guns were to have a length of 14 ¼ to 14½ inches and a drop of 3 to 3 1/2 inches. All were to have trap butt plates.

Order 49457 May 11, 1892 was for eight hammer guns with twist barrels, four hammer guns with laminated barrels, and three hammerless guns with twist barrels. Seven were 38” and eight were 40”.

Orders 53623 – 53627 was for four 12 gauge at 40 inches, two 12 gauge at 38 inches; all to have trap butt plates.

Orders 80371 – 80375 had five 12 gauge at 40 inches and ten 12 gauge at 38 inches, but no mention of the trap butt plates.

Forest & Stream November 28, 1882

https://books.google.com/books?id=K0ohAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA358&lpg

(Courtesy of Mark Conrad and the PGCA)

Crescent Fire Arms Guns

The earliest shotgun made by Crescent was a side lever single that was a continuation of the shotguns the Bacon Arms Co. made during the last few years it was in business.

This shotgun, as made by Crescent, was made in three types:

First Type: Shotguns assembled from old Bacon parts and not marked with the Crescent name. These shotguns were made until late 1892 or early 1893.

Second Type: Model 4 Sidelever by Crescent. It was a Bacon shotgun assembled from new Crescent made parts and marked CRESCENT F.A. CO. NORWICH, CONN. This shotgun was made until the end of 1895 or early 1896 with Twist barrels.

Third Type: Model 5 of 1896. This gun was a slightly altered version of the Model 4 and was made until 1901, initially with Twist but later Decarbonized barrels. Variants were still listed in the 1902 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog No. 112.

Crescent Fire Arms “New Trap Hammerless Single Gun” first appeared in the 1898 Sears catalog with Twist barrels

https://archive.org/stream/consumersguideno00sear#page/362/mode/2up

:rolleyes:

In the 1900 catalog, it was still listed with Twist barrels but carried the label “Bored For Nitro Powder”

It was still included in the 1902 catalog as the “New Improved Trap Hammerless Single Barrel Gun With Genuine Twist Barrel for $6.25.”

1900 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog “Our Club Hammerless” with “blued decarbonized steel barrel...bored from a solid bar of Wilson’s Welded Steel”

In 1902 it was listed with “rolled steel blued barrel...the best grade of Wilson’s steel”.

The 1902 Sears catalog listed a 16 gauge top lever hammer “Automatic Ejector Single Gun”, a sculpted frame Crescent No. 8 “Bored For Nitro Powder” with “Decarbonized Armory Steel Barrel” with a thumb screw barrel takedown lever, or Twist without the lever.

“Our New Crescent Genuine Twist Barrel Take Down Gun made by Crescent Fire Arms Co.” which is a top hammer Crescent No. 7 with Twist barrel

https://archive.org/stream/catalogueno11200sear#page/294/mode/2up

New White Powder Wonder with sculpted frame but no takedown lever

And a 36” and 40” single also with a sculpted frame

Crescent also produced a reproduction of the Remington Rolling Block No. 4 single shots for .32 caliber rimfire shotshells starting in 1891.

1901 Sears catalog

Triumph Hammerless

In early 1895 Crescent introduced its first hammerless double, the Triumph Hammerless, made in 12 gauge with either 30" or 32" Damascus or Twist barrels. The gun was based on patents issued to Frederick Beesley and controlled by Charles Lancaster, and was the only boxlock hammerless double ever made by Crescent.

They were made on order for Sears Roebuck & Co. and probably less than 750 were manufactured. It was listed in the Folsom catalog for $22 with Twist barrels, $25 with Damascus, and in the 1897 Sears catalog No. 104 for $27.50

1898 Sears catalog No. 107 - https://archive.org/stream/consumersguideno00sear#page/354/mode/2up

Left side of the receiver is stamped “Triumph Hammerless Pat. June 16, 1885”

The gun was dropped from the Crescent line in 1898 and Crescent would not produce another hammerless double until 1904 when the sidelock Model 6 was introduced.

Single Barrel Guns

No. 1 - Bacon side lever hammer gun made by Bacon Arms Co. 1887-88

No. 2 - Bacon side lever hammer gun assembled by Crescent from Bacon

parts 1889-1893.

No. 4 - Bacon side lever hammer gun. Made entirely by Crescent 1893-1895

No. 5 - Model of 1896 side lever hammer gun. Made 1896-1901, but listed in

The 1902 Sears catalog No. 112

No. 7 - Sculpted Frame single with a barrel hinge pin takedown lever. 12, 16 or 20

gauge and (later) .410. Made 1897- unknown

No. 8 - Same as Model 7 except auto ejector. Made 1902- unknown

No. 10 - Flat Frame Victor. Made 1902-1932

No. 11 - Same as Model 10 except auto ejector. Made 1902-1928

No. 12 - Empire State Goose Gun (Davenport Model) 10 gauge. Made 1910-1915

No. 13 - New Field. Cheaper version of Model 11. Made 1910-1920

No. 14 - Ejector No. 2. Cheaper version of Model 11. Made 1910-1920

No. 15 - Cheaper version of Model 10/11. Made 1928-1932

Handy Gun .410 folding shotgun and pistol (pistol made 1928 to 1932)

Hammer Doubles

The Model O (Armory Steel), 2 (Twist) & 3 (Damascus) hammer double was introduced in 1897 and remained in production until about 1931 with serial numbers from 001 to 630,001. Originally made only in 12 and 16 gauge, the 20 gauge version appeared about 1905. The total production appears to have been over 600,000.

In 1897 the Folsom catalog listed five hammer models:

#2641 - Top lever hammer gun with Armory Steel barrels (Belgian made) in 12g only for $14.

#2650 - With damascus barrels for $15. The Fall 1902 catalog listed Twist barrels.

#2660 - Similar gun but claimed to be “all American made” (likely the Model O).

#2655 - Twist barrels and Deeley & Edge snap forend with engraving on locks and trigger guard for $18.

#2665 - Damascus barrels and more extensive engraving for $20

The 1900 Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalog #110 listed a “Special High Grade American Gun” No. 33961 for $15.75 and “Our Very Finest Special Made American Gun” No. 33962 $17.60

Which were also offered in Hardware Co. catalogs

1902 Sears catalog No. 112 Crescent New American and Special High Grade American hammer guns

https://archive.org/stream/catalogueno11200sear#page/288/mode/2up

American Bar Lock Wonder

1912 Sears catalog No. 124 Crescent hammer guns

https://archive.org/stream/catalogno12400sear#page/894/mode/2up

Hammerless Doubles

In 1904 Crescent resumed the manufacture of hammerless doubles with the introduction of the Model 6 sidelock hammerless double. This gun was an immediate success and it was offered in 12, 16 and later, 20 gauge. The Model 6 was offered initially only with Armory Steel barrels; but Damascus No. 8 and Twist No. 7 models were quickly added. It appears that the bulk of the Twist and Damascus barrel shotguns were sold through Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogs.

“The Berkshire Hammerless” No. 6 with “Armory Steel blued barrels” was listed in the 1912 Sears catalog for $11.90

https://archive.org/stream/catalogno12400sear#page/892/mode/2up

Crescent Knickerbocker No. 6 Armory Steel in 1915 Folsom Catalog No. 11

Courtesy of David Noreen

The Crescent made Folsom Arms Co./American Gun Co. “Knickerbocker” Hammerless was listed from 1904 to about 1910, then the “Knickerbocker Improved” with coil spring locks until about 1916.

Catalog No. 18 c. 1921 listed the “American Gun Co. No. 6 Knickerbocker” with the earlier ‘V-shaped main springs’. The name was changed in Catalog No. 20 to Crescent Gun No. 6 “Peerless” (without cocking indicators).

The “Empire” No. 60 appeared in Catalog No. 23 c. 1925. The Empire and New Empire models no longer have a “Deeley & Edge” forend latch, but a J-spring “snap on” forend.

The “New Empire” No. 88 and No. 9 were listed in Catalog No. 27 in 1929.

Hammerless Disassembly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp_iJ_KQyx0

Folsom acquired the W.H. Davenport Arms Co. in 1909. 1910 to 1915 were strong years for Crescent as its three basic models all sold well. By 1915, however, both Crescent and Folsom were starting to suffer a declining sales. Wages were increasing related to production for the war in Europe, and other U.S. makers were producing “utility grade” guns that were perceived to be of higher quality.

In an apparent attempt to address the public’s perception of quality, or the lack thereof, a slogan appeared about 1918 and was used on almost all advertising until 1935:

“CRESCENT GUNS ARE GOOD GUNS”

Outdoor Life September 1925

“The Best Low-Price Guns Made”

Folsom acquired the Baker Gun & Forging Co. in 1919

Sale of Crescent Fire Arms

The N.R. Davis Arms Co. was located in Assonet, MA starting in 1853. In 1917, N.R. Davis & Sons merged with Warner Co., Norwich, Connecticut from 1917 to 1930 operated under the name Davis-Warner Arms Corp., Brooklyn, NY and Norwich, CT.

New England Westinghouse bought J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. for war production in 1916 and changed the name to J. Stevens Arms Co. In 1920, J. Stevens Arms Co. was sold to Savage Arms Corp., which continued to run it as a separate entity until after WW-II.

In 1930 J. Stevens Arms purchased Davis-Warner Arms Corp., and a Stevens memo dated December 15, 1930 announced the purchase from H&D Folsom Arms Company of the assets of Crescent Fire Arms Company of Norwich, Connecticut. The Connecticut Industrial Census done in 1930 listed 100 Crescent employees. The assets of Crescent were to be merged with those of Davis-Warner Arms Corporation and that the newly formed firm would be known as The Crescent-Davis Arms Corporation, Norwich, Conn.

Catalogs thereafter carried the statement:

“Today’s Greatest Value Among Popular Priced Guns”

On November 4, 1935, an order of dissolution was filed with the New York Secretary of State and the remains were moved to the J. Stevens Arms Co. plant in Chicopee Falls, MA.

In 1937 Crescent-Davis Arms Corp. was listed in Springfield, Massachusetts, but the 1938 J. Stevens Arms Co. catalog included Crescent-Davis in Chicopee Falls.

Stevens continued to manufacture a few models of Crescent-Davis shotguns until 1943, and both Davis boxlock and Crescent sidelock guns were marked “Stevens”.

In 1954 Folsom was purchased by Universal Tackle and Sporting Goods Co.

Price Comparison

1915 Supplement

“Cheapest guns made in the United States”

No. 0 hammer retail $13 - $7.75 dealer

No. 6 Knickerbocker Armory steel hammerless retail $18 - $10.50

No. 7 Knickerbocker Twist hammerless retail $20 - $13.50

1915 Iver Johnson Sporting Goods, Successors to John P. Lovell, Boston

Parker Trojan - $27.50

Fox Sterlingworth - $25.00

Ithaca Field - $19.00

Torkelson B Grade - $25.00

Stevens 335 - $16.50

Fulton - $17.50

Baker Black Beauty - $18.00

Lefever Durston Special - $25.00

Knox-All Hammerless (Crescent No. 6) - $15.00

Iver Johnson - $18.00

Riverside Arms Co. (J. Stevens) - $15

1927 Schoverling, Daly & Gales Trade Price List for Catalogue No. 102

Hammerless Double……....Retail…………Trade

American Gun Co..........................................................Folsom catalog list

Peerless 6.....................$24....................$19....................$24.50

Empire 60....................$23....................$18....................$23.75

Davis Warner

Ajax............................$25....................$17

Premier.......................$30....................$18.50

Riverside 315.........................$24....................$19

Springfield 311.......................$23....................$18

Parker

Trojan...........................$51.50...............$48

VH................................$64.50…...........$54

Smith Field.............................$40....................$33.....................$50

Ithaca

Lefever Nitro.................$28.25..............$21.75

Field...............................$37.50……......$30

Grade 1..........................$47.50….….....$39

Folsom Catalog Years

No. 11 - 1915

No. 13 - 1916

No. 17 - 1920

No. 18 - 1921

No. 20 - 1922

No. 23 - 1925 or 1926

No. 27 - 1929

No. 31 - 1930

No. 35 - 1935

No. 40 - 1932

No. 45 - 1936

Total Production

Sidehammer Model single - less than 20,000

All other single barrel guns - 900,000 +

Triumph Model hammerless double - less than 750

Sidelock Hammerless (except Empire and Quail Model) - 450,000

Empire, New Empire and Quail Model Hammerless double - 120,000

Hammer Double (except small gauge) - 630,000

Small gauge hammer double - 40,000

This adds up to more than 2 million shotguns over 43 years, not counting Rolling Block singles, Davenport marked guns, and Baker guns.

PLEASE NOTE: Production dates are an estimate based on Folsom catalogs which, for the most part, were numbered but not dated.

Hammer Doubles

No. 0 - 12, 16 (introduced in 1904) or 20 gauge (introduced in 1905)

Made 1897 to about 1931.

Early models were marked “H&D FOLSOM ARMS CO. N.Y.U.S.A., and had “Laminated Steel” (Twist) barrels.

1904 H. & D. Folsom catalog labeled the hammer double “American Gun Co., American Machine-made Hammer Guns”.

No. 1 - Same as No. 0 with “Genuine Armory Steel” barrels.

AMERICAN GUN CO. NEW YORK or only N.Y. were made for Sears

No. 2 - Same as No. 0 except Twist barrels. Made 1901 to 1915

No. 3 - Same as No. 0 except Damascus barrels. Made 1901 to 1915

No. 4 - Same as No. 2 with engraving. Made 1904 to 1908

No. 5 - Same as No. 3 with engraving. Made 1904 to 1908

Catalog courtesy of David Noreen

In 1924 the guns were called “Crescent Fire Arms Co., Machine Made Hammer Guns”

In addition to the full sized models, three small bore hammer doubles were made between 1910 and 1932:

Model 28 28 gauge - 1910 to 1927,

Model 44 44/40 & .44XL c. 1910 - 1915

Model 44 “Midget Field” .410 - 1915 until 1927,

Model 44 Improved .410 bore - 1927 - 1932.

Hammerless Doubles

No. 2 - Probably versions of Triumph Model,

No. 6 - 12, 16 or 20 gauge sidelock. The “Knickerbocker” was listed from 1904 to about 1910, then the “Knickerbocker Improved” with coil spring locks until 1916.

Catalog No. 13 1916 listed the “Knickerbocker Hammerless No. 6 Engraved”

The illustration on c. 1920 Folsom letterhead shows an American Gun Co. marked No. 6 labeled “Manufactured by The Folsom Arms Co.”

Catalog No. 18 c. 1921 again listed the American Gun Co. No. 6 Knickerbocker.

“Crescent Gun No. 6 Peerless” (without cocking indicators) was made c. 1916 to 1925.

6E - The 1920 catalog listed a “Crescent Fire Arms Co. No. 6E Peerless

Engraved”.

7 - Same as Model 6 except 12 or 16 gauge only with Twist barrels.

Made 1904 to 1915,

8 - Same as Model 7 except Damascus barrels. Made 1904 to 1915,

60 - 12, 16 and 20 gauge “Empire” introduced in 1925, with a “snap-on” FE.

The “New Empire” No. 88 and No. 9 appeared in Catalog No. 27 in 1929.

66 - 410 bore “Quail Model” made 1920 to 1932.

Crescent Fire Arms Co. Shotgun Dates of Production

Crescent Fire Arms Co. production records do not exist, and are believed to have been destroyed as part of World War II paper drives following the dissolution of Crescent-Davis Arms Corporation, Norwich, Conn. by J. Stevens Arms Co. in 1935.

Joseph T. Vorisek’s estimated Dates of Manufacture were published in The Breech Loading Shotgun In America 1865 to 1940, but appears to contains errors in the production dates for the various named Hammerless Double models based on available H&D Folsom catalogs which, for the most part, were numbered but not dated.

Total production numbers are based on Vorisek’s estimates, and the yearly production numbers do not take into account the fluctuations in production after the “Panic of 1907”, the flood of cheap Belgian imports after repeal of the McKinley Tariff in 1912, during the First World War, or after the Stock Market Crash of 1929.

These numbers also apply to the hundreds of Tradename guns produced by Crescent and sold by Folsom.

Single Barrel Date of Manufacture

Estimating DOM for the single barrel variants (both sculpted and flat frame post-about 1902 Victor models) is problematic. Joseph Vorisek based his numbers on the belief that more than 900,000 were produced between 1897 and 1932. The serial numbers for the Davenport Model Empire State Goose Guns may also be part of the series. The output from the Crescent factory (including tradename singles) would then be about 26,000 guns yearly over 35 years. Vorisek used 21,000.

As a rough guide, one could divide a single barrel serial number by 26,000 (or 21,000) and add that number to 1897. For example, serial number 70,000 divided by 26,000 = 2.7 + 1897 = the later part of 1899.

The Model 0 - 5 Hammer Doubles were introduced in 1897 and the Model 0 remained in production until about 1931 with serial numbers from 001 to 630,000 or about 18,500 per year.

Early models were marked “H&D FOLSOM ARMS CO. N.Y. U.S.A.”.

In 1924 they were called “Crescent Fire Arms Co.” guns.

It is likely that production was less during and immediately after World War I, and much less toward the end of the series.

1897 – 001 to 18,500

1898 – 18,501 to 37,000

1899 – 37,001 to 55,500

1900 – 55,501 to 74,000

1901 – 74,001 to 92,500

1902 – 92,501 to 111,000

1903 – 111,001 to 129,500

1904 – 129,501 to 148,000

1905 – 148,001 to 166,500

1906 – 166,501 to 185,000

1907 – 185,001 to 203,500

1908 – 203,501 to 222,000

1909 – 222,001 to 240,500

1910 – 240,501 to 259,000

1911 – 259,001 to 277,500

1912 – 277,501 to 296,000

1913 – 296,001 to 314,500

1914 – 314,501 to 333,000

1915 – 333,001 to 351,500

1916 – 351,501 to 370,000

1917 – 370,001 to 388,500

1918 – 388,501 to 390,350

1919 – 390,351 to 408,850

1920 – 408,851 to 427,350

1921 – 427,351 to 445,850

1922 – 445,851 to 464,350

1923 – 464,351 to 482,850

1924 – 482,851 to 501,350

1925 – 501,351 to 519,850

1926 – 519,851 to 538,350

1927 – 538,351 to 556,850

1928 – 556,851 to 573,350

1929 – 573,351 to 593,850

1930 – 593,851 to 612,350

1931 – 612,351 to 630,000

Small bore hammer doubles were made between 1910 and 1932:

Model 28 28 gauge - 1910 to 1927,

Model 44 44/40 & .44XL c. 1910 to 1915,

Model 44 “Midget Field” .410 - 1915 to 1927,

Model 44 Improved .410 bore - 1927 to 1932.

Estimated production 36,000 or about 1,600 yearly.

1910 – 001 to 1,600

1911 – 1,601 to 3,200

1912 – 3,201 to 4,800

1913 – 4,801 to 6,400

1914 – 6,401 to 8,000

1915 – 8,001 to 9,600

1916 – 9,601 to 11,200

1917 – 11,201 to 12,800

1918 – 12,801 to 14,400

1919 – 14,401 to 16,000

1920 – 16,001 to 17,600

1921 – 17,601 to 19,200

1922 – 19,201 to 20,800

1923 – 20,801 to 22,400

1924 – 22,401 to 24,000

1925 – 24,001 to 25,600

1926 – 25,601 to 27,200

1927 – 27,201 to 28,800

1928 – 28,801 to 30,400

1929 – 30,401 to 32,000

1930 – 32,001 to 33,600

1931 – 33,601 to 35,200

1932 – 35,200 to 36,000

The Crescent made Folsom Arms Co. “Knickerbocker” Hammerless No. 6 was listed from 1904 to about 1910, then the “Knickerbocker Improved” with coil spring locks until about 1916.

“No. 6 Peerless (The Old Knickerbocker Improved)” without cocking indicators were made c. 1916-1925.

Catalog No. 18 c. 1921 listed the “American Gun Co. No. 6 Knickerbocker” with the earlier ‘V-shaped main springs’.

The serial numbers for the “Knickerbocker” and “Peerless” hammerless doubles starts with serial number 001 in 1904 and runs up to 448,000 through 1925 at a rate of about 20,400 guns a year. It is likely that production numbers were less during and immediately after World War I, and after the “Empire” hammerless was introduced in 1925.

1904 - 001 to 20,400

1905 - 20,401 to 40,800

1906 - 40,801 to 61,200

1907 – 61,201 to 81,600

1908 – 81,601 to 102,000

1909 – 102,001 to 122,400

1910 – 122,401 to 142,800

1911 – 142,801 to 163,200

1912 – 163,201 to 183,600

1913 – 183,601 to 204,000

1914 – 204,001 to 224,400

1915 – 224,401 to 244,800

1916 – 244,800 to 265,200

1917 – 265,201 to 285,600

1918 – 285,601 to 306,000

1919 – 306,001 to 326,400

1920 – 326,401 to 346,800

1921 – 346,801 to 367,200

1922 – 367,201 to 387,600

1923 – 387,601 to 408,000

1924 through 1925 – 408,001 to 448,000

In 1925 the “Empire” No. 60 appeared in Catalog No. 23.

The “New Empire” No. 88 and No. 9 were listed in Catalog No. 27 in 1929.

The “Empire” and “New Empire” serial numbers were 001 in 1925 to 112,000 in 1933, or about 14,000 guns/year.

Existing stock of “Empire” doubles may have been sold as late as 1935. Guns stamped “Springfield by J. Stevens Arms Co.” exist and are thought to have been made using remaining parts after the assets of Crescent-Davis Arms Corp. were moved from Norwich to Chicopee Falls in late 1935.

SN series is for Empire, New Empire, and Crescent-Davis Hammerless doubles. Production was likely much less toward the end of the series.

1925 – 001 to 14,000

1926 – 14,001 to 28,000

1927 – 28,001 to 42,000

1928 – 42,001 to 56,000

1929 – 56,001 to 70,000

1930 – 70,001 to 84,000

1931 – 84,001 to 98,000 (As Crescent-Davis)

1932 through 1935 – 98,001 to 112,000

The No. 66 - 410 bore “Quail Model” was made about 1920 to 1932 and Vorisek included the SNs with the “Empire” hammerless.

Another means employed to attempt to date a Crescent Hammerless double is the type of lock springs.

1. From 1904 to about 1910 V shaped springs were used.

2. Coil springs were introduced on the “Knickerbocker Improved” c. 1910.

The schematic in catalog No. 17 c. 1920 showed only the coil spring lock.

3. Catalog No. 18 c. 1921 again listed the “No. 6 Knickerbocker” with the earlier ‘V-shaped main springs’.

4. “Peerless” U shaped (top) and Knickerbocker coil locksprings

Model 6 “Peerless”, Model 60 “Empire”, and No. 9 “New Empire” lock.

Unfortunately, guns returned to Norwich for repairs might have parts which were substituted depending upon availability; new version parts substituted for old, or old for new. Lockplates were replaced without regard to the trade brand on the originals; and sometimes guns were rebuilt using parts that the gun did not come with originally. Guns were repaired by the cheapest and quickest methods possible even if that meant replacing undamaged parts.

Tradename Guns

Almost every U.S. gunmaker produced guns marked with the trade name of distributors, sporting goods companies and hardware stores. None came close to the production numbers of Folsom/Crescent. It is believed that to have a shotgun trade named, all that was necessary was to pay for the stamping die and order a minimum of 12 guns.

The 1898 Folsom catalog listed the following Crescent and somewhat deceptively named imported guns:

Crescent Single Gun the NEW Victor

Crescent New Field Twist Barrel

Crescent Breech Loader

New York Arms Ejector #1 and #2

Crescent “The Club” Hammerless Single

“The Trap”

J. Cooper DB Patent Fore-End

Thomas Barker Top Snap

The Celebrated Sam Holt Arms Co.

S. H. Harrington DB Top Snap

Thomas Barker Left Barrel Choked

Barker Special, Highly Engraved, Circular Hammer

Greener Action Breech Loading

Barker Bored for Nitro Powder

Folsom New American

Barker New American

Catalog No. 17 c. 1920

Catalog No. 31 c. 1930 has the same list with “The following brands have been used on guns of our manufacture.” Courtesy of David Noreen

The Folsom agent in Belgium, at least through 1914, was Louis Muller of Liege. Muller may have actually been in the employ of Folsom as he registered the Crescent trademarks in Belgium.

Muller was also a gun maker and registered twelve trademarks 1889 to 1894 including:

Acme, Club, Climax, Star, Rival, Standard, Meteor, and I.X.L.

TRADE NAMES (confirmed or possible) used by Folsom imported guns (mostly Belgian sidelocks and identified by proof marks), Crescent (sidelocks), Crescent-Davis (boxlocks), and other U.S. distributors.

THE SAME TRADE NAMES may be found on single and double barrel shotguns manufactured by Savage Arms, Harrington & Richardson, W.H. Davenport, Hopkins and Allen, J. Stevens, Iver Johnson or in Belgium (but will carry Belgian proof marks).

Hardware Store Tradenames

https://books.google.com/books?id=UI4TAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA698&lpg

Crescent maker’s mark

Crescent single barrel guns may be marked with the gauge followed by a G in a diamond.

Crescent barrels are usually stamped “GENUINE ARMORY STEEL” and “CHOKED BORED”.

American Bar Lock Wonder for Sears, Roebuck & Co.,

American Boy for Townley Metal & Hdw. Co., Kansas City,

American Gun Co. New York or N.Y.

It is likely that American Gun Co. New York guns were only marketed by Sears BUT it should be noted that Sears catalogs from 1900 & 1902 listed the guns as “New American Double Gun”, not American Gun Co. N.Y.

In catalog No. 110 1905 the gun was “Special American Gun”

In catalog No. 117 1908 the listing was “Genuine American Gun”, which was discontinued with the introduction of the A.J. Aubrey

The earliest “American Gun Co. New York” hammer double known to date is SN 34891 with “Genuine Armory Steel” and dating to c. 1898

Early rounded breech balls

Engraved “American Gun Co. New York” Model 5 with same lockplate but the later style conical breech balls and no firing pin retaining screw

Conical breech balls and different lockplate

Later conical breech balls with a firing pin retention screw and different lockplate

American Nitro,

Aristocrat for Supplee-Biddle Hdw., Philadelphia,

Armory Gun Co. (a Fyrberg single),

Bacon Arms,

Baker Arms Co.,

John Baker Trap Gun 1889 (unknown Belgian maker), possibly for John Baker Hardware, Charlevoix, Mich.,

When Baker Gun & Forging sold their gun business to H.& D. Folsom in 1919, it was renamed Baker Gun Co.

Confusion exists because from about 1890 the Baker Gun & Forging lockplates were engraved “Baker Gun Co.” and ribs “Baker Gun Co. Batavia NY”

Folsom era guns have an 'F' before or after the SN 1- to about 14,000.

Bachmann Hardware Co., Park Ridge IL,

A. Baldwin & Co. Ltd. New Orleans, LA (Belgian maker),

Barker Gun Co.,

Barrett Gun Co.,

Bartlett & Co.,

Bellmore Gun Co.,

Berkshire No. 3000 & The Berkshire (Meriden Fire Arms),

Black Beauty,

Bluefield Clipper,

Bluegrass Arms Co.,

Blue Whistler,

B.M.&S.H. for Blish, Mizet and Silliman Hardware Co., Atchison KS,

Bridge Gun Co., Bridge Gun Works, and Bridge Gun Co. Black Prince, Bridge Gun Co. Green Bug for Shapleigh Hdw. Co., St. Louis (H&R singles),

Bridgeport Arms Co.,

Bright Arms Co.,

Burack Special for Burhans & Black Inc., Syracuse NY,

C.W. Franklin,

Cambridge Arms Co. (Crescent and Belgian; dealer unknown),

Canadian Belle by Fabriques d’Armes Unies de Liège,

Carolina Arms Co. for Smith-Wadsworth Hdw. Co., Charlotte N.C.,

Carter's Premier for Garnet-Carter Co., Chattanooga TN,

Central Arms Co. for Shapleigh (J. Stevens & Hopkins & Allen),

Champion of Birmingham, English made hammer gun sold by Henry C. Squires

New York c. 1880s,

Chatham Arms Co. (Belgian hammer gun marked ‘DP’),

Cherokee Arms Co. for C.M. McClung & Co., Knoxville TN,

Chesapeake Gun Co.,

Chicago Long Range Wonder (in addition to an Andrew Fyrberg & Sons manufactured boxlock),

Colonial,

Columbia, Columbia Ejector & Columbia Single - W. H. Davenport Arms Co.

Columbia Arms Co - Tradename used by Henry Keidel & Co., Baltimore, Md.

Columbia Single - Harrington & Richardson & Hopkins & Allen singles,

Columbia Fire Arms - made by Crescent and sold by the Van Camp Hardware & Iron Company, Indianapolis,

Columbia model listed as made by “Champion Arms” of Norwich CT, also made by Crescent.

Columbian New York Arms Co.,

Compeer Gun Co. (and Rival and New Rival) for Van Camp Hdw., Indianapolis,

Connecticut Arms Co.,

Continental Arms Co. (Crescent hammerless may be marked P.T.C.A. & Proof Tested 12 gauge, J. Stevens hammerless marked Patent Apr 20 1915, J. Stevens hammer gun marked Pat Feb 10 1914, J. Stevens single marked Patent 1913 & ‘Continental Arms Co. 1916 410-44 cal’ possibly a H&R) for Marshall-Wells Co., Duluth and Canada,

The Continental was made by Simonis, Janssen & Dumoulin and may be marked ‘Pat. June 20, 1883’. It was marketed by several dealers including Great Western Gun Works, Pittsburgh,

Cumberland Arms Co. for Gray & Dudley Hdw Co., Nashville TN,

Creve Coeur,

Cranberry (H&A single) for C.M. McClung & Co. Hdw., Knoxville,

Crancer’s Field Gun,

CRUSO for Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co.

Daniel Boone Gun Co. for Belknap Hdw. & Mfg. Co., Louisville KY,

Daniel Boone Squirrel Gun for C.M. McClung & Co. Hdw., Knoxville,

(Daniel Boone, a N.R. Davis hammerless)

Delphian Arms Co. for Supplee-Biddle Hdw. Co., Phila. PA,

Delphian Manufacturing Co.,

Diamond Arms Co. for Shapleigh,

Douglas Arms Co. (Forehand & Hopkins & Allen) for Rector & Wilhelmy Hardware, Omaha,

Dunlap Special by Davis-Warner for Dunlap Hdw. Co., Macon GA,

Durrell Arms Co. (non-Crescent hammer gun) possibly for Durrell Hardware in Dunkirk, N.Y.,

Eastonia Arms Co.,

E.C.M.A.Co, Eclipse Beauty, Eclipse Beaver, Eclipse Company, Eclipse Gun Co., Eclipse Model 5212, Patent 488316 Dec 20 1892, Meteor, Giant, Giant Gun Co., GunCo, Leader Belgium, Hercules, and Star.

All are Henri Pieper or Aciens Establissment Pieper guns made for E.C. Meacham Co., St. Louis.

It is possible that Crescent produced guns have the same tradenames also.

Other Pieper Trade Names registered in Belgium included: Bayard (June 9, 1892) and Bayard Arms Co., Oscar A. Baer Baltimore MD, Eagle Gun Works, E. Leroy, H. Pieper, Diana & Modified Diana, The Leader, First Arms Co, Pieper Arms Co, Premier Arms Co, National Arms Co, Henry Arms Co, A. Richards, Royal Gun Works for Simmons Hdw., Le Rationnel, Schutz Marke, E-K, Leopold Arms Co., Metropole and Monarch Arms Co.

Electric City Crescent & J. Stevens single,

Elgin Arms Co. for Fred Biffar & Co., Chicago and Strauss & Schram, Chicago,

Elmira Arms Co., Elmira NY,

Empire Arms Co.,

Empire State Arms Co. (Belgian doubles and Crescent & Davenport singles),

No. 60 Empire Hammerless with a “snap-on” forend and no cocking indicators

Wm. Enders Oak Leaf, Enders Royal Service, Royal Field, and Special Service for Simmons Hdw. and possibly for Shapleigh Hdw. Co., St. Louis,

Enders Royal American hammerless was a Hopkins & Allen double; Enders Royal a Hunter Arms Co. Fulton tradename double, Enders Royal Cannon Breech a Davenport single, and Enders Royal Pigeon & Royal Western Stevens singles

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=469952

Wm. Enders was Sales Manager in 1904, and then Vice President of E.C. Simmons Hdw. in 1914

1918 E.C. Simmons catalog

Essex (Crescent hammer double) & Essex Gun Works (H&R Model 1900) for Belknap Hdw., Louisville,

Farwell Arms Co. for Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk & Co., St. Paul,

Faultless for John M. Smythe Hdw. Co., Chicago

Featherlight (not -lite) and only 20g guns reported, possibly for Sears. N.R. Davis & Sons hammerless THE Featherlight may have been for Sears also,

The Field (10 & 12g single barrel),

S. O. Fisher Lynchburg, Virginia,

Folsom Arms Co. New York

F.F. Forbes,

Forever and H.S. Brown Machine Gun,

Fort Pitt Arms Co.,

C.W. Franklin,

Fremont Arms Co. for Pacific Hardware & Steel, San Francisco,

General Arms Co. and General Arms Co., St. Louis,

Gold Hibbard The Interchangeable for H.S.B. Co.,

Gold Medal Wonder for Sears,

Guyandot for Emmons-Hawkins Hardware Co. Huntington, W.Va. (H&R singles),

W.H. Hamilton for C.M. McClung & Co. Hdw., Knoxville and Wiebusch and Hilger Co., New York,

Hanover Arms Co. made by Janssen Fils & Co.,

Harrison Arms Co. for Sickles & Preston Davenport Iowa,

S.H. Harrington,

Hartford Arms.Co. for Simmons Hdw. and Shapleigh Hdw., St Louis,

Harvard for Geo. Worthington Co. Hdw., Cleveland,

J.C. Henry Arms Co. St. Paul for C.W. Hackett Hdw. (Hopkins & Allen single and hammer double),

Henry Arms Co. by Henri Pieper

Hermitage Arms Co. for Gray & Dudley,

Hermitage Gun Co.,

Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co., Chicago

https://www.madeinchicagomuseum.com/single-post/hibbard-spencer-bartlett/

1891 Catalog House Brand Guns

https://archive.org/details/HibbardSpencerBartlett1891GeneralCatalogue/page/n1077/mode/2up

Spencer Machine Made & Spencer Gun Co., Columbia Machine Guns, H.S. Brown Machine Made, C.G. Bonehill, J.B. Warwood, John Buckingham, H.J. Sterling, H.S.B. Co., Hibbard, HibSpeBar, Star Leader,

Gold Hibbard (The Interchangeable by Neumann Freres and Modified Diana by Henri Pieper),

http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/the-american-west-1850-to-1900/case-21-tin-stars-sixguns-frontier-justice/annie-oakley's-hibbard-shotgun.aspx

Chicago, W.H. Greenfield, Liege Arms Co., Newport, Pittsfield, Rev-O-Noc “We Always Stand Behind The Brand” (Charles Conover was a Director and later President), and Whippet

CRUSO doubles were by Crescent, and single barrels were by Crescent, J. Stevens No. 105 & 107, and Harrington & Richardson Model 1915

Firearms and Ammunition in the 1916 H.S.B.&Co catalog

https://archive.org/details/HibbardSpencerBartlettCatNo611916/page/n1583/mode/2up

1899 H.S.B.&Co. catalog H.J. Sterling listing

“We also have these guns branded T. Barker”

1922 catalog Crescent line

Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. also used the True Value tradename starting in 1932; in 1962 Cotter & Company purchased the assets of H.S.B.&Co. and acquired the True Value trademark.

Howard Arms Co. for Fred Biffar & Co., Chicago (but also Meriden Fire Arms Model 18),

Hudson possibly for Hudson Sporting Goods Co., New York,

Hummer for Lee Hdw Co., Salina, KS,

The Hunter (Davenport single) for Belknap,

Indiana Gun Co. (Belgian double for unknown dealer),

Infallible by Davis-Warner,

The Interchangeable and The International for E.C. Meacham, St. Louis, Gus Habich, Indianapolis, H.S.B. & Co., Richards & Conover Hdw. (Rich-Con), KC (marked John Conover), and others by Simonis, Janssen & Dumoulin and Neumann Freres.

S,J & D Syndicat des Pieces Interchangables was formed in 1898.

May also be marked Occidental

C.G. Bonehill of Birmingham made the Belmont Interchangeable,

INTER-STATE ARMS CO for Townley Metal & Hardware Co., K.C.,

Invincible - Janney Semple Hill & Co., Minneapolis sold an Invincible H&R (and maybe an Iver Johnson) tradename single, an Invincible Belgian double, and a Rapidfire Steel Choke Bored Invincible single,

Jackson Arms Co. for C.M. McClung,

J.H. Lau & Co.,

J. Manton & Co. (hammerguns by Lambert Dumoulin but used by Birmingham and other makers),

J.W. Stake by Neumann Freres,

John M. Smyth Merchandise Co., Chicago

John (and Jno.) W. Price (Stevens & H&R singles) for Belknap Hdw.,

Joseph Arms Co.,

Juneau Arms Co. (Stevens hammer gun) for Wm. Frankfurth Hdw. Co., Milwaukee

Keystone and Keystone Arms Co. for E.K. Tryon, Philadelphia,

KK and Keen Kutter for E.C. Simmons Co., St. Louis (also Davenport singles),

King Nitro for Shapleigh Hdw. (Crescent hammer and N.R. Davis hammerless),

Kingsland Special and Kingsland 10 Star for Geller, Ward & Hasner, St. Louis,

Kirk Gun Co. for Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk & Co., St. Paul,

Knickerbocker and Knickerbocker Improved Hammerless,

Knockabout,

Knox-All for Iver Johnson, Boston,

Kruse and Baklmann Hardware Co., Cincinnati,

Laclede Gun Co. (both Crescent and Belgian hammerguns),

Lakeside for Montgomery Ward & Co.,

Leader, C.F. Leader, and Leader Gun Co. for Chas. Williams Stores Inc., New York (also Hopkins & Allen hammer double),

Lee's Special and Lee's Munner Special for Lee Hdw. Co., Salina KS,

Liege Arms Co. for Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett (Belgian made 10 & 12g doubles selling for $45 in 1884),

Long Range Marvel,

Long Range Winner and Long Range Wonder for Sears,

Manhattan Arms Co. was a trade name used on hammer and hammerless side by sides imported by Schoverling, Daly & Gales, Kirtland Bros. Co., and Von Lengerke & Detmold, all of New York City. The guns were made in Belgium by Neumann Freres and Fabrique d'Armes Fs. Dumoulin & Cie, and in Germany by J.P. Sauer.

(A Hunter Arms Co. Fulton named Manhattan Arms was also sold by S,D&G.)

Marshwood for Chas. Williams Stores, New York (Crescent & J. Stevens),

Mass Arms Co. (J. Stevens single),

Massachusetts Arms Co. for Blish, Mize & Silliman Hdw., Atchison KS,

McIntosh,

Metal & Hardware Co.,

Metropolitan Arms Co. for Siegel Cooper Co. and Chas. Godfrey (Belgian doubles some marked Interchangeable),

N.L. Michaelson Sporting Goods, Brooklyn,

Milwaukee Gun Co. (sideplate Hopkins & Allen hammerless double for John Pritzlaff Hdw. Co.),

Minnesota Arms Co. for Farwell, Ozmun & Kirk Co., St. Paul (N.R. Davis hammergun)

Mississippi Arms Co.,

Mississippi Valley Arms Co. for Shapleigh,

Mohawk for Blish, Mize & Silliman (both Crescent and Harrington & Richardson No. 8 single barrel),

Mohawk Gun Co. for Janney, Semple, Hill & Co., Minn.,

Monitor for Paxton & Gallagher, Omaha Neb.,

Wm. Moore & Co.,

Moorland (Belgian hammer gun for William Galloway, Waterloo Iowa)

Mt. Vernon Arms Co.,

R. Murdock National Firearms Co.,

National Arms Co. (not the Marlin branded pump gun) for William Read & Sons, Boston (Crescent & Henri Pieper/Anciens Etablissments Pieper and Davenport single barrel)

On December 9, 1897, Ansley H. Fox, J. Prosser Tabb, Addison C. Fox, Earnest E. Hummer, and Chapin A. Ferguson incorporated The National Arms Company of Baltimore City, the assets of which were transferred to the Fox Gun Co. in 1898,

New Britain Arms Co.,

New Elgin Arms Co.,

New Empire No. 88 and No. 9 appeared in Catalog No. 27 in 1929

Courtesy of David Noreen

New England Arms Co. for Chas. J. Godfrey, N.Y., Rohde Spencer Co., Chicago, and Simmons Hardware.

(Some are marked “Ptd. June 30, 1883” on the right sideplate and are by Simonis, Janssen & Dumoulin),

New England Gun Co. “The Negunco Gun”,

New England Wonder for Sears,

New Haven Arms Co. for E.K.Tryon and Great Western Gun Works Pittsburgh (also Belgian unknown maker hammer guns. New Haven FIRE Arms Co. was a Hunter Arms Fulton tradename boxlock),

New Nitro (J. Stevens single),

New Rival for Van Camp Hdw. & Iron Co.,

New York Arms Co. for Garnet Carter Co., Chattanooga TN.,

New York Machine Made,

New York Nitro Hammerless,

Newport for H.S.B. (Newport ‘Model CN’ is a Stevens double; ‘W’ a Crescent single, ‘WN’ a Harrington & Richardson hammer single, ‘F’ a H&R Model 1908 single, and there was an Iver Johnson Newport .410),

Niagara Arms Co. Electro Steel Choke Bored J. Stevens single,

Nitro Bird for Richards & Conover Hdw. Co., K.C.,

Nitro Hunter for Belknap Hdw., Louisville. Also W.H. Davenport single and double barrel, and Hopkins & Allen double barrel shotguns,

Nitro King (Iver Johnson single) for Sears and Shapleigh Hdw.,

Norwich Arms Co. for Marshall Wells Hdw. Co., Duluth,

Not-Nac Manufacturing Co. for Canton Hdw. Co. Canton, Ohio and Belknap,

J.H. Obold & Co., Reading PA,

OHCO The Best single for Geo. Worthington,

Osprey for Lou J. Eppinger, Detroit,

Oxford Arms Co. for Belknap,

P.T.C.A. (Crescent hammerless) marked “Nitro Proof Tested”; apparently produced after the 1930 purchase by J. Stevens,

Pagoma for Paxton, Gallagher Hdw Co.,

Palmetto and Palmetto Arms Model 11 single barrels for E.K. Tryon & Co. by J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co.,

Palmetto Arms Philadelphia PA by Crescent, Davenport Arms, Hopkins & Allen (hammer and hammerless), and Stevens,

Paragon Model W.S. (H&R single) and C.S. (Springfield double) possibly for Paragon Sporting Goods, N.Y.C.,

Parkhurst, Wm. Parkhurst and W.G. Parkhurst by Simonis, Janssen, Dumoulin y Cie (usually marked “Machine Made”) or J.P. Clabough for Schoverling, Daly & Gales,

“Parkers” made in Belgium including Parker-Smith-Williams, T. Parker, Thomas Parker (possibly by Pieper), and C. Parker & Co.,

T. Parker New York were made by Crescent

T. Parker in 1895 Montgomery Ward catalog

E.D. Parker shotguns with English proofmarks were listed in the 1895 Clabrough & Golcher catalog,

William Parker was a gunmaker from 1790 until 1840 and one of the forerunners of Parker, Field & Sons, High Holborn, London, 1841-1876,

The lowest grade guns marketed by P. Webley were sold under the name of Thomas Parker, London c. 1900-1920

Also see T. Barker below

Peerless for Powell & Clement, Cincinnati,

Peerless Arms Co. Philadelphia PA, Hopkins & Allen for E.K. Tryon

Crescent Firearms Co. No. 6 Peerless c. 1916-1925 and No. 6E Peerless Engraved c. 1920

PENN Iver Johnson single, unknown,

Penn Arms Co. unknown double for Schoverling, Daly & Gales,

Perfection for H.G. Lipscomb & Co., Nashville,

Piedmont Arms Co. for Piedmont Hdw. Co. Danville, PA,

Pioneer Arms for Kruse Hdw. Co., Cincinnati,

Pittsfield for H.S.B.,

Plymouth,

Pontiac Arms Co. Chicago,

Prize Machine Gun for Belknap,

Quail,

Queen City for Elmira Arms Co. Elmira N.Y.,

J.T. Randall (Lefaucheux action hammer doubles made by Lambert Dumoulin and Charles Clement. J.T. Randall listed as a merchant in Conway, New Hampshire in the late 1800s.)

Red Chieftain for Supplee-Biddle,

Rev-O-Noc for Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co.

Richards, A. Richards, W. Richards, W.H. Richards & W. Richards Norwich, Conn by Crescent and several Belgian makers

A. Richards may have been a Pieper tradename.

W. Richards marked guns made by J.P. Clabrough were sold in the U.S. The 1886 catalog from John P. Moore’s Sons, New York listed “Clabrough’s Make” W. Richards.

W. H. Davenport Arms Co. made an “H. Richards New York” single barrel.

Additional confusion exists related to W. Richards (Liverpool)

https://www.westleyrichards.com/us/theexplora/w-richards-is-not-westley-richards/

http://www.wrichardsguns.co.uk/history.html

The Sept. 26 1889 issue of Forest and Stream reported a test of H & D Folsom's cheapest doubles and observed... “W. Richards” that nonentity in the gun trade, was stamped on the plate, but they were really only those cheap bits of ordnance which come through our custom houses, pay a duty of 40 per cent., and yet may be placed on the counters of the gun shop at $5 a piece. Forest and Stream has already in past times expressed its opinion about these pestiferous products of the penurious population clustered on Belgian soil.

“Synopsis of decisions of the Treasury Department and Board of U.S. General Appraisers on the construction of tariff, immigration, and other laws, for year ending 1891” http://books.google.com/books?id=L_xDAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA1207&dq

It has been the custom of manufacturers to stamp fictitious names of individuals and other trade words, such as “Richards”, “Western”, “U.S. Armes Co.”, etc., upon the lock plates or on the ribs connecting double-barrel guns imported at your port from Belgium; that in a number of recent importations of guns from Belgium there is a conspicuous absence of any words to indicate the country of origin, but on the contrary words have been found which represent to consumers that the guns are either of English or American manufacture, thus nullifying the object and intent of section 6 above referred to, and under these circumstances you request further instructions from the Department as to the marking of guns imported not only by Boker & Co., but by all others, whether in store or en route.

As it appears that it is practicable to stamp the name of the country of origin on the guns, you are hereby authorized, under and in pursuance of Department's decision of March 18. 1891 (Synopsis 10832) to deliver the guns covered by this and subsequent importations only upon such stamping, the language of said decision being that “where articles of foreign manufacture required to be marked under the provisions above referred to were ordinarily stamped at the time of the passage of said act, the name of the country of origin should be stamped thereon.”

Rich-Con for Richards & Conover Steel Co., Kansas City,

Richmond Hardware Co.,

Charles Richter for New York Sporting Goods Co., N.Y.,

Rickard Arms Co. for Jay A. Rickard Co., Schenectady, N.Y.,

Rival and New Rival for Van Camp Hdw., Indianapolis

(Doubles mainly by Louis Muller. A W.H. Davenport single and a sideplated

Hopkins & Allen c.1912 with “drop forged, reinforced, one pieced breech and lug” marked Rival have also been identified),

Rocket Special,

Rockford Arms Co.,

Rodgers Arms Co. by Henri Pieper,

Royal Service for Shapleigh,

Rummel Arms Co. for A.J. Rummel Arms Co., Toledo,

Russell Arms Co. made by Joseph Cap and H. Pieper for Wiebusch & Hilger,

Salem G. Le Valley, Buffalo NY

https://books.google.com/books?id=jOUcAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA13-PA28&lpg

S.H. Harrington,

Seminole (possibly for Bridgeport Hardware Mfg Co.),

Sheffield Arms Co.,

Shue's Special for Ira M. Shue Hanover, PA,

Sickel's Arms Co. for Robert-Sickels & Preston Co. Davenport, Iowa,

Smithsonian for Ira Shue,

Southern Arms Co. made by Joseph Janssen,

Southern Cross (Forehand & Davenport singles),

Spencer Gun Co. for Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co.

Baker Gun & Forging Batavia Leaders with Twist barrels (No. 20 1/2) and Damascus (No. 22 1/2), R.T. Torkelson & Co. “The New America Hammerless”, Hopkins and Allen hammer & Forehand model hammerless boxlock doubles, and single barrel shotguns by Davenport (Acme model of 1896), Crescent & J. Stevens Arms Co. (No. 105) were all marked Spencer Gun Co.

Spencer Machine Gun ‘Pat. June 20, 1883’ was made by Simonis, Janssen & Dumoulin

The Sportsman for W. Bingham Co. and Lockwood-Luetkemeyer-Henry Co., both of Cleveland (also Stevens Model 315)

Springfield Arms Co. (Crescent & Stevens) and Spring Field Arms Co.,

Square Deal for Stratton-Warren Hdw. Co., Memphis,

Stauffer Eshlemen & Co., New Orleans (Belgian),

Stanley, Stanley Double Gun & Stanley Arms Co. (for Wiebusch & Hilger Co. New York) by Francois Dumoulin and Simonis, Janssen & Dumoulin,

Star Leader for H.S.B.,

State Arms Co. for J.H. Lau & Co.,

H.J. Sterling Arms Co. (Belgian) for H.S.B.,

St. Louis Arms Co. for Shapleigh Hdw. and Sears

(A hammerless model is a Hunter Arms Fulton)

(St. Louis Arms Co. Leader carries Belgian proof marks),

Sullivan Arms Co.,

Superior,

Swift Special (H&A double) for Miller-Morse Hdw., Winnipeg,

Syco for Wyeth Hdw Co., St. Joseph, Mo.

Thomas Barker, T. Barker, and T. Barker New York,

Thomas Barker was a gunmaker in Warrington, Lancashire, late 1700s.

He died in 1792

https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=612745

1902 Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalogue No. 112 Thomas Barker and T. Barker with “Royal Damascus Finish” Faux Damascus

The “New 1908 Model (Belgian) T. Barker”

Ten Star and Ten Star Heavy Duty for Geller, Ward & Hasner,

Tiger for J.H. Hall Co., Nashville,

Townley's Pal and Townley's American Boy for Townley Metal,

Trap's Best for Watkins-Cottrell Co. Richmond, VA,

Triumph - Charles Lancaster patent guns made by Crescent for Sears,

Triumph by Manufactuer Liegeoise D'Arms Feu for Schuyler, Hartley & Graham,

Tryon Special for E.K. Tryon Co.,

U.S. Arms Co. for Supplee-Biddle and Charles Godfrey

U.S. Field by The C&F Co. Columbus, Ohio is an Ithaca Lefever Nitro Special tradename gun for Cousin & Fern,

Union Machine Co. by Pieper and Union Machine Co. New York by S.J.& D. (Albert Simonis, J. Janssen and Demoulin Brothers) and imported by S.D.& G.,

Valiant for Spear & Co., Pittsburgh (J. Stevens 520 and No. 107),

Victor & Victor Special for H.S.B.,

Virginia Arms Co. for Virginia Caroline Co., Richmond VA,

Vernon Arms Co. (N.R. Davis hammerless) for Wm. Frankfurth Hdw.,

Volunteer for Belknap,

Vulcan Arms Co. for E.K. Tryon,

Walters and Son,

Warren Arms Co.,

Washington Arms Co. for E.K. Tryon,

Wauregan Arms Co., Norwich, CONN.,

Wautauga for Wallace Hdw Co., Morristown TN,

Western Arms (J. Stevens A&T No. 100 Ptd. Dec. 11, 1900 & No. 105)

Whippet for H.S.B.,

Wildwood,

Wilkinson Arms Co. for Richmond Hdw. Co., Richmond VA,

William Moore & Co.,

Wilmont Arms Co., possibly for Marshall-Wells Co., Duluth and Ltd., Winnipeg,

Wiltshire Arms Co. for Stauffer, Eshleman & Co. New Orleans (by N.R. Davis & Sons and Stevens Arms & Tool Co.),

Winfield Arms Co.,

Winoca Arms Co. for N. Jacobi Hdw. Co., Philadelphia (or possibly Wilmington NC),

Witte Hardware Co., St. Louis

Wolverine Arms Co. for Fletcher Hdw. Co., Wilmington NC,

Worthington Arms Co. for Geo. Worthington Co., Cleveland

(Worthington Special is a Stevens 330),

The Wyco for Wyeth Hdw. & Mfg. St. Joseph, Mo.,

XLCR Crescent-Davis boxlock for W. Bingham, Cleveland.

There are also Crescent made shotguns with Spanish names as Folsom had salesmen in Central and South America from 1890 to 1920 and Crescent guns were likely sold long after that.

L.H. Hagen was a major dealer in Christiania (Oslo) Norway and imported U.S. made shotguns, esp. A.H. Fox and possibly Smith and Crescent guns.

W.H. Davenport Hammer Single Barrel Shotguns

William Hastings Davenport (born 1828) founded the W.H. Davenport & Co. and Davenport Arms Company of Providence R.I. (1878-1883), and the W.H. Davenport Fire Arms Co. of Norwich Conn. (1890-1910). Five years after his death in 1905, the company was purchased from his widow by the Hopkins & Allen Arms Co.

Bay State Arms Co. was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1870 and about 1873 moved to Uxbridge, Massachusetts. It was reorganized by Davenport in 1883.

American Machinist 1883 “…shops of the new Bay State Arms Co. are nearly ready to start work.”

https://books.google.com/books?id=0cZBAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA212&lpg

In 1887 Davenport moved the factory equipment to the Hopkins & Allen facility in Norwich, Conn.

http://americansocietyofarmscollectors.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/B060_Hamilton.pdf

Bay State underlever opening single barrel shotguns are marked “Bay State Arms Co. Uxbridge Mass. U.S.A. Pat'd Dec. 25, 1888 Wm. H. Davenport”.

Hopkins & Allen acquired the “Bay State” tradename in 1909, but it was also used by Harrington & Richardson on their Model 1915.

Hammer single barrel patents:

Aug. 11, 1896 W.H. Davenport Patent No. 565,605 https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pdfs/US565605.pdf

Patent No. 565,606 https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pdfs/US565606.pdf

Later hammer singles carried a Dec. 15, 1897 and August 14, 1900 patent dates.

The Davenport patented locking key; Patents 701,158 and 701,159, were issued May, 27, 1902.

Tradename Davenport singles:

http://www.cornellpubs.com/free-files/Shotgun%20Markings-Vorisek%20BW%20Portrait.pdf

Acme, A. Baldwin Ltd. (New Orleans), Barker’s Gun Works, Eugene, OR., BOB, Bridge City, The Brownie (.22 & .32 calibre lever opening “Boy’s Rifles”), Buck-Eye Gun Co., Lynchburg, VA Pat’d Dec. 28, 1891, Carolina Arms Co., Central Arms Co. & Century Arms Co. (Shapleigh Hdw.), Cherokee (C.M. McClung, Knoxville TN), Columbia, Conewago, Crac-A-Jack, Elita, Ensign Ejector Pat. Dec. 28. ’91, May 27, ’02, ETOWAH, Expert, Expert Marksman & Expert Trap (Simmons Hdw.), The Foster Mead Hardware Co., Huntington W Va., Fulton Arms Co., Great American Nitro (Supplee Hdw.), The Hunter Pat. Aug. 11, 1896, Kaintuckee, Keen Kutter (Simmons), Keystone, King Nitro for Shapleigh (barrel marked Full Choke Central Arms Company, St. Louis, MO, Double Nitro Breach), Mississippi Valley Arms Co., National Arms Co. (William Read), Nitro and Nitro Hunter (Belknap Hdw.), Nitro Marvel (unknown), Ocoee (Tennessee), Olympia Made in U.S.A., Oshkosh Ejector Field Gun No. 1 (Frank Percy), Our Favorite, Our Virginia, Palmetto Arms Co. (E.K. Tryon), Perfection Pat. Aug. 11, 1896, Peerless & Peerless Ejector (Powell & Clement), Powhatan Pat. Aug 11, 1896, Premier, J.W. Price, H. Richards New York, Rival (Van Camp Hdw.), Southern Cross, Spencer Gun Co. Pat. Aug. 11, 1896 (Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co.), Tiger Brand J.H. Fall & Co. Nashville, Tenn., Waltham Arms Co., Wautauga (C.E. Baylor Co., Morristown, TN), Wedgeway Arms Co., Wide Awake, W. T. Iveland (or Ireland) THE BEST GUN ON EARTH (also J. Stevens Model 105 single), XPERT (Witte Hdw., St. Louis)

There were distinctly different Davenport receiver profiles; the rounded breech appears to be the later variant and was used for the 8g Elite Heavy Target and Turkey Gun.

The Acme variant was used for the 8g and 10g Davenport Goose Gun offered by Sears in 1902. There was also a later smooth side receiver with a thumb lever barrel take-down.

The Acme

Courtesy of David Noreen

The 1902 W.H. Davenport catalogue, reproduced in The Shotgun Research Newsletter, Volume 2, No. 3 lists the '96 Model Plain Gun (with a barrel take-down lever); The Acme Gun; The Automatic Ejector Gun; Crest Hammerless No. 1 Gun; Crest No. 2 Matted Top Rib Gun; Crest Hammer No. 4 Gun; The Elita Gun; The Goose Guns; and The Trap Gun.

No Colonial single is shown.

Crest No. 2