[davesaver]

I recently recieved my Grandmothers 410 shotgun. With some searching around I found it was one of the names Wyeth Hardware and Manufacturing used to retail their guns. Does anyone know or is there a way to find out who the original manufacturer was? I'm wondering about quality of manufacture and if it's worth putting any time into it to actually use it.

I'm limited on my property to shotguns and blackpowder. Currently not having either one this would give me something to shoot recreationally. I do want to be safe. I plan on taking it to a gun smith to have it checked out before I use it.

I would enjoy being able to take the history just a little bit further back. Finding out the approximate age would be interesting as well. I know my dad was born in 1920 and he remembers it growing up.

[Jim K]

I don't have any info on that specific brand, but I will point you at a site that discussed the shotguns of that general era. Most of those guns were 12 gauge, but .410 was not unknown.

http://www.briley.com/articles/grampas_shotgun.html

There is quite a lot on Wyeth Hardware on the web; google "Wyeth Hardware" and look at what comes up.

Jim

[davesaver]

Thank you for the response. I'll check out the web site. I have searched Wyeth Hardware I thought thoroughly and I come up with the same results about three web sites repeating the same information that Wyeth retailed the Electric City trade name and then a whole bunch of geneology type stuff about different family members that worked for wyeth over the years. Even found a black and white photo of the factory on the St Joseph Historical site.

If you have found something else helpful I would appreciate your help.

Thanks again

DaveL

[davesaver]

I checked out the website and read the article. Looks like I fall into the area of mass produced low end guns for many different retailers. This was my guess. I think I'll hang it on the wall where I can point to it and say "that was Grandma's shotgun and no it's not safe to shoot anymore".

Thanks,

[dfaugh]

Check around for "Crescent Arms". I once (when researching a shotgun for a friend) found a site that listed all the different companies that they made shotguns for...and there were over 100 listed. They reached their "heyday" in the 20's and 30's. They were basic (but decent quality) guns.