[honkeoki]

I found one of these beauties hanging on a pawnshop wall. The shotgun had been refinished or perhaps just never touched -- the case coloring on the receiver was quite good and the barrels were well blued. The stock looked refinished (at least it didn't have that patina of age a 60+ year old firearm usually does).

The lever was distinctly to the right of 6 o'clock. Lockup seemed tight. I took the 28" barrels off and did a ring test (nod to Dave McC) -- passed with flying colors. Everything looked not just right, but downright beautiful.

Based on what little I could find online, these shotguns are best used as wall-hangers and maybe for annual shooting at most. Does this still apply, even if it's in perfect mechanical shape? Should it not be shot at all, or maybe only with light target loads?

What would a fair asking price be?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Dave McCracken]

Crescents sold new for as little as $5. While they are sidelocks, the design is much less advanced than those of the Brits or even the machine made Elsies.

Crescent sears tend to round off fast, firing pins break and springs bust. They were made to sell to a price point and had to compete with cheap Belgian doubles.

It's a shame, Some Crescents are fine pointers and swing very much like a better gun.

Some can be fired with light modern loads but not all that much. Light duty only.

Even LNIB, I''d not pay more than $100.

HTH....

[honkeoki]

Yes, Dave, that does help -- immensely. Tells me my time and money are better spent looking for another 870 rather than a wall-hanger (no matter how handsome) like this...

Thanks for getting back to me!

[JohnBT]

The '99 Standard Catalog of Firearms lists the No. 60 Empire Hammerless Sidelock: Exc = $450, VG = $400, G = $350

Sounds like it's one of their better guns and a nice wallhanger. :)

Actually, the same book lists guns like their American Gun Co. No. 44 Nitro Straight Stock-Hammer Sidelock for as much as $900.

John

[honkeoki]

The 2005 blue book has lower values listed: http://tinyurl.com/yvws8t

The one that I saw looked to be in the 90%-95% range.

Value is relative, however -- it seems like a shame to me to buy a gun that's not fit for regular shooting.

[MCgunner]

If you have a harth over a fireplace, everyone NEEDS a classic looking side by side for it. Now, you don't have to tell you're unknowing guests it's just an old POS you got from a pawn shop. :D Personally, I'd rather have it than an 870 shooter, just for a harth. Beats a painting any day. I have shooters, no 870s, but I don't particulary like 870s.

[JohnBT]

"The 2005 blue book has lower values listed"

Those are for the hardware guns they made for any company that wanted a gun their name stamped on it. And I think they're too high, but that's just my opinion. From what I've read they made 5 basic models of hardware guns, but could mix and match parts and levels of finish to fill any company's order and make a price point. The No. 60 is a higher grade gun, but still a Crescent.

My dad used to have an Essex, one of the plain old hardware guns. It was made for Shapleigh Hardware in Louisville KY, but he lived in Charlottesville so who knows how it got there. It was worn out by WWII.

John