[robarb1]

I've been given an old shotgun...12 ga., double barrel, external hammers and the name SAM HOLT, with the year 1898 stamped in the breech. The piece is in good shape and I would like to know something about it and the maker.

Has anyone got any ideas about where I can look? Would appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks, Rob

[dfariswheel]

This is almost certainly a cheaper hardware store brand name gun made by one of the lower quality gun makers. These companies would make guns with your choice of names stamped on them.

The SAM HOLT name is an obvious attempt to confuse the customer into thinking it was a Samual COLT shotgun. This was a common ploy in those days, intending to lead the buyer into thinking he was getting a gun from a quality maker like Colt firearms company.

[Dave McCracken]

D nailed it. Cheap and marginally strong when new, a century has not made it better.

Probably not worth $100. And, there'd be a hard frost in Hades before I'd chamber a modern round and touch it off. Shotguns and hand grenades have similar working pressures.

If you really want to shoot it, have a smith go over it and tell you if it can be fired AND with what ammunition.

HTH...

[Jagermeister]

It is definetly a "Hardware Gun" as the Sam Holt was a tradename used by Sears on guns imported from Belgium: Crescent Arms Co may have been involved, not sure, but a good possiblity

JM