[circuitspore]

The story: I received this gun 15+ years ago, it belonged to my great-grandfather. He and my great grandmother ran an antiques shop, and this was a random item from the shop, not a long-cherished passed-down family relic.

12 ga, break action. "Nitro Washington" engraved on the side, "Patented August 12, 1913" on the barrel.

From what I've gathered, this a house brand shotgun, but that's about all I have. Any info on this thing? Any idea on value? (I'm expecting it to be worth next to nothing.)

http://www.brandonhowell.com/thr/nitro1.jpg

http://www.brandonhowell.com/thr/nitro2.jpg

http://www.brandonhowell.com/thr/nitro3.jpg

[Hungry Seagull]

Here is a start.

http://www.gabelguns.com/QuestionsAndAnswers/ViewQuestion.asp?QuestionNumber=1115

Now we start digging yah?

[I whittles what I see]

The J. Stevens Arms Company (Nitro Washington) was bought by Savage in 1920. As far as I can tell your shotgun is worth about 200 bucks or so.

[Nugilum]

Here's what's in the United States Patent and Trademark Office:

Patent # 1070145 (http://patimg1.uspto.gov/.piw?docid=US001070145&PageNum=1&&IDKey=8BBC6C51C0CF&HomeUrl=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2%2526Sect2=HITOFF%2526u=%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-adv.htm%2526r=287%2526f=G%2526l=50%2526d=PALL%2526s1=19130812.PD.%2526p=6%2526OS=ISD/Aug/12/1913%2526RS=ISD/19130812)

[Ron James]

The patent date is not the date of manufacture. It could be up to 24 years newer .

[Jim K]

"Nitro" in those days meant the gun could be fired with smokeless powder, and usually meant the barrels were solid rather than Damascus.

But, given the age of the gun, I would strongly recommend against firing it.

Jim

[circuitspore]

Thanks for the info guys. I'll probably see if anyone else in the family wants it, since I have no use for it, and I'm trying to unload 'unused' things.

But, given the age of the gun, I would strongly recommend against firing it.

Yeah, wasn't planning on trying. :eek: Last thing I need is a shotgun blowing up in my face.