[goon]

I have a question on an old double barrel that my grandfather bought in the early 1920s. It is a Marshwood. It is hammerless with 29" barrels. It has a patent date of April 20, 1915. Anyone know where it was made, how much it is worth, etc.?
Just curious.
Thanks.

[Jagermeister]

GOON:

My records indicate that Marshwood was a trade name used by H&D Folsom arms Co on shotguns they made for the Charles Williams Stores Inc of NY in about the area that you mention. Iver Sohnson also used that trade name for shotguns made for the same Charles Williams Stores.

Marshwood was also a Trade name used by J. Stevens Arms Co from 1915 to 1935, for Charles Stevens Stores of Brooklyn NY.

J. Stevesns bought out the Crescent, (H D Folsom) company during the depression, and with the 1915 date as indicated I would assume that the Shotgun is the one made for Charles Stevens Stores of Brooklyn.

JM

[Jagermeister]

Goon:

The Stevens Story

[Jagermeister]

J Stevens #2

jm

[Jagermeister]

Goon:

Your Marshwood is a shotgun that is termed a "Hardware Gun:. That is many major companies, Crescent, H &D Folsom, J. Stevens etc made shotguns for just about anyone who wanted to have their name on a shotgun, or wanted a shotgun made with their trade name.

JM

[goon]

I wondered about this gun for years, but for some reason it never occured to me to ask you guys.
I fugured that someone would know something about it.
Thanks for the help.

BTW- does it have any collector value? It has been used as a hunting gun since my grandfather bought it mail order in about 1923. Is it safe to shoot with modern, low-brass ammo? Is it too valuable to keep using or is it just a shooter?
Thanks.

[Dave McCracken]

Like ALL old shotguns, it should be checked out by a competent smith before ANY use, even with lighter loads. The Short Chamber Demon may have cursed it.

If it can be shot with modern ammo, there's a plethora of good low pressure light loads.

As for collector value, not much. But, it was your Grandad's shotgun. Thus, it's priceless.

If it can be shot, take it out some and shoot some squirrels or something. Bet your GF would like that.

[goon]

Well, it is apparently safe to shoot. My dad has been using it for years. It is the first 12 gauge I ever shot, and it damn near knocked me over.
After that, I asked for another shell and shot it again.:D
My dad told me that he did have it to a gunsmith once. He was looking for parts. He needed the peice that cocked the hammers when you open the gun. The gun would occasionally go too far when opened, and then you would have to rip it clear apart to reassemble the parts.
To cure this, my dad took it to a shop where he worked and added a little bit of weld to one of the worn parts. He then refitted the part and put the gun back together.
It has been working pretty well for the last ten years now since he did that, and the gun is sitting next to his kitchen door as we speak.
From what I gather, it was just basically made as a working gun.
That is what it has been for the past eighty years.
I can't really think of a better compliment for any gun than that.
Thanks for all the help.
My dad was happy to finally find out what he could about it.