Older gentlemen passed away by my folks place, widow offered the guns her husband had to my father, and he forwarded this on to me. Thats the short story. This was locked up, unable to break the action when I got it. I took it all apart, found the issue and got it working again. Now, I've done a little research on it. Looks like these were store brand, or trade name shotguns made by Crescent arms, and this one would date from 1917ish. Though, the serial number data is estimated as its been lost to history, I have a feeling this is perhaps a 1922 build, there's a 22 stamped into the butt of the stock. In any event, does anyone know when 16 gauge went to 2¾" from 2½? Not sure I want to fire this either way, its crusty, not like "oh, its 100 years old" crusty, I mean the quality of manufacture was crusty even by 1917 standards. Not sure what the receiver is made of, its cast something or other. Apart from the barrel, which is stamped "Genuine Armory Steel" there's no hardened steel in it. Period ads for the base model Crescent Victor single barrel gun advertise a case hardened receiver. Case hardened what, im not so sure. Looking at the prices I can find for these, $6.50 - $9.00, I'd say these were the 1917 equivalent of the Hatfield single shots of today.
