I didn't get this shotgun, someone else in the family got it when my Dad passed several yrs. ago. He had it since before I was born. He had been offered up to 800.00 for it by a guy he worked with, but refused to sell it. It has no maker on it that we can find, all we found out about it is that they sold some like this around the 1920's in a Sears reproduction catalog we found....almost no one believes its a 42", one gun dealer almost called me a liar, so Dad let me take it to him....his eyes got big an he grabbed a tape....42"....."you wanna sell that?".....nope...lol....its heavy an has a hair trigger....just wondered if anyone other than a few people in my family has ever seen such a shotgun or has anymore info on them....I've searched the internet an seems to be nothing...it is a single shot.....Dad said he use to enter turkey shoots with it, but after winning so much they told him that gun was banned...
42" Goose Barrel info.
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Gordon
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Those guns were designed to win turkey shoots. I think Crescent Arms made them.
Prime among the shotguns readers and members inquire about are those made by two long- defunct, companies: Crescent Fire Arms Company once located in Norwalk, Conn., and H.∓D. Folsom in New York City. From 1888 to 1899, Crescent made shotguns on its own. Sometime around 1900, the company merged with N.R. Davis and H.∓D. Folsom, becoming Crescent- Davis. Crescent made shotguns for many, many companies under many names. Once amalgamated with H.∓D. Folsom, the list exploded. [The following is an excerpt from my recently published The Shotgun Encyclopedia[d] (2000, Safari Press) that may help identify an heirloom.] H.∓D Folsom was located at 312-14 Broadway, New York, N.Y., and imported and distributed firearms from about 1890 to 1930. At some point they merged with Crescent-Davis, and were finally sold in 1954 to Universal Tackle and Sporting Goods Co. Far from complete, the following list includes brand and trade names of Crescent-made and Folsom-imported shotguns: American Gun Co., Bacon Arms, Baker Gun Co., T. Barker (for Sears), Carolina Arms Co., Central Arms Co., Cherokee Arms Co., Chesapeake Gun Co., Compeer, Cruso, Cumberland Arms Co., Elgin Arms Co., Elmira Arms Co., Empire Arms Co., Enders Oak Leaf, Enders Royal Service, Essex, Faultless, The Field, F.F. Forbes, C.W. Franklin, Harrison Arms Co., Hartford Arms Co., Harvard, Henry Gun Co., Hermitage Arms Co., Hermitage Gun Co., Howard Arms Co., Hummer, Interstate Arms Co., Jackson Arms Co., Kingsland Special, Kingsland 10 Star, Knickerbocker, Knox-All, Lakeside, J. H. Lau ∓ Co., Leader Gun Co., Lee Special, Lee's Munner Special, Leige Arms Co., J. Manton ∓ Co., Marshwood, Massachusetts Arms Co., Metropolitan, Minnesota Arms Co., Mississippi Valley Arms Co., Mohawk, Monitor, Wm. Moore and Co., Mt. Vernon Arms Co., National Arms Co., New Rival, New York Arms Co., Nitro Bird, Nitro Hunter, Norwich Arms Co., Not-Nac Manufacturing Co., Oxford Arms Co., C. Parker ∓ Co., Peerless, Perfection, Piedmont, Pioneer Arms Co., Quail, Queen City, Rev-O-Noc, W. Richards (not related to the British gunmaker Westley Richards), Richter, Rickard Arms Co., Royal Service, Rummel, Shue's Special, Sickel's Arms Co., Southern Arms Co., Special Service, Spencer Gun Co. Sportsmen, Springfield Arms Co., Square Deal, Stanley, State Arms, H. J. Sterling, St. Louis Arms Co., Sullivan Arms Co., Ten Star, Ten Star Heavy Duty, Tiger, Triumph, U.S. Arms Co., Victor, Victor Special, Virginia Arms Co., Volunteer, Vulcan Arms Co., Warren Arms Co., Wilkinson Arms Co., Wilmont Arms Co., Wilshire Arms Co., Wiltshire Arms Co., Winfield Arms Co., Winoca Arms Co., Wolverine, and Worthington Arms Co. Most of these were store-brand shotguns, all of the same style, and no repair parts exist for these guns. Certainly a skilled gunsmith can make parts, but given that none of these guns can be considered valuable, the cost is hardly worth it. This is not to say that Grandpa s Nitro Hunter doesn't have great sentimental value, but in dollars and cents to a collector or even someone manning a table at a gun show, of little value. Certainly, it might be fun to try to collect some of these shotgun, say those from one particular hardware company, but they just don't rank with the big names in value.
Prime among the shotguns readers and members inquire about are those made by two long- defunct, companies: Crescent Fire Arms Company once located in Norwalk, Conn., and H.∓D. Folsom in New York City. From 1888 to 1899, Crescent made shotguns on its own. Sometime around 1900, the company merged with N.R. Davis and H.∓D. Folsom, becoming Crescent- Davis. Crescent made shotguns for many, many companies under many names. Once amalgamated with H.∓D. Folsom, the list exploded. [The following is an excerpt from my recently published The Shotgun Encyclopedia[d] (2000, Safari Press) that may help identify an heirloom.] H.∓D Folsom was located at 312-14 Broadway, New York, N.Y., and imported and distributed firearms from about 1890 to 1930. At some point they merged with Crescent-Davis, and were finally sold in 1954 to Universal Tackle and Sporting Goods Co. Far from complete, the following list includes brand and trade names of Crescent-made and Folsom-imported shotguns: American Gun Co., Bacon Arms, Baker Gun Co., T. Barker (for Sears), Carolina Arms Co., Central Arms Co., Cherokee Arms Co., Chesapeake Gun Co., Compeer, Cruso, Cumberland Arms Co., Elgin Arms Co., Elmira Arms Co., Empire Arms Co., Enders Oak Leaf, Enders Royal Service, Essex, Faultless, The Field, F.F. Forbes, C.W. Franklin, Harrison Arms Co., Hartford Arms Co., Harvard, Henry Gun Co., Hermitage Arms Co., Hermitage Gun Co., Howard Arms Co., Hummer, Interstate Arms Co., Jackson Arms Co., Kingsland Special, Kingsland 10 Star, Knickerbocker, Knox-All, Lakeside, J. H. Lau ∓ Co., Leader Gun Co., Lee Special, Lee's Munner Special, Leige Arms Co., J. Manton ∓ Co., Marshwood, Massachusetts Arms Co., Metropolitan, Minnesota Arms Co., Mississippi Valley Arms Co., Mohawk, Monitor, Wm. Moore and Co., Mt. Vernon Arms Co., National Arms Co., New Rival, New York Arms Co., Nitro Bird, Nitro Hunter, Norwich Arms Co., Not-Nac Manufacturing Co., Oxford Arms Co., C. Parker ∓ Co., Peerless, Perfection, Piedmont, Pioneer Arms Co., Quail, Queen City, Rev-O-Noc, W. Richards (not related to the British gunmaker Westley Richards), Richter, Rickard Arms Co., Royal Service, Rummel, Shue's Special, Sickel's Arms Co., Southern Arms Co., Special Service, Spencer Gun Co. Sportsmen, Springfield Arms Co., Square Deal, Stanley, State Arms, H. J. Sterling, St. Louis Arms Co., Sullivan Arms Co., Ten Star, Ten Star Heavy Duty, Tiger, Triumph, U.S. Arms Co., Victor, Victor Special, Virginia Arms Co., Volunteer, Vulcan Arms Co., Warren Arms Co., Wilkinson Arms Co., Wilmont Arms Co., Wilshire Arms Co., Wiltshire Arms Co., Winfield Arms Co., Winoca Arms Co., Wolverine, and Worthington Arms Co. Most of these were store-brand shotguns, all of the same style, and no repair parts exist for these guns. Certainly a skilled gunsmith can make parts, but given that none of these guns can be considered valuable, the cost is hardly worth it. This is not to say that Grandpa s Nitro Hunter doesn't have great sentimental value, but in dollars and cents to a collector or even someone manning a table at a gun show, of little value. Certainly, it might be fun to try to collect some of these shotgun, say those from one particular hardware company, but they just don't rank with the big names in value.
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Great info Gordon, thanks!!! It seems they would be valuable, at least the 42" because I have never heard or seen another of this length...next time I see this shotgun I'm taking close up pictures an look at the letter stamping an see if it might correspond with any of the above.
451 Detonics
Member
I have seen single shot, bolt action, SXSs with barrels that long or longer. Today many have been custom built for turkey shoots but back in the day these were market meat guns, designed to take as many waterfowl sitting on the water in one shot as possible. Often hunting from a boat and using an oarlock to support the barrel. While not at big as the punt guns of the day it did allow for birds to be taken at a longer range without spooking them by having to get too close.
springfield30-06
Member
I'm just curious as to why it is so long. Is it so the shot travels an extra 12" of barrel and not start spreading so soon, thus longer range?
451 Detonics
Member
It also insured the powder would burn more completely inside the barrel resulting in more velocity, especially with slow powders.
lizziedog1
Member
Poppycock! I was thinking of another one word reply, but I would have been admonished.
451 Detonics
Member
you make me laugh...
Why do you suppose shorter barrel have less velocity than longer barrels? Why do they have more muzzle flash? Could it be that more of the powder finishes burning outside of the barrel?
silly rabbit...
I'll try an post a pic. in the next month, hopefully sooner.
My fellow Hoosier is correct, take a 3/8 steel plate an shoot it with a AR pistol...at 40 yrds it will hardly even dent it heavier than a bb gun...now shoot it with a full length AR an it will punch in about 1/4" into it.....is it magic?...poppycock....its barrel length.
My fellow Hoosier is correct, take a 3/8 steel plate an shoot it with a AR pistol...at 40 yrds it will hardly even dent it heavier than a bb gun...now shoot it with a full length AR an it will punch in about 1/4" into it.....is it magic?...poppycock....its barrel length.
BADUNAME37
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That is like the Taurus Judge.
There is no way that Judge can have the equivelant energy and velocity of pellets that a regular .410 shotgun has!
There is no way that Judge can have the equivelant energy and velocity of pellets that a regular .410 shotgun has!
washambala
Member
As far as the "barrel length makes the load go faster" arguement goes,
It seems to me that even after the powder has burnt completely, the air pressure behind the load is still greater than that in front. Simple physics would dictate that as long as this is true, the load will continue to accelerate.
Another reason for a long barrel might be that it stabilizes the gun a bit. Youre less likely to gitter the gun while shooting if 90% of the weight is closer to the bird than it is to you.
It seems to me that even after the powder has burnt completely, the air pressure behind the load is still greater than that in front. Simple physics would dictate that as long as this is true, the load will continue to accelerate.
Another reason for a long barrel might be that it stabilizes the gun a bit. Youre less likely to gitter the gun while shooting if 90% of the weight is closer to the bird than it is to you.
kev778
Member
Is it 10 gauge? My grandfather had a 36" 10 gauge. Damn thing was so heavy you have to be an Olympic weightlifter to lug the dang thing in the field
Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
A few decades back, the techies at the NRA took one of those long barreled Marlin bolt action shotguns and started chronographing a given load as they cut the barrel back in one inch increments.
Top speed occurred,IIRC, at about 24 or 25 inches of barrel. It was less either way and the further away from 24", the bigger the drop.
The theory was that shorter lengths lacked room for a complete burn while longer lengths were causing a slow down from friction.
Of course, different brisance,powders,etc, will skew the stats, but I bet by and large the highest velocity occurs around that length.
Top speed occurred,IIRC, at about 24 or 25 inches of barrel. It was less either way and the further away from 24", the bigger the drop.
The theory was that shorter lengths lacked room for a complete burn while longer lengths were causing a slow down from friction.
Of course, different brisance,powders,etc, will skew the stats, but I bet by and large the highest velocity occurs around that length.
Gordon
Member
I'd say the 10 &12 ga 3.5" shells burn out in at least 30" however
The shotgun is a 12 ga. This isn't a good pic. but it does have the shotgun in it. I'm the little kid with my Dad after he used the shotgun to take 2 redfox back around 1965.
Next photo in 1979, I'm a little older in the chair, shotgun behind fireplace....hopefully I'll see this gun again an get some good digital photos, but this gives an ideal why we called it 'the long tom'.
Next photo in 1979, I'm a little older in the chair, shotgun behind fireplace....hopefully I'll see this gun again an get some good digital photos, but this gives an ideal why we called it 'the long tom'.
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