Anyone have info on the Shapliegh Hardware Co. of St. Louis?

[thatguy]

I just "lettered" a S&W Triple Lock revolver I recently bought and it was shipped in 1917 to Shapliegh Hardware Co. in St. Louis, MO. There were 325 guns in this shipment. That's a pretty big order! I have also heard that this outfit had guns made by H&R for them that bore their own trademarked brand name.

This hardware company sounds like it was a major gun seller! I would like to know some more about this place if anyone can help me out. Are they still around? If not, when did they close? Any info appreciated. Thanks.

 

[grimlock]

I have possession of my great-grandfather's .38 Hand Ejector made in early 1906. It, too was originally shipped to Shapleigh. I don't have any info on the store, though.

 

[zippo8]

Found this in a search. Looks like the name could have the letters e and i reversed. Shapleigh

 

[thatguy]

Thanks for the link. The original hang tag picture suggests that the correct spelling is ei rather than ie as I have it.

Anyone else have any personal experience or info? These place must have sold a lot of guns in the early 20th century.

 

[scout26]

Yep, I have heard of them. I have double barrel "King Nitro" shotgun that was made for and sold by the Shapleigh Hardware Company back in late teens early '20's. (can't find out anything more specific then that) It must have be a waterfowling piece because it has 32" barrels that are choked "Full" and "Fuller". I use it for the occasional round of Trap when I feel like challenging myself. Shot a 12 with it at Skeet one time. Used it once or twice for Pheasants. Can't use it for waterfowl as I'm not going to take the chance of running non-toxic shot through it. Probably be better as a wall-hanger then anything. The really neat thing is the serial number: 13000.


Guess it's about time to pull it out of the safe this weekend and see how it can do on the trap field, then give it a nice cleaning and a coat of oil for next time.

 

[dfariswheel]

"Back in the day" Shapleigh was THE major mid-west hardware supplier.

Most tradesmen and companies had their catalog and bought hardware and supplies from them.

As did most hardware stores did, the much bigger Shapleigh also sold sporting goods, including guns.

Like Sears, Wards, True-Value, Gamble's, and Western Auto, Shapleigh sold many items under their own name, including guns.

I have a Shapleigh Hardware early 1900's brass and copper blow torch which has the Shapleigh "Norleigh Diamond" label soldered on the torch body.

Shapleigh was the biggest mid-west hardware company and sold all over America.
In the days of few gun laws, many sportsmen bought their guns from Shapleigh by mail order.
Another similar company, was Klein's Hardware of Chicago, who was if anything, an even bigger mail order gun seller than Shapleigh.

When the Shapleigh family sold the company, it almost immediately started to decline until it finally went bust in the 60's.

There were a number of these regional hardware companies that were unable to change and compete after WWII and simply went bust.

Something that helped kill them off was the Gun Control Act of 1968, which stopped mail order gun sales.

Finding an old Field & Stream or other sporting magazine of the early 60's will turn up pages of advertising by companies like Klein offering a treasure trove of now-rare and expensive guns, all for sale by mail.

 

[cxm]

History

Here is some info

http://www.thckk.org/shapleigh-history.html

Also:

http://shapleigh0.tripod.com/shapleighfamilyassociation/id13.html