Hopkins and Allen shotgun

[Im283]

A buddy I work with brought in a H & A single barrel shotgun that was his grandfathers.

I believe it is 16 guage. Other than a 5 digit serial number the only marking is one on the top of the barrel that says "Full Choke" It appears to be in working order aside from the spider living in the barrel LOL.

Can anyone give me an idea of its age and value, shell size etc.?

Sorry for the limited info but it is all I have to work with.

 

[Ron James]

Sometimes the placement of the markings will give you an ideal of the age. H&A had a couple of different adresses. If you post the complete wording perhaps it can be dated.

 

[Im283]

Thanks for the reply Ron, The shotgun is at work and I am at home but tomorrow i will look at it and do just that.

I know the serial number is on the bottom but not on the barrel and I believe the address is on the left side but I am not positive, nor do I recall it exactly anway.

Thanks again

 

[Im283]

My buddy had taken the shotgun home so i di dnot get to look at it.

I believe it was from hartford Conn, but I am not 100% sure. The engraving was on the left side with the Hopkins and Allen name in sort of an arc, and the Hartford Cn underneat it straight across(no arc)

 

[Iggy]

Strange coincidence

Im283, I hope you will forgive me for jumping in on your thread, but maybe we can both learn something here.

Yesterday a friend showed me a H&A 16 Gauge Shotgun and wanted know if I knew anything about it..

I don't that's why I'm here..

His is a falling block, no serial numbers visible without disassembly.
IIRC it was manufactured in Worchester Mass?

I am not sure whether the gun was browned instead of blued or if it has an extremely even coat of rust.. I would say it was browned. The barrel is clean and shiny and further leads me to think the gun is browned.

Stock and pistol grip were checkered at one time but now well worn.


He said he might go to the gun show tomorrow and see what he could get for it.

I said don't you dare until we find out what you have..

I found mention of one in a google search valued at around $200.00

I saw rifles of the same ilk priced very close to $2000.00

I don't want to see this guy get bilked out of a valuable gun if it is indeed valuable.

If it isn't a high priced gun, I would like to have an idea of what might be a fair price for both of us if I decide to buy it.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Ron James]

The roll markings of Hopkins and Allen Manufacturing Co. was used from 1868 to 1898. Hopkins and Allen Arms Co. was used from 1898 to early 1900s. They made falling block shotguns based on their falling block rifle design, but Flayderman's states that the values and demands are low. I would guess that a falling block shotgun in good condition would bring maybe 250 to 350. Hopkins and Allens has a interesting history which I'm not going to get into, however their history includes a ship load of military rifles which were never paid for and the ship being lost at sea. This loss of a large amount of unpaid for rifles, helped push them into bankruptcy. Just a teaser for you H&A owners to do some research.

 

[Iggy]

Ron,

Thanks, I will forward this info to my friend.

I have some falling blocks and rolling blocks and stuff..

If he decides to sell this critter, I may just make him an offer.

Thanks again.

Iggy