ID of mystery shotgun?

[gp911]

Hey all, longtime lurker first time poster...

My grandfather-in-law has an old shotgun that his grandfather bought around 1900 and I'm just trying to figure out when it was made and who made it.

It's a 12ga side-by-side with external hammers and a brace of sorts that runs between the barrels. The only identifying mark besides the serial number is this inscription:

"The New England"

Anybody know what the heck this is?

TIA,


gp911

 

[ndh87]

mystery gun

you might want to try searching some online gun trader sites looking for something similar. "The New England" might be the new england firearms company, they are still arround today, mostly singleshot rifles and shotguns, i think they are a part of the Marlin company.

good luck figuring it out

 

[gp911]

I've tried the obvious, but have found nothing. I've searched gun trader sites, regular search engines, etc. I've even skimmed a few books on antique firearms, to no avail.

It's not related to the current New England Firearms, that much I know.

Beyond that, no clue...

It's nothing fancy, that's for sure.


gp911

 

[mnrivrat]

Around the turn of the century there were a bunch of firearms manufacturer's making break open single's and doubles on the east coast.

They were typically sold via catalog like Sear's , etc. Also , many were producing Hardware brand guns for the larger stores.

Most of them went out of business after a few years.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Literally hundreds of gun makers in that era made shotguns, both domestic and foreign. Few are worth much.

Crescent, Folsom, Stevens,Iver Johnson, etc are some of the US makers who often marked shotguns with "House" brand names. Crescent would do it on an order of more more than 10 shotguns.

A couple things....

These are oft of chancey condition and not for use with non toxic or most other modern ammo.

Many have chambers shorter than we use now, and firing off longer shells is neither fun nor safe.

A good smith can certify if it's safe, but chances are it's not.

Keep it as an heirloom, not a shooter.

 

[Jagermeister]

NEW ENGLAND ARMS COMPANY
CHARLES GODFREY ON SHOTGUNS MADE FOR THE ROHDE-SPENCER CO OF CHGO

BY CRESCENT FOR SEARS AFTER 1914

This is the only one I could locate with the name New England Arms Co. There were a couple of more, New England Wonder and a New England, however, the New England indicated they made hammerless guns.

My information indicates that all the New England brands were made for the two companies listed above.

If it has damascus bbls DO NOT SHOOT IT. tHE BARRELS WILL NOT WITH STAND THE MODERN DAY PRESSURE
HJN