I picked up a Montgomery Wards SxS Hercules today. The information that I have found is that it was manufactured by Stevens or Iver Johnson. Thinking more along the lines of a Stevens. Could anyone direct me to a site that I can hopefully find the manufactures date. Thanks, Ruezim
If you know the exact model number then you can look it up on Numrich's web site. Their site only lists them by model number. http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Brand-Cross-Reference.htm?mfgr=Western+Field&page=1
Gunparts shows 'Wards" but not Montgomery Wards. They show 'em made by Mossberg, Nobel and Savage. However, there were several types, some with hammers and some without. Which one you have matters. It is suggested on gunvaluesboard.com that 'Hercules ' was a brand name used by J. Stevens Arms Company for the MW Triumph Model 52 shotgun. Gunparts says that's a Savage Model 315. IJ apparently did not make S x S shotguns at all.
Ruezim, Knowing the exact model number will help identify who actually made the shotgun. I did a search on Numrich's for "Hercules" and they only listed two shotguns. One was an H&R Topper (single shot), and the other was a Stevens 5100 SxS Sunray, All Montgomery Wards firearms that I have ever saw were sold under the WesternField name. Stokey, Carl N Brown is correct, your shotgun is a Stevens 311