Name this shotgun:

[DRZinn]

A buddy of mine found a shotgun and we're trying to find out whatever we can about it, including what it might be worth.

It's a break-open double barrel, looks like 12 gauge. On one side it has the following:

Crescent Fire Arms Co.
Norwich, Conn. U.S.A.

and on the other:

No. 60 Empire Hammerless

The stock has been broken and "repaired" with some sort of epoxy, a really bad job. Otherwise it seems, from the cursory glance I gave it, to be in fine shape. I don't know grades, but if 10 is new-in-box, I'd give it an 8 other than the stock. The stock is pretty much worthless as is.

Anyone?

 

[84B20]

You might be better off if you posted a photo of it. Better yet several including close ups.

 

[mnrivrat]

Cresent was one of several long defunct gun makers on the east coast in the later part of the 19th and first part of the 20th century. As I recall they made both single and double barrel shotguns for the working class.

Sold under there name and perhaps some store brand names as well they were a lower end working gun and as far as I know they carry very little collector interest . Not worth having a stock made for it ,you may be able to find a used one somewhere as there were a lot of Cresents made.

Otherwise a more proper repair would be the best chance of making it servicable, assuming it doesn't have the early twist steel barrels and is in good order otherwise. (always a good idea to have them checked by a compitant smith)

As a shooter with properly repaired stock it is likely in the $200 price range - if exposed hammers , maybe a bit more.

 

[joab]

1907 to 1930
Made for Sears by Cresent Fire Arms a subsidiary of Folsom Sorting goods acquired by Savage Stevens in 1930

Value between $100 an $200 in good shape

 

[DRZinn]

Thanks, guys, I'll pass that on. AMAZING the wealth of knowledge on THR, and only 17 minutes after I posted the original question!

84B20, I definitely would have taken pictures, but it was just a quick look over, and no camera around.

 

[only1asterisk]

I was going to suggest Ralph as a good name for a shotgun.

David

 

[DRZinn]

There's one on every thread....

 

[sm]

Notes to self:

-Inform Harley Nolden to add a "Ralph" file to his data.

-Be the first to suggest to a new member to conduct a THR search under "Ralph".

 

[Fred Fuller]

AKA a 'hardware store' gun, most of these have been rode hard and put up wet. Most of them are useless for anything save decorative wallhangers, are so 'loose' in the action as to be downright dangerous, and some older ones have twist steel barrels, a no-no with modern smokeless powder.

Even wallhangers around here will bring $100-150, a Cresent gun with a good tight lockup and solid barrels is a pretty rare thing- I've never seen one. One more vote for having it checked out by a good gunsmith before you shoot it...

lpl/nc