Noble brand Shotguns?

[saltyphotog]

I recently inherited a 16 ga. shotgun. It is made by Noble. I have never heard of this brand. I shot the gun for the first time in over 28 years and it works VERY well. It kicks a little more than my new Charles Daly 12 ga. but I would imagine that is because technology has improved on recoil over the last 3 decades. My qusetion is have you heard of Noble? Are they a quality gun? I haven't found any info on the internet.

 

[JohnBT]

"Nobel Manufacturing Co. of Haydenville, Mass operated from 1953 to 1971. They produced pump and auto shotguns in their factory and imported Spanish made doubles. Charles Carder's excellent "Side by Sides of the World" provided this information" - from oldguns.net

I won't venture a guess about the quality because I'm not familiar with them.

John

 

[Dave McCracken]

Medium grade guns. The pumps were a mess, but pointed very well.

 

[mnrivrat]

I think Dave is being kind myself -- I would say low grade guns and agree the pumps are a mess . Built a lot like the old Savage 820 ? pumps they were not of good quality.

Also no collector value that I am aware of. Shoot it till it breaks and then make a floor lamp .

 

[Kestrel]

I was thinking Dave was being kind, too...

The pumps are low grade. The trigger group (internally) looks like pot metal. They also had a keyed lock-out device (believe it or not), in the trigger guard, that breaks. The action bar/collar also breaks (also looks like pot metal). Gun Parts Corp. sells what they call a replacement action bar/collar, but if you're lucky, it can be fitted with a good bit of filing and fitting. Then it (barely) works like the action is filled with gravel and digs into the walls of the receiver. If you're not lucky, they'll send you one that looks similar, but can't be fit at all, since it's actually made for a different gun. (Guess how I know...)

I honestly don't mean to insult your inherited shotgun, but since you asked if they are a quality gun, I'm just relating my observations from seeing and working on someone else's model a few years ago.

 

[deputy tom]

I had one about forty yrs. ago.Phillips head screws abound,bind and jam..What a POS.I ditched at the first chance(back to the dealer that sold it to me in the first place).YMMV.tom.

 

[saltyphotog]

no offense taken

I was just curious about the gun and haven't been able to find any info on it. It is old, under cared for, and underused, I was just making sure i wasn't using some invaluable antique for a "fun gun". This particular one fires and cycles fairly well, the pump handle on it is loose (wiggles side to side), but otherwise I like it and am proud to have it. It was my fathers gun, he died just weeks before I was born, and it's all I have of him, so I am glad I can use it regularly without decreasing the value at all.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Smith and Wesson bought out the stocks of the Noble 66
shotgun, re-engineered some parts, and introduced it as
the S&W 916. S&W regretted it.

I own a 916, which I bought because it was about half
the price of a 870. In over twenty-five years and hundreds
of shells, I have had to replace the firing pin. It is still
going, and my son has a sentimental attachment to it
because it was the first shotgun he remembers shooting.

A book on troubleshooting your rifle and shotguns warns
that the cost of repairs to a Noble brand gun may exceed
the value of the resulting gun. The gunsmith-author had
seen a number of Nobles brought in for repair.

 

[BigStrike]

Good Utilitarian Shotgun

The Noble 16 ga. pump was my first shotgun...purchased in 1970. Still own and use it occasionally. It has never malfunctioned in the field (something I can't say about my 870). Not worth much but no complaints.