Identification of pre-WWI single barrel shotguns is complicated by the evolution of models and design, and the hundreds of tradenames associated with guns by Crescent, J. Stevens, and others.
Good examples of the difficulty in establishing ID
https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewto ... 0&start=60
and
https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewto ... 0&start=60
A list of tradenames may be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id ... GIhfguSXXQ
and by Joseph Vorisek. Please note that patent dates may also be used to ID the gunmaker.
http://www.cornellpubs.com/free-files/S ... rtrait.pdf
"Long Tom" singles
Long Tom Unknown manufacturer | Shotgun Forum (shotgunworld.com)
Particular attention should be given to:
1. The shape of the receiver; straight or sculpted.
2. The shape of the rear of the receiver; straight, curved or rebated.
3. The number and position of the pins and screws in the receiver.
4. Presence and style of take down levers, screws or pins.
5. Extractor or ejector.
6. Round or pistol grip (usually with a grip cap) stock; presence of checkering.
7. Markings on the barrel
"CHOKE BORED" was used by Meriden and J. Stevens
"12 GA CHOKE" by Harrington & Richardson
"PROOF TESTED __ GAUGE" and "BARREL AND LUG FORGED IN ONE PIECE" by Stevens
"- __ GAUGE - CHOKE BORE - BARREL AND LUG FORGED IN ONE" by Iver Johnson
"MADE IN U.S.A." appeared after 1933
Starting about 1937 chamber length was marked
Barrels are commonly marked with a steel name:
1. Crescent and A.J. Aubrey used "Armory Steel"
2. J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co.
No. 97 with a barrel take-down pin was marked "Triplett Steel"
No. 100, 110, 105, 107, 115 & 125 singles were listed with "Electro Steel"; post-1916 No. 105 had "Compressed Forged Steel". The No. 165 singles in 1912 also had "Electro Steel".
In 1902 the No. 120 hammer & 180 hammerless single had "Pyro-Electro Steel".
The No. 85 single Extra Heavy Breech "Dreadnaught" in the 1913 catalog was listed with "Compressed Forged Steel" as was the No. 330 1923 through 1930.
3. Harrington & Richardson (courtesy of David Noreen)
Model 1905 single barrel was available with "Plain Steel" or Twist
Model 1908 listed only "Steel Barrel"
Model 1915 was again "Plain Steel"
"Heavy Breech Model of 1915" listed "Special Blued Steel".
4. W.H. Davenport listing in the c. 1904 Supplee Hdw. catalog:
"Elite Heavy Target" - "Armour Steel"
"Acme Single Barrel" - "Nickel and Case Hardened Blued Steel"
"Great American Nitro Single Barrel Gun" - "Special Nitro Barrels"
5. In 1901 and after the Iver Johnson Champion single was listed with "Hammer Forged Carbon Steel".
Crescent Victor (and MANY tradename singles) with the flat side frame. Later Victor and New Victor singles did not have the upper firing pin retaining pin
Victor parts list from H&D Folsom Catalog No. 17 c. 1920.
N.R. Davis and Crescent-Davis singles
https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewto ... 5&t=517318
1901 Iver Johnson Champion 'Top Snap' (Old Model) c. 1880 to 1908. There was a similar side lever opener model c. 1879 to 1897, and a semi-hammerless with locking bolt operated by a trigger guard "ring" c. 1899 to 1910.
Iver Johnson Shotgun Patents | Shotgun Forum (shotgunworld.com)
Courtesy of Bill Goforth author of Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works Firearms 1871-1993
Champion Model 36 -1909 to 1922
Single barrel; rebounding center mounted hammer; top lever operated break open design; gauges: 12, 16, and 20; barrel length: 28, 30, and 32 inches (features barrel and lug forged in one piece) bored full chock only; American black Walnut butt stock and fore-end; automatic extractors; weight 6 3/4 pounds; overall length with 30 inch barrel 45 inches; case hardened receiver (nickel available as option), browned barrel; automatic ejectors extra cost option; .410 bore, 24 and 28 gauges offered in 1913; 24 gauge dropped 1928; all gauges except 12 dropped after 1941.
Champion - 1923 to about 1978
This is the same gun as the earlier Model 36 champion except that the smaller gauges are now built on the same frame as the large gauges.
Champion Lightweight Model 39 in 24, 28, 32 gauge, .410 bore, 44 and 45 caliber, and also marked 12 mm (.410) and 14 mm (32 gauge)
There were also Junior Models of both the Model 36 and the Model 39 discontinued about 1918
Some of these single barrel shotguns have been seen with Canadian marking; these were most likely shipped to Canada and then marked as there is no evidence that Iver Johnson’s Arms & Cycle Works ever had a manufacturing factory in Canada
Champion SN and DOM
Serial number with no letter prefix - DOM 1909 to 1919.
Single letter SN - DOM 1920 to 1929.
Two letter prefix - DOM 1930 to 1939.
All letter SN - DOM 1940 - 1950.
Iver Johnson single parts list in the H&D Folsom catalog No. 17 c. 1920
Good examples of the difficulty in establishing ID
https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewto ... 0&start=60
and
https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewto ... 0&start=60
A list of tradenames may be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id ... GIhfguSXXQ
and by Joseph Vorisek. Please note that patent dates may also be used to ID the gunmaker.
http://www.cornellpubs.com/free-files/S ... rtrait.pdf
"Long Tom" singles
Long Tom Unknown manufacturer | Shotgun Forum (shotgunworld.com)
Particular attention should be given to:
1. The shape of the receiver; straight or sculpted.
2. The shape of the rear of the receiver; straight, curved or rebated.
3. The number and position of the pins and screws in the receiver.
4. Presence and style of take down levers, screws or pins.
5. Extractor or ejector.
6. Round or pistol grip (usually with a grip cap) stock; presence of checkering.
7. Markings on the barrel
"CHOKE BORED" was used by Meriden and J. Stevens
"12 GA CHOKE" by Harrington & Richardson
"PROOF TESTED __ GAUGE" and "BARREL AND LUG FORGED IN ONE PIECE" by Stevens
"- __ GAUGE - CHOKE BORE - BARREL AND LUG FORGED IN ONE" by Iver Johnson
"MADE IN U.S.A." appeared after 1933
Starting about 1937 chamber length was marked
Barrels are commonly marked with a steel name:
1. Crescent and A.J. Aubrey used "Armory Steel"
2. J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co.
No. 97 with a barrel take-down pin was marked "Triplett Steel"
No. 100, 110, 105, 107, 115 & 125 singles were listed with "Electro Steel"; post-1916 No. 105 had "Compressed Forged Steel". The No. 165 singles in 1912 also had "Electro Steel".
In 1902 the No. 120 hammer & 180 hammerless single had "Pyro-Electro Steel".
The No. 85 single Extra Heavy Breech "Dreadnaught" in the 1913 catalog was listed with "Compressed Forged Steel" as was the No. 330 1923 through 1930.
3. Harrington & Richardson (courtesy of David Noreen)
Model 1905 single barrel was available with "Plain Steel" or Twist
Model 1908 listed only "Steel Barrel"
Model 1915 was again "Plain Steel"
"Heavy Breech Model of 1915" listed "Special Blued Steel".
4. W.H. Davenport listing in the c. 1904 Supplee Hdw. catalog:
"Elite Heavy Target" - "Armour Steel"
"Acme Single Barrel" - "Nickel and Case Hardened Blued Steel"
"Great American Nitro Single Barrel Gun" - "Special Nitro Barrels"
5. In 1901 and after the Iver Johnson Champion single was listed with "Hammer Forged Carbon Steel".
Crescent Victor (and MANY tradename singles) with the flat side frame. Later Victor and New Victor singles did not have the upper firing pin retaining pin
Victor parts list from H&D Folsom Catalog No. 17 c. 1920.
N.R. Davis and Crescent-Davis singles
https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewto ... 5&t=517318
1901 Iver Johnson Champion 'Top Snap' (Old Model) c. 1880 to 1908. There was a similar side lever opener model c. 1879 to 1897, and a semi-hammerless with locking bolt operated by a trigger guard "ring" c. 1899 to 1910.
Iver Johnson Shotgun Patents | Shotgun Forum (shotgunworld.com)
Courtesy of Bill Goforth author of Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works Firearms 1871-1993
Champion Model 36 -1909 to 1922
Single barrel; rebounding center mounted hammer; top lever operated break open design; gauges: 12, 16, and 20; barrel length: 28, 30, and 32 inches (features barrel and lug forged in one piece) bored full chock only; American black Walnut butt stock and fore-end; automatic extractors; weight 6 3/4 pounds; overall length with 30 inch barrel 45 inches; case hardened receiver (nickel available as option), browned barrel; automatic ejectors extra cost option; .410 bore, 24 and 28 gauges offered in 1913; 24 gauge dropped 1928; all gauges except 12 dropped after 1941.
Champion - 1923 to about 1978
This is the same gun as the earlier Model 36 champion except that the smaller gauges are now built on the same frame as the large gauges.
Champion Lightweight Model 39 in 24, 28, 32 gauge, .410 bore, 44 and 45 caliber, and also marked 12 mm (.410) and 14 mm (32 gauge)
There were also Junior Models of both the Model 36 and the Model 39 discontinued about 1918
Some of these single barrel shotguns have been seen with Canadian marking; these were most likely shipped to Canada and then marked as there is no evidence that Iver Johnson’s Arms & Cycle Works ever had a manufacturing factory in Canada
Champion SN and DOM
Serial number with no letter prefix - DOM 1909 to 1919.
Single letter SN - DOM 1920 to 1929.
Two letter prefix - DOM 1930 to 1939.
All letter SN - DOM 1940 - 1950.
Iver Johnson single parts list in the H&D Folsom catalog No. 17 c. 1920