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Beerbatter

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hello Folks,

Newbie here. I acquired an old U.S. Field 20 gauge SxS made by The C & F Co. in Columbus, Ohio. One of the firing pins is broken and I've been working on it to see if I can fix it. While I have been working on it, I have done tons of research trying to figure out what I have, but only have come up with a number of loose ends. The research gave me the bug and I have done nothing but read and learn. I had no idea there was so much to learn about these old shotguns. My main concern at the moment is to properly ID it to determine what type of barrel I have. From the reading I have done, I'm afraid to even go shoot it if it is a twist barrel construction. But I have done enough reading either way to understand that it should be checked out by a competent gunsmith to be sure.

So here are close-up, high-res pictures of the markings hoping you folks can help ID it. I'm not really concerned about value; from the research I have done, it appears to be one of those "thrown in the bed of the truck guns" with no collector value.

The action is nearly exactly the same as some of the Lefever guns that I have discovered that use coiled main springs and hammers that are actuated by cams and rods. Everything has gone well so far, until I got to those darn coil springs. I think they would work well as suspension springs on a military tank. I have tried the "C-clamp" rig and method, but that didn't work well for me. So now I am constructing a Lefever style block and screw spring retainer that I can bolt to the receiver to push back on the main spring caps.

As far as the markings are concerned, here is what I think I have learned so far. Please correct me on any of this:
1. The C & F Co. I have not found any manufacturer history specifically called "The C & F Co." The closest thing I have found with a "C" and an "F" related to the name US Field is Crescent Fire Arms Co. and later Crescent-Davis Arms Corp. But neither of those I believe were in Ohio. So dead end there for me.
2. The 20 on the watertable is 20 gauge. I didn't even know that until I started the research.
3. 259900 is the serial number. It appears in numerous places throughout the gun.
4. The 2 and the 4 on the barrel. I believe that is the choke of each barrel, wherein at some point, manufacturers began dropping the denominator and stamping only the numerator (i.e. 2/4 show as 2 and 4/4 shows as 4). Additionally, I think 2 is Mod and 4 is full.
5. 2U on the barrel. I have no idea what this marking means. Please advise. I think I saw somewhere it refers to date of manufacture. Not sure.
6. BP on the barrel. I believe this means the barrel is proofed for black powder loads. If so, that will require me to consider everything I have read so far about using modern smokeless powder loads in a gun designed for BP (i.e. special light loads only).
7. And finally, there is a 2 and a 5 on the trigger plate side of the receiver. The 5 is hard to see in the picture. No clue what these markings mean.

That's all there is. There are no markings on the rib of the barrel.
So thanks in advance for any ID info and additional advice you folks can provide. I have actually had a lot of fun researching this thing.

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It's an Ithaca Lefever Nitro Special tradename gun.

The mark just forward of the barrel flats is 'LLH' and is the trade mark of Laurent Lochet-Habran, a Belgian barrel maker. This mark has been found on Fox, Baker, Lefever, Crescent, Ithaca (Lewis & Flues with 'Smokeless Powder Steel', NID, Lefever Nitro Special, Lefever M-2 single barrel, and Westernfield Deluxe/Western Arms Long Range), Hunter Arms Fulton and "Ranger" for Sears guns.
The barrels are fluid steel.

Nitro Specials were solid utility doubles. Yours was made about 1927 and may have 2 1/2" chambers. You are correct about the 4 & 2 choke markings.

After an evaluation by a double gun specialist smith, using appropriate shells the gun should provide another 89 years of fun.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Wow. I think you nailed it. Thank you so much. Although it doesn't have any Lefever markings on it anywhere, my gun looks exactly like the Nitro Specials I see online now that I can search under that name. The markings just in front of the watertable are indeed "LLH". In my lack of knowledge, I did not notice them as markings since they are very worn. But now with closer examination, that is what it is. Also, I measured the chamber depth and it is in fact 2 1/2". So yes on that as well. I have attached another picture showing the wood parts, and mine does have the checkered patterns just like some of the Nitro Specials I found online elsewhere.

Can you please recommend or point me in the direction of one or two specific shells that I should use so that I have an idea of what I'm looking for?

Also, I am currently working on the main spring compressor/retainer, and I will post some pics of that when I get it done.

Thanks again for all the info. This stuff is fascinating to me.

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Discussion starter · #6 ·
Ouch!!! That information and pictures will make one think twice about shooting these old guns. I do not intend to modify this gun in any way.
Thanks for the link to the thread. It is very helpful information.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Did a bunch more research on the Internet trying to nail down who "The C. & F. Co. in Columbus, Ohio was but no luck. I've tried following your great leads under the Cook Coffee Co., Cook United, Inc., Max Freeman, and Cook & Freeman, but nothing comes up. This gun may be in that category I have read about concerning records that "were lost" or "destroyed", as I have read that that happened during this era.
 
Many ol' Nitro Specials are still in use, and doing fine! It all depends on the condition of the gun. How does it lock up, and are the barrels tight and "on face"? They are tough old guns.

A good gunsmith can check the bbl. thickness ahead of the chamber to determine if the chambers can be safely lengthened 1/4".
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Yeah, the gun is in super good condition. Sometimes I wonder how little this gun was shot. Although it shows its signs of aging, after all, it is estimated to be 89 years old, the action, fit, and barrels look pristine. Locks up tight and is on-face.

I am going to start a new thread in the Gunsmithing & Restoration section to share my attempts to fix the broken firing pin. The only thing outstanding in this thread now is a confirmation on who "The C. & F. Co." is as we could not find anything confirming that. The best is from Drew who thinks it might be Cook & Freeman.

My thread in the Gunsmithing section where I'm discussing my attempted fixes is here:
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=434243

Thanks again all.
 
I know its been 8 years.. but hey, its the internet.

i stumbled on this post via a reddit / google search.

your images are no longer available, due to the time jump, but anyways, my grandfather purchased what i believe is the same make/model double barrel C&F shotgun. in columbus ohio. this is my reddit post, on an account i no longer am using.

reddit DOT com /r/Shotguns/comments/7xzml9/us_field_the_cf_company_anyone_have_any_info/

if the timelines are similar, i honestly wonder if you knew my grandfather. The census in 1940 was 13,868 according to this site:

www DOT 1950census.archives.gov/search/?county=Franklin&ed=25-26&page=1&state=OH#

If you somehow get notified of my reply, and are doing well, please reply here or message me if you are able. thank you.
 
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