Called a pin gun because the earliest Sterlingworths used the same recessed and rounded hinge pins that made Parker guns so identifiable. Totally functional while being remarkably beautiful, a fully restored G-grade Lefever and a 1910 Fox Sterlingworth pin gun. Metallurgy at the turn of the century wasn’t what it is today, and 100-year-old wood shouldn’t be subjected to the stresses of heavy recoil. Shooting heavy loads in these older guns isn’t a good idea, even for the ones with fluid steel barrels or longer chambers. RST makes 2½-inch shells in case you worry about chamber length, as well as lower-pressure shells for those who worry about 100-year-old wood and metal. In spite of this, most aficionados of old doubles agree they have no trouble digesting modern ammunition as long as you stay away from high-pressure loads. Guns built in this era had chambers shorter than 2¾ inches. At the time most of these guns were made, high-quality Damascus barrels cost more than fluid steel barrels. In quality guns, I don’t worry about Damascus. In fact, it’s a good idea to get any gun from this era checked out before shooting it. Damascus barrels can be used with low-pressure loads but should be checked for pits, dents and bulges by a competent gunsmith before use. All these makers had a field grade level of gun that came in a basic stock configuration with little adornment and different barrel lengths, as well as gauge and choke choices.Įarly guns often had Damascus barrels, and most who plan to use their doubles extensively avoid them. The lowest grades were affordable to the average working man, though still a considerable investment for the time. The top grades represented the highest levels of the gun maker’s art and rivaled the finest English shotguns. Generally, graded guns were a custom-order arrangement with the buyer specifying barrel length, choke and stock configuration, and almost any other option desired. Parker came in multiple frame sizes, but Fox had only three.Īll the companies during this period offered guns at different price levels with different levels of adornment and options. The Fox action is simpler and much more compact. The upper is a Parker Trojan with its distinctive recessed and rounded hinge pin. Shown here are two original-condition lowest-grade 20 gauges. While it was a fine gun and equal in quality to the others, the Model 21 really doesn’t fit with these older guns because of the time frame and because it was a lot more expensive. The only quality American double introduced after the Great Depression was the Model 21 Winchester, showing up in the ’30s. Guns were made after that time, but most collectors agree that quality began to decline after the depression. The Golden age of American shotguns lasted only about 40 years, from about 1890 until the Great Depression.
All originated in New York State except Parker, in Connecticut, and early Foxes originating in Philadelphia, but later made in New York. The Golden Ageĭuring the golden years of American double guns, there were several primary companies making guns. While it’s rewarding to own such a gun, there are things to be considered before buying one. Knowing the gun you’re shooting has more history than you do also helps enrich the experience. The All-American double shotguns:īeyond the fact that old double shotguns are the only handmade shotguns you can buy for less than $5,000, there are other rewards to owning old shotguns: Most vintage American double guns were so well made they’ve survived for close to a hundred years without requiring a repair. These guns remain highly collectible, and many are also fine shooters. They might not be as well-known as some European manufacturers, but there were a number of great American double-barrel shotgun makers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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