help with hopkins &allen

[glock35er]

I have an old hopkins &allen 12 gauge double barrel shotgun that was my grandfathers and wonder how i can find about its age and any other info.I have a picture of it also that should date back to the early 1900`s.

 

[James K]

Hi, Glock35er,

Hopkins and Allen was in business from 1867 to 1914, making revolvers, rifles and shotguns. In general, their products were of good quality and their shotguns were considered in the same league with Remington, L.C. Smith, Baker, and other fine guns of the era. The later shotguns had steel barrels, but most had Damascus barrels and shooting is not recommended, even with black powder loads.

(Even after steel barrels had been proven superior in strength, Damascus barrels were considered a mark of quality and guns with "twist" barrels cost more than those with steel barrels.)

HTH

Jim