Charles Daly 10 ga. age?

2hooked · February 15, 2013, 09:02 PM

A Charles Daly 10 ga. serial number 398 came home with me from a receint collectables show. It's a hammer gun with 30 inch damascus barrels. Where can I find when it was made and where?
Thanks

James K · February 16, 2013, 12:44 AM

There was a real Charles Daly who used his name on imported guns. He died in 1899 and the name passed out of the family in 1919. Since then, the Charles Daly name has been used by several companies associated with the firearms business, primarily importing.

Given the dates, it seems likely that the original Charles Daly might have been involved in the company that had manufactured or imported your shotgun. Take the barrels off and look at the bottom and also at the water table (the flat part of the frame under the barrels) for proof marks, especially an oval with the letters E L G, the Belgian proof mark.

Jim

PetahW · February 16, 2013, 11:30 AM

.

AFAIK, early Chas. Daly shotguns were selected for high quality, sourced first from "Prussia" (Suhl, Germany) makers like Schiller and Lindner, then later Heym and Sauer.
Some early guns were also sourced from J&W Tolley (England). Newmann (Belgium), and even Lefever Arms (New York).

Guns were first marked "Charles Daly" around 1875, so your 10ga hammergun could have been made anywhere after then, up to the time hammerguns fell from grace in favor of hammerless designs.

The hidden bottom metal of the action watertable/flats, and the barrel bottom(s) & flats should have several stampings, IF the gun was sourced in Europe - proofmarks (which can be approximately dated), and perhaps a maker's mark, besides the various chambering & loading specifics required by European proof laws.

Close-up, clear pics are best.

.

2hooked · February 16, 2013, 03:59 PM

Not much here for marks. Hope the pictures help.

James K · February 16, 2013, 10:32 PM

The absence of any proof marks would indicate an American-made gun, but not much help in dating it aside from PetahW's fairly broad range.

It appears to be a fairly good quality gun, which would be consistent with Charles Daly's policy of buying high quality guns. It has, of course, Damascus barrels, so I would advise against firing it even if you can find 10 gauge shells. I think a date between 1875 and 1900 would be reasonable, but not certain, as many traditionalists wanted old style guns with hammers and Damascus barrels long after both were considered obsolescent.

Jim

PetahW · February 17, 2013, 12:47 PM

IMO, it was made by Lefever for CD - check out the hammers, almost identical to the ones on this Lefever (hammer shape is often particular/peculiar to a single company and/or model)

http://picturearchive.gunauction.com...thumbnail1.jpg

.

February 15, 2013, 09:02 PM	#1
2hooked Junior Member Join Date: October 16, 2010 Posts: 9	Charles Daly 10 ga. age? A Charles Daly 10 ga. serial number 398 came home with me from a receint collectables show. It's a hammer gun with 30 inch damascus barrels. Where can I find when it was made and where? Thanks

February 17, 2013, 12:47 PM	#6
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	IMO, it was made by Lefever for CD - check out the hammers, almost identical to the ones on this Lefever (hammer shape is often particular/peculiar to a single company and/or model) http://picturearchive.gunauction.com...thumbnail1.jpg . Last edited by PetahW; February 17, 2013 at 01:02 PM.

February 16, 2013, 12:44 AM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	There was a real Charles Daly who used his name on imported guns. He died in 1899 and the name passed out of the family in 1919. Since then, the Charles Daly name has been used by several companies associated with the firearms business, primarily importing. Given the dates, it seems likely that the original Charles Daly might have been involved in the company that had manufactured or imported your shotgun. Take the barrels off and look at the bottom and also at the water table (the flat part of the frame under the barrels) for proof marks, especially an oval with the letters E L G, the Belgian proof mark. Jim

February 16, 2013, 11:30 AM	#3
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	. AFAIK, early Chas. Daly shotguns were selected for high quality, sourced first from "Prussia" (Suhl, Germany) makers like Schiller and Lindner, then later Heym and Sauer. Some early guns were also sourced from J&W Tolley (England). Newmann (Belgium), and even Lefever Arms (New York). Guns were first marked "Charles Daly" around 1875, so your 10ga hammergun could have been made anywhere after then, up to the time hammerguns fell from grace in favor of hammerless designs. The hidden bottom metal of the action watertable/flats, and the barrel bottom(s) & flats should have several stampings, IF the gun was sourced in Europe - proofmarks (which can be approximately dated), and perhaps a maker's mark, besides the various chambering & loading specifics required by European proof laws. Close-up, clear pics are best. .

February 16, 2013, 10:32 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The absence of any proof marks would indicate an American-made gun, but not much help in dating it aside from PetahW's fairly broad range. It appears to be a fairly good quality gun, which would be consistent with Charles Daly's policy of buying high quality guns. It has, of course, Damascus barrels, so I would advise against firing it even if you can find 10 gauge shells. I think a date between 1875 and 1900 would be reasonable, but not certain, as many traditionalists wanted old style guns with hammers and Damascus barrels long after both were considered obsolescent. Jim