Need to know more about these

LEPARD90 · June 16, 2012, 03:39 PM

My great grandfather in law pulled his gun collection out the other day and wanted to know if I knew anything about these three guns of his. I am an idiot for not taking pictures of any of the guns but I took pictures of all the proof marks and serial numbers. Any information on these guns would be greatly appreciated. The first gun is a double barrel shotgun marked Mears Arms Co.
and in the middle of the barrels its marked laminated steel belgium. The second gun is marked M95. At first I thought it was a bolt action but he showed me the bolt just pulls back horizontally. The third gun is a 410 shotgun

Scimmia · June 16, 2012, 03:59 PM

Quote:

The second gun is marked M95. At first I thought it was a bolt action but he showed me the bolt just pulls back horizontally.

Well, I'll take the easy one. The Steyr M95 is a straight pull bolt action rifle originally made for the Austrio-Hungarian Empire before and durring WWI. In the 1930s, they were taken back in, rechambered for 8x56R, andlong rifles were shortened to carbines. There should be an "S" stamped on the barrel shank, you may be able to see the original date of manufacturer under this stamp. Currently selling for ~$130.

**James K** · June 16, 2012, 09:30 PM

The first gun is a Belgian-made 12 gauge shotgun; Mears was the importer/distributor and according to one source was active around 1900. The term "laminated steel" indicates that the barrels were built up, not solid. I strongly recommend that it not be fired.

Jim

PetahW · June 18, 2012, 08:55 PM

And last but not least is a .410 Savage/Stevens Model 94C break-open single-shot hammer shotgun.

If it was made between 1949-70, there should be a Savage Date Code letter stamped within a circle into the bottom of the action and/or barrel (unhook it & inspect the bottom) - starting with "A" in 1949, running to "X" in 1970.

.

tahunua001 · June 18, 2012, 09:25 PM

the second it a steyr 1895 chambered in 8mm mannlicher. steyr M95s are still being imported by century arms... if it wasn't for impossible to find ammo I would get one in a heartbeat to add to the ole collection.

June 16, 2012, 03:39 PM	#1
LEPARD90 Junior Member Join Date: February 29, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 10	Need to know more about these My great grandfather in law pulled his gun collection out the other day and wanted to know if I knew anything about these three guns of his. I am an idiot for not taking pictures of any of the guns but I took pictures of all the proof marks and serial numbers. Any information on these guns would be greatly appreciated. The first gun is a double barrel shotgun marked Mears Arms Co. and in the middle of the barrels its marked laminated steel belgium. The second gun is marked M95. At first I thought it was a bolt action but he showed me the bolt just pulls back horizontally. The third gun is a 410 shotgun

June 16, 2012, 09:30 PM	#3
James K Staff Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 16,426	The first gun is a Belgian-made 12 gauge shotgun; Mears was the importer/distributor and according to one source was active around 1900. The term "laminated steel" indicates that the barrels were built up, not solid. I strongly recommend that it not be fired. Jim __________________ Jim K

June 18, 2012, 09:25 PM	#5
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 3,609	the second it a steyr 1895 chambered in 8mm mannlicher. steyr M95s are still being imported by century arms... if it wasn't for impossible to find ammo I would get one in a heartbeat to add to the ole collection. __________________ all guns lost in a tragic smelting accident. I never said half the crap people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin Bean counters told me I couldn't fire a man for being in a wheelchair, did it anyway. Ramps are expensive.-Cave Johnson.

June 18, 2012, 08:55 PM	#4
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 3,280	And last but not least is a .410 Savage/Stevens Model 94C break-open single-shot hammer shotgun. If it was made between 1949-70, there should be a Savage Date Code letter stamped within a circle into the bottom of the action and/or barrel (unhook it & inspect the bottom) - starting with "A" in 1949, running to "X" in 1970. .