Need Some Help Here!

Arub · January 24, 2002, 09:26 PM

I'm not a shotgun person, have had no real use for one in 20+ years. However, I just tripped over an interesting piece at a local shop. Details:

Central Arms Company
Model(?) 3012 (3012 stamped with mfg name and patent #)
Patent # FFR(orB)10-1914
Serial # 11977

Anyone know anything about this scattergun? Barrells appear to be around 28 to 30 inches, double hammers (dog eared) and double triggers. It's functional, actually shoots. In pretty good condition appearance wise.

I figure if nothing else, this will make a good wall hanger.

Approximate worth?

Dave McC · January 25, 2002, 07:19 AM

Harley's forum will give you better input, but the chances are this is a hardware gun, made cheaply and for low pressure shells. Shooting it w//o having a smith check it out is playing Russian Roulette with a grenade. DON'T DO IT!!!

Arub · January 25, 2002, 08:06 AM

I'm not familiar with Harley's forum. Would you give me a link or directions to it?

Thanks again.

Al Thompson · January 25, 2002, 08:11 AM

Arub, transfering this thread to Harley's forum..

Giz

Harley Nolden · January 25, 2002, 08:22 AM

Arub
YOur Shotgun is what is called, "a hardware gun," in that it was made by a gun maker for a hardware company , using the name spcified by the purchaser.

The Central Arms Company is a trade name used by W.H. Davenport Firearms Co, back in the late 1800's to mid 1900's, on shotguns made for the Shapleigh Hardware Co of St. Louis. Mo. To fully inderstand the "Hardware Gun? here is the story.

CRESCENT ARMS

This Company mfg’d good quality, inexpensive side by side and single Bbl shotguns and was founded in 1883. They were bought by the H&D Folsom Arms Company of New York, importers and distributors of firearms and sporting goods.

After the purchase of Crescent, the Folsom Company was able to offer a complete range of shotguns, imported English French, Belgium and American made Crescents. By the turn of the century Crescent Arms produced huge quantities of “Hardware Guns” it produced guns under direct contract to distributors, mail order housed and hardware distributors with any brand name the customer requested. Crescent also produced guns for its parent company, as Folsom house brands that were sold to customers that did not want their own brand name.

By the lat 1890's Crescent was producing basically five grade of dbl bbl shotguns offering a model for most tastes. The Crescent /Folsom Arms Company continued this type of business until 1930 when it merged with Davis Warner Arms Corp and became the Crescent-Davis Arms Corp. In 1932 it assets and machinery were bought by Stevens Arms Company, a victim of changing tastes and the depression.

Your shotgun should not be fired unless checked by a reputable gunsmith.

HJN

Arub · January 25, 2002, 09:07 PM

Thanks for the info. Looks like this one is destined for over the mantle.

Crimper-D · January 26, 2002, 07:32 PM

Even if the gun has a good lockup and the barrel steel is adequate, a lot of these older cuns were chamberd for shorter shells than the now standardized 2 5/8ths. shells even if you could get a 2 5/8ths shell to chamber, the resultant higher chamber pressures would be dangerous both to the gun and the shooter.
There is one loading I've seen advertised that might work on older guns... the Aguila firm of Curnevaca Mexico apparently makes 'Mini' shot shells in 12 ga. I've never seen one, but am told they are approximately 1/2 the length of standardized shotshells.
Might br worth checking out further.

C.R.Sam · January 27, 2002, 12:42 AM

Crimped length of Aguila Minishell is 1 7/16". Looks like max of 1 5/8" when fired.

Sam

January 24, 2002, 09:26 PM	#1
Arub Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2001 Location: UCLA (upper corner of lower Alabama) Posts: 533	Need Some Help Here! I'm not a shotgun person, have had no real use for one in 20+ years. However, I just tripped over an interesting piece at a local shop. Details: Central Arms Company Model(?) 3012 (3012 stamped with mfg name and patent #) Patent # FFR(orB)10-1914 Serial # 11977 Anyone know anything about this scattergun? Barrells appear to be around 28 to 30 inches, double hammers (dog eared) and double triggers. It's functional, actually shoots. In pretty good condition appearance wise. I figure if nothing else, this will make a good wall hanger. Approximate worth?

January 25, 2002, 08:11 AM	#4
Al Thompson Staff Alumnus Join Date: May 2, 1999 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,611	Arub, transfering this thread to Harley's forum.. Giz __________________ http://www.scfirearms.org/

January 25, 2002, 08:22 AM	#5
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	Shotgun ID Arub YOur Shotgun is what is called, "a hardware gun," in that it was made by a gun maker for a hardware company , using the name spcified by the purchaser. The Central Arms Company is a trade name used by W.H. Davenport Firearms Co, back in the late 1800's to mid 1900's, on shotguns made for the Shapleigh Hardware Co of St. Louis. Mo. To fully inderstand the "Hardware Gun? here is the story. CRESCENT ARMS This Company mfg’d good quality, inexpensive side by side and single Bbl shotguns and was founded in 1883. They were bought by the H&D Folsom Arms Company of New York, importers and distributors of firearms and sporting goods. After the purchase of Crescent, the Folsom Company was able to offer a complete range of shotguns, imported English French, Belgium and American made Crescents. By the turn of the century Crescent Arms produced huge quantities of “Hardware Guns” it produced guns under direct contract to distributors, mail order housed and hardware distributors with any brand name the customer requested. Crescent also produced guns for its parent company, as Folsom house brands that were sold to customers that did not want their own brand name. By the lat 1890's Crescent was producing basically five grade of dbl bbl shotguns offering a model for most tastes. The Crescent /Folsom Arms Company continued this type of business until 1930 when it merged with Davis Warner Arms Corp and became the Crescent-Davis Arms Corp. In 1932 it assets and machinery were bought by Stevens Arms Company, a victim of changing tastes and the depression. Your shotgun should not be fired unless checked by a reputable gunsmith. HJN

January 26, 2002, 07:32 PM	#7
Crimper-D Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2001 Location: The Bearflag Republic Posts: 579	A good candidate for a wallhanger Even if the gun has a good lockup and the barrel steel is adequate, a lot of these older cuns were chamberd for shorter shells than the now standardized 2 5/8ths. shells even if you could get a 2 5/8ths shell to chamber, the resultant higher chamber pressures would be dangerous both to the gun and the shooter. There is one loading I've seen advertised that might work on older guns... the Aguila firm of Curnevaca Mexico apparently makes 'Mini' shot shells in 12 ga. I've never seen one, but am told they are approximately 1/2 the length of standardized shotshells. Might br worth checking out further.

January 25, 2002, 07:19 AM	#2
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Harley's forum will give you better input, but the chances are this is a hardware gun, made cheaply and for low pressure shells. Shooting it w//o having a smith check it out is playing Russian Roulette with a grenade. DON'T DO IT!!!

January 25, 2002, 08:06 AM	#3
Arub Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2001 Location: UCLA (upper corner of lower Alabama) Posts: 533	I'm not familiar with Harley's forum. Would you give me a link or directions to it? Thanks again.

January 25, 2002, 09:07 PM	#6
Arub Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2001 Location: UCLA (upper corner of lower Alabama) Posts: 533	Thanks for the info. Looks like this one is destined for over the mantle.

January 27, 2002, 12:42 AM	#8
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Crimped length of Aguila Minishell is 1 7/16". Looks like max of 1 5/8" when fired. Sam