Info on 'Nitro Hunter' shotgun

foxfire · February 12, 2000, 02:08 PM

I'm looking for info on an old shotgun that used to belong to my wife's grandfather.
It's a single shot 30" barrel, 12 gauge 'Nitro Hunter' (ser.#657X) made by Belknap Hardware and Mfg. Co. It's in, at least, 95% condition.

Any help and advice on it's history, date of manufacture, or relative worth is greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your time.

------------------
...defend the 2nd., it protects us all.
No fate but what we make...

Harley Nolden · February 12, 2000, 03:43 PM

Foxfire:
I did not locate the "Nitro Hunter" however from your description etc. My records indicate that possibly your shotgun is the Belknap B68D and is actually the Savage 94D
Model 94D:

Which is also the Springfield single barrel shotgun with same mod. No. Made from 1937-1939

HJN

foxfire · February 12, 2000, 09:14 PM

Harley,

Thanks for the response.
I've just looked it over again and can't find any other markings except for the words: 'reinforced breech, choke bored' on top of the barrel.

My wife said that she was told that it was given to her grandfather by his father, which would make it over 100 years old. Unfortunately, there's no one left on that side of the family.

Is there anyone else out there that might know something?

------------------
...defend the 2nd., it protects us all.
No fate but what we make...

fal308 · February 13, 2000, 10:29 AM

Can you give us more of a description? Is it damascus barreled, visible hammer, type of action etc? Are there any proof marks under the forearm wood or in the breechblock area?
The more descriptive you are, perhaps the better we can answer your questions.

James K · February 13, 2000, 02:08 PM

Belknap was/is a hardware store chain around Kentucky. Like Sears, Montgomery Ward, Western Auto, and others, they had various companies make guns with their name over a rather long period of time.

Jim

foxfire · February 13, 2000, 03:00 PM

Thanks fal308 and Jim for your interest.

I'll try to describe it in more detail.
I don't know what is meant by 'damascus barreled'? It's a relatively heavy blued barrel, thick on the breech end, and tapered w/ a bead front sight 1/2" from the bore end.
The hammer is visible (single action), with an unlocking lever on top of receiver, an inch behind the hammer. The lever moves to the right to open the breech. No extractor.

Between the words Nitro Hunter is the skull of a ram etched/machined on the left side of the receiver. Underneath are the words "trade mark reg'd".
The proof mark/ser.#(?)6574, has been hand punched in the left side of the breechblock area as well as on the receiver, an inch behind the trigger guard. Very large trigger guard.
Beautiful wood stock, and wood butt plate. No carvings.

That's about all I can add w/out some more specific questions. Sorry, if I haven't been too clear on some of the terminology or description(s).
Thanks again.

------------------
...defend the 2nd., it protects us all.
No fate but what we make...

James K · February 13, 2000, 10:30 PM

Hi, Foxfire,

Just FYI, Damascus barrels were made by getting pieces of iron or steel red hot, then wrapping them around a rod and welding them together with a hammer. This was kept up until the barrel was the right length, then the rod was removed and the barrel reamed to the right diameter inside and ground to shape on the outside. This was obviously not a strong barrel which is why the question was asked. Damascus barrel guns should not be fired, and most especially not with modern ammunition.

But at the time that gun was probably made (around the last 00 year) smokeless powder, called "Nitro" powder had been introduced and the term was used on shotguns that had solid steel barrels to indicate that they could be used safely with the new powder.

Sorry I can't be more specific about maker, etc., but there were a number of makers selling these guns, sometimes for as little as $4.00, a low price even at the time. As I said earlier, Belknap made no guns. They simply bought in quantity and had the actual maker use their name for advertising purposes.

Jim

Jim

foxfire · February 14, 2000, 09:16 PM

Thanks for the help.
Looks like a tough nut to crack.
I'll keep on trying; who knows what I may eventually turn up...

------------------
...defend the 2nd., it protects us all.
No fate but what we make...

rocketitmann · November 28, 2005, 01:47 AM

I was in the attic yesterday,in my grandparents house.When i first walked in there layed a old shotgun,it happens to be a nitro hunter. i to am intrested in any info on this gun thanks.

pipoman · November 28, 2005, 08:10 AM

Above info probably applies to your gun as well.

Harley Nolden · November 28, 2005, 08:19 AM

This is what I have on the Hunter shotguns

HUNTER
H&D FOLSOM & Crescent ARMS CO ON SHOTGUNS MADE FOR THE BELKNAP HARDWARE CO OF LOUIS KY

HUNTER ARMS Co
SHOTGUN MFG WHO PURCHASED THE L.C. SMITH GUN CO OF SYRACUSE NY -1890- AND CONTINUED TO MAKE THE L.C. SMITH SHOTGUN, ALONG WITH HUNTER AND FULTON BRAND GUNS. TAKEN OVER BY MARLIN 1948

HJN

November 28, 2005, 01:47 AM	#9
rocketitmann Junior Member Join Date: November 27, 2005 Posts: 1	In the attic I was in the attic yesterday,in my grandparents house.When i first walked in there layed a old shotgun,it happens to be a nitro hunter. i to am intrested in any info on this gun thanks.

February 12, 2000, 02:08 PM	#1
foxfire Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 1999 Location: Tennessee Posts: 689	I'm looking for info on an old shotgun that used to belong to my wife's grandfather. It's a single shot 30" barrel, 12 gauge 'Nitro Hunter' (ser.#657X) made by Belknap Hardware and Mfg. Co. It's in, at least, 95% condition. Any help and advice on it's history, date of manufacture, or relative worth is greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time. ------------------ ...defend the 2nd., it protects us all. No fate but what we make...

February 12, 2000, 03:43 PM	#2
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	Foxfire: I did not locate the "Nitro Hunter" however from your description etc. My records indicate that possibly your shotgun is the Belknap B68D and is actually the Savage 94D Model 94D: Which is also the Springfield single barrel shotgun with same mod. No. Made from 1937-1939 HJN

February 12, 2000, 09:14 PM	#3
foxfire Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 1999 Location: Tennessee Posts: 689	Harley, Thanks for the response. I've just looked it over again and can't find any other markings except for the words: 'reinforced breech, choke bored' on top of the barrel. My wife said that she was told that it was given to her grandfather by his father, which would make it over 100 years old. Unfortunately, there's no one left on that side of the family. Is there anyone else out there that might know something? ------------------ ...defend the 2nd., it protects us all. No fate but what we make...

February 13, 2000, 10:29 AM	#4
fal308 Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,992	Can you give us more of a description? Is it damascus barreled, visible hammer, type of action etc? Are there any proof marks under the forearm wood or in the breechblock area? The more descriptive you are, perhaps the better we can answer your questions.

February 13, 2000, 02:08 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Belknap was/is a hardware store chain around Kentucky. Like Sears, Montgomery Ward, Western Auto, and others, they had various companies make guns with their name over a rather long period of time. Jim

February 13, 2000, 03:00 PM	#6
foxfire Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 1999 Location: Tennessee Posts: 689	Thanks fal308 and Jim for your interest. I'll try to describe it in more detail. I don't know what is meant by 'damascus barreled'? It's a relatively heavy blued barrel, thick on the breech end, and tapered w/ a bead front sight 1/2" from the bore end. The hammer is visible (single action), with an unlocking lever on top of receiver, an inch behind the hammer. The lever moves to the right to open the breech. No extractor. Between the words Nitro Hunter is the skull of a ram etched/machined on the left side of the receiver. Underneath are the words "trade mark reg'd". The proof mark/ser.#(?)6574, has been hand punched in the left side of the breechblock area as well as on the receiver, an inch behind the trigger guard. Very large trigger guard. Beautiful wood stock, and wood butt plate. No carvings. That's about all I can add w/out some more specific questions. Sorry, if I haven't been too clear on some of the terminology or description(s). Thanks again. ------------------ ...defend the 2nd., it protects us all. No fate but what we make...

February 13, 2000, 10:30 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Hi, Foxfire, Just FYI, Damascus barrels were made by getting pieces of iron or steel red hot, then wrapping them around a rod and welding them together with a hammer. This was kept up until the barrel was the right length, then the rod was removed and the barrel reamed to the right diameter inside and ground to shape on the outside. This was obviously not a strong barrel which is why the question was asked. Damascus barrel guns should not be fired, and most especially not with modern ammunition. But at the time that gun was probably made (around the last 00 year) smokeless powder, called "Nitro" powder had been introduced and the term was used on shotguns that had solid steel barrels to indicate that they could be used safely with the new powder. Sorry I can't be more specific about maker, etc., but there were a number of makers selling these guns, sometimes for as little as $4.00, a low price even at the time. As I said earlier, Belknap made no guns. They simply bought in quantity and had the actual maker use their name for advertising purposes. Jim Jim

February 14, 2000, 09:16 PM	#8
foxfire Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 1999 Location: Tennessee Posts: 689	Thanks for the help. Looks like a tough nut to crack. I'll keep on trying; who knows what I may eventually turn up... ------------------ ...defend the 2nd., it protects us all. No fate but what we make...

November 28, 2005, 08:10 AM	#10
pipoman Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2005 Posts: 897	Above info probably applies to your gun as well.

November 28, 2005, 08:19 AM	#11
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	This is what I have on the Hunter shotguns HUNTER H&D FOLSOM & Crescent ARMS CO ON SHOTGUNS MADE FOR THE BELKNAP HARDWARE CO OF LOUIS KY HUNTER ARMS Co SHOTGUN MFG WHO PURCHASED THE L.C. SMITH GUN CO OF SYRACUSE NY -1890- AND CONTINUED TO MAKE THE L.C. SMITH SHOTGUN, ALONG WITH HUNTER AND FULTON BRAND GUNS. TAKEN OVER BY MARLIN 1948 HJN