Belt Auction

H.R. Davis 20 guage information (more informed question...)?

I just bought an H.R. Davis 20 guage pre serial number era shotgun in an auction. I found a book in the library that said they were made from the late 1800s into the 30s, but don't know how to narrow it down further. It is a side-by-side with cool looking wood and beautiful metal. Any suggestions about how to find out more about this shotgun??? Best Answer - Chosen by Asker A brief History...In 1888, George Cilley bought out a defunct company called Bacon Arms Company of Norwich, Conneticut. Shortly afterwards Cilley and a gentlemn by the name of Foster, borrowed money and formed the Crescent Fire Arms Company and merged their individual patents for firearms designs and manufacturing. They started up with single shot tip-up shotguns but then started building double barrel shotguns in 1891 In 1929, N.R. Davis Firearms Company merged with Crescent to become Cresent-Davis Arms Corporation. Because of poor business practices, Crescent Davis was forced to sell out it's holdings to Savage Firearms in 1931. Savage in turn assembled firearms from parts from the old Crescent- Davis inventory and sold them exclusively using the Crescent name . Less than a year later, the City of Norwich, Conneticut, took over the Crescent property for non payment of taxes, and the Norwich facility was forced to close and move to Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. Crescent Firearms Company (That made your Double Barrel Shotgun)was best known for manufactureing what is referred to "House Brand" shotguns and sold to retailers, distributors, mail order houses etc, like Sears & Roebuck, J.C. Penny, Montgomery Wards and others all over the United States. Crescent held over 100+ Trademarks for marketing these "house brand" shotguns. Since these shotguns were mass produced, all the shotguns that exist today are considered "shooters" and have no true collectors value.. Your double barrel shotgun in good to excellent condition is worth between $150-$225.... Source(s): Source:A Chronolgy of The R.N Davis Firearms Company 1960 Gun Shop Owner-Broker-Dealer-Firearms Appraiser Avid Lifetime Hunter/NRA Life Member 36 Years Firearms Experience 67% 2 Votes I completely respect this poster's opinion but does the fact I found the value in a 2005 book stating the recommended value was $750 mean anything????

Public Comments

1. Maybe somebody's tryuing to manipulate the market somehow. I have no idea what the gun you described would be worth.
2. Read the other post on that page you found and you'll know more than that copy and paste crap you cited. The poser who wrote that above crap was laughed off this forum long ago. (Not you, RDG. The poser he quoted) Had your gun been manufactured by Crescent (post 1930), it *would* have been accurate as to what he stated....but his problem was that he copied and pasted with the best of them, but knew nothing. In average condition, you might get $200-250. Really good condition, you might get up to $350-400 depending on who was bidding. $750? I'd have to see it before I'd bid.