The Hopkins & Allen line of side-by-side double barrel shotguns were carryovers from Forehand Arms Co. We know very little about it and would appreciate any help we can get. I am the fourth generation for this gun and my son will be fifth. Seems like we lose a little with every generation, so I'm just trying to slow that down a little. I have gathered that it's monetary value is rather low but as it was handed down to me and I intend to pass it down to my son, I would like to be able to also pass down as much of the history of the gun as I can. My gun has external hammers and is center fire type firing mechanism.
#HOPKINS AND ALLEN SHOTGUNS SXS SERIAL#
I think this gun was made 1902 or 1903, but I don't know that for sure.ģ0802 is the number stamped inside, if that helps.įrom previous posts here in the archives, I've learned a little more about this Gun, but I would like to know if there is any way to further break down the approx age of this shotgun by serial number, or another method.Īfter two nights of reseach I am getting a little blurry eyed, but most of the inquiries are leading me back to this website, so I thought that this would be a good place to ask some basic questions. In 1917, Marlin-Rockwell purchased all the Hopkins & Allen Arms Company assets, including its designs.Side by Side 12g w/center fire firing pins transfered from two external hammers with front and rear triggers.
It continued to produce firearms, but it filed for bankruptcy in 1916. Hopkins & Allen could not fully rebound from its rebuilding expenses despite its acquisitions. At the beginning of World War I, Hopkins & Allen was also awarded military contracts to produce Belgian Mauser 98 rifles for the Belgian Army. Hopkins & Allen was already producing firearms for the Massachusetts-based manufacturer under license. In 1902, Hopkins & Allen acquired Forehand & Wadsworth. Rebuilding in 1901 took a toll on the company's financial recovery. Hopkins & Allen recovered from its bankruptcy, but a fire two years later destroyed its manufacturing and storage facilities. In 1898, the Hopkins & Allen Arms Company filed for bankruptcy as well. This move was a devastating blow to Hopkins & Allen because it was the sole producer of Merwin & Hulbert revolvers. In 1896, Merwin & Hulbert filed for bankruptcy. However, hard times fell on Hopkins & Allen soon before the twentieth century. It also made various tools and machine parts.
Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, Hopkins & Allen produced a variety of revolvers, derringer-style revolvers, shotguns, and target rifles. At the time, the firm was the largest employer in Norwich, and business remained robust until 1896. In 1876, the Hopkins & Allen Arms Company purchased a larger manufacturing facility, growing its workforce to 500 people. After the Rollin White patent for bored-through cylinders expired, the arms manufacturer modified its percussion revolvers to accept metallic rimfire cartridges. The Hopkins & Allen Arms Company began producing Merwin & Hulbert percussion revolvers with thirty employees. The Hopkins brothers managed the firm's daily operations. The Hopkins & Allen Arms Company was founded by Charles W. Hopkins & Allen Arms Company was formed shortly after the Civil War, but its founders were already familiar with manufacturing fine American guns. Most of the guns issued to Union soldiers came from Connecticut during the American Civil War, Norwich in particular. The state of Connecticut carries a rich history of manufacturing firearms.