Picked up an old shotgun from my brother today in NWA that my late Great-Uncle Billy had owned. I trying to figure out how old it is. It's a single shot and seems to be a 12 gauge (a 12 gauge shell fits).

The shotgun has J. Stevens Arms and Tool Co, Chicopee Falls, Mass, USA on the left side, Patented August 12, 1913 on top, and Trade Mark Stevens, Reg US Pat Off & FGN on the right side. I took the front stock off and found 4780H stamped in the wood.

Fifteen minutes of research seems to indicate it was manufactured after 1913 and before 1942, possibly before 1915.

Any help would be appreciated...

Thanks!

__________________
Barry, youngest son of Claud

Barry--According to my short research on J. Steavens Arms and Tool Co. it was so named in
1886, and continued with that name until 1916, when it became New England Westinghouse. At that time It went into wartime production of Mosin -Nagant Rifles. Since your shotgun has a 1913 patent date, I would presume its manufacturing date between
1913 and 1916-------Hope this helps

Terry