Did Meriden Firearms make guns with other brand names? I know of the A.J. Aubrey because I'm fixing one, but did they slap other companies names on their guns? I need a couple of parts, and a stock, and the search would be wider if they other guns.

Someone on the Parker Forum might be able to answer your question

Through the years, I've had a number of gun dealers who tried to tell me that the Meriden shotguns they were selling were built by Parker. There is no truth to that notion. While both guns were built in the same town, the only connection is that some workers or engravers probably worked for both companies at one time or another. We would see the same sort of thing in Detroit, for example, when auto-workers left GM to go work for Ford or Chrysler. It appears that Meriden Arms built some guns under the name Berkshire, that were also marketed by Sears Roebuck in 1912.

http://www.meridenfirearms.com/history.html

The article in the link above says some Meriden guns were built under Howard Arms Co.

Pete M. has probably done as much research on Meriden and Aubrey guns as anyone. Hopefully, he'll provide some answers.

https://meridenfirearms.wordpress.com/firearms-products/double-barrel-shotguns/

Don't know that I would waste my time going to the Parker forum. They are a knowledgeable bunch of guys but are really only interested in the "finer" guns. I tried and was told to ask on the double gun forum. As stated, Pete can hopefully help you out.

What gun do you have and what are you looking for? I'm trying to restore a 20ga and have some spare 12ga parts that I've collected.

Kirk

Very good Keith you are 100%.

The Parker nonsense was started by some dealer who did not know better.

When Ed M was still with us, we used to talk about that and laugh. We used to hunt pheasant on his farm. He carried a Parker and I used one of my Aubrey guns.

Pete

Thanks Kirk. From what I can tell, I need cocking rods, a buttstock, and a top lever that's not a weakling. I may need other parts associated with cocking. The iron has holes in it like something goes there as well.

A parker collector would not tell you much more than anyone else, other that that they have no connection to Parker.

I have a top lever but it's Meriden and doesn't have the engraving that a Aubrey would have (at least from what I've seen on the Numrich site). I've got some cocking rods that I'm going to try and modify for my 20ga unless I can find some original ones. Looking at Ebay there are quite a few parts listed for Meriden and Aubrey. I do have some other miscellaneous parts I could send you pics of if you like.
Kirk

I think I'm not going to do anything with this one other than use the barrels to practice damascus refinishing. The stock head is collapsed into many pieces, the missing the cocking rods, bores look to be trash, etc. I don't know it's worth the effort to get it shooting again, if that's even possible with the barrel.

Thanks, and good with your 20ga.

B. Graham

I am looking for a forend for a higher grade Meriden I am refinishing right now. It came with beautiful wood and a lovely cracked wrist on the stock that I have repaired. The forend was not original, I need a forearm from a later Meriden that has the latch system. The early Meriden/Aubrey guns were just a snap on design. If you have the right forend I would buy it from you. I have bought a few "junker" Meriden guns just for parts. I found the firing pins in particular break. And, of course the stocks broke on 80% of these guns for some reason.

Also, the Meriden I have has Chain Damascus barrels and they are something to behold - I am getting set up to try and refinish my own Damascus barrels, we shall see how that goes....I have the double gun journal articles - gonna give it a go, wish me luck

Brian

Meriden Parts Gun?
This one has been listed several times with no takers:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Item/698178144

John

Hi Brian. The one I have is a plain Aubrey, without a latch.

Damascus: There's a bunch of threads here, and one of them is me learning the process in front of the entire forum community, and the Internet in general. I would advise against learning in public to that degree. That said, I love the challenge of getting good at that work, and progress has been made in my pursuit of this skill.

There are a few "bottom line" points I would make:
- No two barrels are the same
- Your facilities and tooling may make everything harder than it otherwise needs to be
- Generally the process is the same to all (of those I've talked with) but one person's particulars might not work for you so find your own way through testing
- As in most things, prep is key, and early problems compound to be bigger problems later in the process

A really nice fellow sent me a bunch of non-working guns with damascus barrels to practice on. If you can get yourself a batch, I recommend that same approach. All of that work is like paying tuition.

Good luck.

John

That is my gun in that auction! This is the first relist. First time around had 10 watchers but nobody jumping in, went Penny auction, No Reserve this time. I didn't want to separate the parts on the gun - just needs a little checkering and its a complete gun for someone. I will keep looking for the right "parts Meriden" as they come up fairly often missing a stock. Often the stocks on these break at the wrist, not sure why that is.

Brian

B. Graham

I do have some AJ Aubrey "junker" Damascus tubes to practice on, that was my intention. I have prepped two barrel sets already. Not sure my shoulders are going to handle this work. I am really good shape but my shoulder ache a bit at times. I am only 52 but my shoulders have seen a lot of abuse over the years. I am going to need more mechanical means...I will be in touch with you for advice Im sure. This is for my own pleasure, I do not intend to do this commercially! We have another business that pays the bills. Thanks

Brian

that would be a fun bird gun at cyl and cyl with heavy barrels to swing