doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Parts for Tobin guns

Hello guys. It's been awhile since I've been on here. My dad passed
away recently, and it's been a tough go for me. He was'nt just my
father, but also my hunting partner. I've decided to do something
that I've been thinking about for awhile, and that's to go on my annual
Christmas Day rabbit hunt. It's something that my dad and I used to
always do. I've inherited one of his favorite beagles, and I decided to do this for him. I know he would'nt want me sitting at
home mopping around the house. I'm sure he'd be telling me to get
out there and have a good hunt. Even my mom said to go out there and make your dad proud. Anyway, enough of that sappy stuff. The
reason that I got back on here was to inquire about a Tobin gun
that I got from my dad, among some others too. I'd like to use
this gun, but I forgot that it had a broken firing pin. You think
I can find one anywhere? Just about impossible. I realize that
Tobins are'nt a real well known gun with you fellows, but I'm sure with all the knowledge here that maybe someone might have an
answer. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Ron

I dont have an extra one but if you are able to pull the gun apart, you could take your existing one to a machinest and have one made. If you need help taking it apart I could yank mine apart and tell you how to do it. Sorry about your dad. There may be someone here who has one.
Ross

Don't sweat the Tobin, as Ross says, Ron. Machinists can make anything today.

You never stop missing your parents. Do what they knew you liked doing, and to be well and happy. Chasing rabbits is the way to go.

Parents want only one thing from their children: to know they're well and happy. Nothing else counts. It's as simple as that.

Ah, a brother in camp Tobin! I simply adore my plain grade, restocked and still nicely case colored 16 gauge. As others have posted for you, if you have one good firing pin and a machine shop that needs a little work, and money, you have two Tobin firing pins. They are really very simple to make.
But, brother, this usually isn't the problem in a Tobin that doesn't go bang. The cocking cams break on occasion, as do the rather complex, roller equipped springs, which double as cocking rods.
You may need more help than you know. But, if indeed it is a firing pin, that is a simple fix.
Enjoy. I sure enjoy mine.
Best,
Ted

Ted, I have a 16 bore Tobin floating around here somewhere. Made in Canada as I recall? Is there an info repository?

Ron , so sorry to hear about your dad. The Christmas day bunny hunt would be a great way to pay him homage. Where are you located in Ontario? I have a lathe and would be glad to machine a new firing pin for you if you either bring or send the other pin to me for a pattern.

Ron: likely the gun could use a good check and clean from a doublegun specialist smith. You might contact:

Nicholas Makinson
London, ON
519-471-5462

Our late great friend Russ Ruppel had the only Tobin part I ever needed. What a loss to our group!!

Tobin Arms Mfg Co. (Ltd) -- I may be the guru of Tobin as I've had four articles published on that company. I discovered Tobin in the 1980's when I was researching things Fox at the Library of Congress and feeding my findings to Mike McIntosh for his book on Ansley H. Fox. Mike encouraged me to continue the Tobin search and write about them. Frank Major Tobin, Canadian by birth, was a gun salesman for various companies around the U.S. from the 1880's to after the turn of the century. Somewhere he acquired the rights to a shotgun patent of Clarance Wollam of San Francisco and set up a company in Norwich, Connecticut, to manufacture the gun. Tobin operated there from 1904 to 1909, then moved to Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, 1910 to about 1916. My Tobin articles were published in Volume Five, Issue 1, and Volume Eight, Issue 1, of The Double Gun Journal; Volume 39, Number 12, May 1994 of The Gun Report; and Volume 34, Number 3 of (the Canadian Journal of) Arms Collecting. Volume 14, Number 1 of Canadian Journal - Arms Collecting reproduced Tobin catalogue #311 from the factory in
Woodstock. The Tobin gun was offered in 12- and 16-gauge and a variety of grades from $30 to $250 with options of ejectors and a single-selective trigger. Tobin also made guns for the trade, that don't say Tobin anywhere on them, but they can be confirmed by the patent stamp -- PAT. MAY 23-93 AND PATENTS PEND'G. Serials to a bit over 11,000 were made in Norwich, and above that in Woodstock. G.B. Crandall, a gunsmith in Woodstock that had worked for Tobin, took over the remains and from about 1922 billed himself as successor to Tobin Arms. He probably assembled around 500 guns in the high 18,xxx and low 19,xxx range until he retired in 1951. I believe he was more noted for his varmint rifles.

Thanks Dave. I should dig the old girl out.

Dad's gun and Dad's beagle, what great things to remember your hunting partner. I bet your dad would be quite proud. You honor him well.