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Meriden 12ga 30 damascus. Double underlug and wedge crossbolt in rib extension. Patent July 1907 on the rib; "HRF" (tube maker?) clearly visible both barrels fwd. of flats. Numbers match; bit of bright case left side under the fence. Extractor gun; figured stock; fairly tall dimension at 1 1/2-2 5/8. 14" frnt trigger to rear ribbed buttplate. Pretty solid old thing; forend a wee bit loose but no lateral play open and locks up like 1907. I think these bores are going to clean up just fine altho the gun is filthy. Ends of chambers looks very good; no corrosion ring. S/N 52xxx. "D30" adjacent serial on water table. Excellent even trigger pulls and nice rounded pins. Screws in sideplates are hauled down too much and out of time but slots there and elsewhere are pretty decent. Any info as to grade and market value heartily welcomed. I just had to bite on this old feller.

jack

Rabbit, there should be another number on the receiver flats. Maybe 52 or 53 ?

Daryl, "52" on right side water table; only serial on flats.

jack

Jack, that is your grade. They went up to 58 in the catalog, but could be much higher on special order.

Thanks Daryl. I take it this is lower end of the grades--maybe one step up from field grade?

jack

Jack: could you please post an ultra close up of the 'HRF' (maybe chalked?), which should be H.R.F. of Heuse-Riga Fils http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20h/a%20heuse%20gb.htm
That mark has been found on an Ithaca Flues model.
And may I add the pic to the 'AJ Aubrey and Meriden Fire Arms' album? Thanks!

Doc Drew: I have several other fotos which I took quickly after rushing home this evening but I did not include the HRF stamp in the shot of the barrel flats. I prefer to photograph outdoors; tomorrow evening I'll try again and post if successful; perhaps a few others also. Thanks for the Littlegun link; I'll check it out You certainly may add any foto you wish to your Meriden album. In the meantime, I have a question. Is it the case that Meriden continued to import damascus tubes until the First World War and that the interruption of supply put paid to their operation?



jack

I am a fan of Meriden Firearms and that looks like a pretty nice example.
That bird, however, must be hopping as it can't possibly be engaged in sustained flight. And all this time we thought the Parker Bros. G-grade owned the option on "flying turnips."

Jack: so far we've identified Belgian maker's marks on Sears/A.J. Aubrey/Meriden Fire Arms Co. from Jean-Baptiste Delcour-Dupont/Canons Delcour, Henri Pieper, Heuse-Riga Fils, and Lucient Clement. The latest Sears catalog that I've seen is 1909, so I don't know how long Damascus barrels were offered. Pete M is collecting serial number information, but we have no way of connecting those numbers to the date of manufacture.
The manufacturing facility was sold to New England Westinghouse in 1916, possibly because Westinghouse had just received a contract to produce Mosen Nagant rifles and bayonets for Russia. Some guns were produced in another facility on Center Street in Meriden until 1918 when Sears announced that the Meriden Fire Arms Company would discontinue the manufacture of sporting guns.

I believe there are Parker "footballs" on Ithaca Flues guns also.
All Meridens I had previously seen were field grades and shot to a faretheewell. Given the condition and functionality (assuming Riga Sons barrels can be trusted up to 5000psi) I think I got a reasonable deal for 3C.

jack