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I recently picked up a Boston made American Arms Whitmore patent shotgun in 12 ga. I looked in DGJ Winter 1994 for an article about American Arms but that was primarilly about the George Fox side swing shotgun. I'm lookiing for information on these later guns. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Jack K

Jack, that gun is somewhat rare. I see the serial numbers indicating a few hundred made. Whitmore was connected with American Arms, but he was connected with other companies before and maybe after. He had a dozen or so patent, relating to guns made with or by Tonks, Remington, Chicago Arms or similar, and American Arms Co. The one you have was made in at least three, maybe more, grades and was well finished. That model does have some eye similarities to a higher grade N R Davis with the square crossbolt, but that may be just a visual thing and not related to the mechanisms.

The best article on American Arms Co. is the one by Elliot L. Minor in the April 1970 issue of The American Rifleman, but it doesn't have much on their Whitmore-designed hammerless double. My gun withthe lovely copper rivets is serial number 63 --







and has a plain checkered butt plate. Later guns in the 5xx range are found with this lovely Bluffton, Alabama, butt plate --



Pat McKune has had a flyer on these guns for sale for some time.

Interesting about Bluffton in Cherokee County?, which is just East of Gadsden. I've seen a reference a time or two.

Is it covered under U.S. of A. Patent 433,262 for Andrew E. Whitmore?

http://www.google.com/patents?id=zrxYAAA...ore&f=false

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

An article from May 1890 notes that American Arms of Boston is being sold as well as relocated to Bluffton, Alabama(Cherokee County?) and being reorganized under Alabama code with $200k in assets.

Other threads:

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbt...=true#Post78115

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbt...=true#Post70106

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Guys,

Thanks for the info. I really haven't had a chance to look at it too closely yet. Before I bought it I saw the action was slightly loose, some very light pitting in the bores and the safety didn't work; a few flaws where I could work the price down. It did look like it was a quality gun rather than some clunker. It looks pretty close to Researchers except for the rib mine is flat topped with matting and of course the "lovely copper rivets". The butt plate looks the same although I didn't notice Bluffton, ALA. The serial number on mine is 282 (I think). I'm not sure about the grade but I think mine has slightly more engraving than the one shown here. Thanks for showing the articles on American Arms and the patent link, tightening up the barrels to the action will probably be easier than a Lefever(famous last words).

Jack K

Guys'
This is very interesting, Lanett Alabama (Chambers Co.) was once known as Bluffton,12 miles from here.I wonder if the name was changed because of the other one.I never heard of guns being made there(textile mill town)so I'm sure it's not the one. Mike

With additional info it appears that Bluffton, Alabama was in Cherokee County, Alabama and whose pearl was the Signal Hotel:

http://www.pinhotitrailalliance.org/blufftonhistory.html

I assume there was a plat of the town of Bluffton and a trip to the Office of Probate at the County Seat of Cherokee just might provide the needed info.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse