doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Iver Johnson Hercules Grade

I have found a Iver Johnson Hercules Grade, in 12 gauge. It seems to be well made. In 80% condition.
Any comments on the quality of these guns would be helpful.

Thanks
KGO

In my opinion, they are a strong, utilitarian, fairly well made gun, in the context of early 20th century American doubles.

I have bought and sold three of these in the last year. I had to strip and clean each due to solidified grease and dirt. Rust blued the barrels on two of them.

Exactly as Chuck describes. Strong, simple design and surprisingly nice in the handling department.

Solid guns with no great style or following. When I see one, unless high condition or a small bore skeet model, I think of a gun that compares to a Nitro Special. Skeet guns tended to have nicer wood and I always though one could be a decent backup gun. I know some think that they are rare but so what? Rare does not make them that much more desirable.

The trap guns had the nicer wood. The Trap Special, which was just a single shot Champion with a 32" barrel and a ventilated rib, usually had nicer wood than the regular Champion single shots. They also made a Super Trap, which was a double barrel (S x S).

The "poor man's" trap guns.

SRH

From the few I have seen, I would say that the fit and finish is a bit better than a Nitro Special. And the overall shaping of the action and stock is better.

To help with valuation.

I sold a 12ga for approx. $425.00

Sold the 16ga for approx. $450.00

The nicest one I found was actually marked 'Ward Western Field' and that one sold for around $750.00

All sold on GB.

12ga Hercules after reblacking barrels, refinishing stock and recutting the checkering.



The Western Field:

Nice, basic, strong guns.

My first double was one in 20ga. I really regret selling that one, I was young and foolish, and thought that I needed an O/U...

Regards
Ken

Interesting that not all WesternField guns (Montgomery Ward) were Iver Johnsons. This WesternField New Model of mine isn't.

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SRH

IIRC, the Iver Johnson's were first, then went with Stevens(??) for a lower price point.

That looks like the striker fired Stevens model 315. had one of those once in 20 ga marked Central Arms Co. It didn't shoot bad but stock wasn't walnut & it weighed 7 lbs. If i was going to carry a 7 lb gun I figured it might as well be a walnut stocked 12 so it went down the road.