Drew:
Any idea the 1st year Crown Steel tubes were offered? It looks like Montgomery Ward peddled L.C.'s with Crown Tubes in 1894/1895 and Sears in 1895/1896".
I researched Hunter Arms and their Crown Steel barrels in conjunction with a DGJ article I did several years ago on the Pigeon Grade Smith gun; and in the process received a copy of an old sporting goods ad dated August, 1894 from Researcher. According to that ad, the Hunter Arms Company was promoting their trademarked "new Crown Steel" barrels in conjunction with their "new Pigeon gun". People mistakenly believe that both the Smith Pigeon Grade gun and Crown Steel barrels were not introduced until 1895 because that is the first year these items were cataloged; but from this early ad we know that Hunter was already promoting both at least as early as August, 1894. Perhaps Researcher will post a photo of this early ad.
