doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Unknown Gun

I just got this gun and thought Id see if anybody knows anything about it. Serial number 13 and 0 is all the id on the gun. It has a lot of non typical features that I dont recognize from anything else. Rectangle cross bolt, spring loaded individual extractors(I am wondering if they were unfinished ejectors) When the toplever is pushed to open the gun, it partially cocks the fired hammers, then they are fully cocked by the barrels dropping open and pushing the cocking rod back(round rod seen under the watertable)

Reb, the gun has the "look" of Colton and Union guns made in Toledo, Ohio. I guess we call your gun a boxlock with sideplates. As I see it, the sideplates on your gun are not used in the gun's operation. The Colton Model 1902 has an odd shaped sideplate that might remind one of yours, but it is not the same. The Colton has a sidelock mechanism, with coil springs, attached to the sideplate. The general look and finish on your gun is similar to the Colton, including , shall we say, lack of refinement. Triggers and trigger guards are good examples of this.

It is possible your gun was a prototype boxlock that never got off of the ground.

Daryl, its been awhile since Ive looked at a colton, there is usually one on gunbroker so Ill have a look. Ever seen a split springloaded extractor before? It was surely intended to eject at some point.?

Reb, the Coltons came in several models, and the Models 1900 and 1901 were boxlocks with sideplates shaped like bar action sideplates. The Model 1902 is the only one I have seen that did not have the typical bar action shaped sideplate, but it is a sidelock with sort of a similar shaped plate as yours. All of these models cocked with the opening of the thumblever like your gun does. I think Charles and Edward Lefever worked for Colton at least in 1900 and 1901. I have not done it, but a patent search for the Lefevers and Colton might turn up some answers. All of this assuming I "might" be on the right track on your gun.

I agree on the spring loaded extractors/ejectors. Otherwise, why would they go to the trouble if the final result was only an extractor.

No idea which model Colton



Union Fire Arms

Drew, the first of your pictures shows the model which came out in 1902, so let's call it the Model 1902. You , if one looks closely, can see the pins of the sidelock.

The triggers and trigger guard of the second picture, successor to the Coltons, are similar to Reb's gun. But the most telling thing leading to the association of Reb's gun and the Colton is the toplever that cocks the gun. I can think of no other American gun that cocks this way.

Take a look at the crosshatched cuts on the ball of the toplevers of both guns - they look to be the same pattern which, while not determinative, is cumulative circumstantial evidence the two guns are from the same maker.

Not relevant but at least my Ithaca Lefever Single Barrel Trap cocked using the toplever; got old quick in a round of trap. Don't know about the Long Range Field single.

My Lefever Long Range single cocks with the lever.

I think Ithaca bought Union of Toledo. Maybe the top lever cocking idea came along with it,albeit 20 years plus after the guns we are looking at. Is the Lefever Long Range a doublr ?