Charles Carder had a two-page article on Meriden/Aubrey in The Double Gun Journal, Volume One, Issue 4, pages 42 and 43.
Russ wrote an article about Aubrey/Meridian in a DGJ titled a Very Special Aubrey. I will look up the issue.
Jeff g.
Obviously you haven't been listening to the overbore/long forcing cone boys.
Wild "claims with no facts involved", still sells.
Jeff and Researcher- Thanks so much for the additional reference materials---I'll have to see if I can find those articles. In the Sears catalogue there is quite a bit of sales pitch type information on the Sears owned factory and Mr. Aubrey but not much of the "behind the scenes" information.
From what I gather, the Meriden Firearms Co had a relatively short life span. I would be curious to know the production numbers and why, notwithstanding the logic behind the company, these domestically produced shotguns by Sears priced to compete with the Belgian imports of the day, ultimately proved nonviable..
One might also assume, given the venue of production that many of the craftsmen were experienced hands and that the company used materials employed provided by the same suppliers to the other American makers. The twist barrel of my Meriden Special bears a striking resemblance to that of the Parkers of the day.
The quality of fit and finish of the Meriden Special compares very favorably to my 1922 Fox Sterlingworth and the wood, if anything, is a bit nicer on the Meriden. The Meriden has a similar balance to my 28" Sterlingworth, but the Meriden is quite a bit heavier (at least by a 1 1/4 pounds). If yesterday’s range session is any indication, I do not shoot the Meriden nearly as well as my Sterlingworth (there is something magical about how well my Sterlingworth suites me).
As for shotgun recoil, it seems reasonable that certain features might reduce recoil, but the claim of "no recoil" is indeed a wild one and I wonder how many of these Sears shotguns were returned under the 60 trial period because the shotgun kicked pretty much like any other gun.
Doug
