doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A J Aubrey value

Foxy, 9 out of 10 Tobin's I run across are low grade rattletraps. I won't bid on one unless I can hold it in my hands. I bought my first, a 16 ga, to learn about American sidelocks. I learned different lessons than I wanted.
Mostly that they cannot withstand modern loads.

Thanks- that also explains why they are not rated in the Fijestad Blue Book-

I guess we all have our opinions... but I would consider the Tobin guns far better than CZ lets on...
I have had 2 field grade Tobins, and I believe they were equally sound and of equal quality to an LC smith field grade or Ithaca field grade, etc. I have a beautiful, high-condition, engraved, 16 ga, straight grip Tobin that is the cat's meow.
On the other hand every Aubrey or Meriden I have touched was floppy and clunky like a Crescent Arms gun.

There are some very fine Tobins and there are some fine Meriden or Aubrey guns. Here's a good Tobin.



Here's a nice Aubrey. Serial No. 1000 , appears to be the first Aubrey. Wish we could know it's history.

I think any firearm marketed as Gold for Lead price typically has all the cosmetic touches, but cost is saved wherever you can't easily see.
Smokeless powder, and the explosion in pheasant populations winnowed the HDWE gun field pretty quickly. The 20$ shotgun in whatever brand sold well, and 100 years later we can see which designs were better. Their representatives survived in better condition and number.

None of my opinion keeps me from buying them as I want. I just look harder, and try to be smart on what work I'm willing to get involved with.
I mean heck, they're 100+ years old.

edited: Now, Daryl, I wouldn't consider that a "low grade" shotgun.

I agree. I have 2 field grades as well. Like many Tobins you see, they have been well used with little maintenance over the years. Still, they shoot fine and any issues can be corrected (if I get around to it). As far as standing up to modern loads, these are 100 year old guns and appropriate pressure loads should be used in them same as most vintage guns of this age.

Even the lowly Crescent hammergun with Twist barrels in the 1900 Sears catalog was "Bored For Nitro Powder"



We know the pressure of a c. 1900 Bulk Smokeless 1 1/4 oz 3 Dram Eq. load was about twice that of black powder, but the recoil with BP was certainly higher than the Dense Smokeless (despite even higher pressures) because the weight of the powder.

In 1903, H&A added the "Guaranteed...with properly loaded ammunition" since the unknowing were already blowing up guns by loading Dense Smokeless powder by volume like BP and Bulk Smokeless



Sears, Roebuck & Co. 1907 Catalogue No. 116
"Every gun we offer for sale...is made to stand any proper load of nitro or black powder..." Courtesy of Gary Rennles



Note the tensile strength for Winchester rifle barrels likely represented Winchester Standard Ordnance (Bessemer Cold) �Rolled� Steel

(Fyrberg) Chicago Long Range Wonder in the 1902 Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalogue No. 111. "Our barrels are made for the highest explosive gun powders used, such as white or nitro powder...and could be used as safely as the regular black powder."



1908 Sears catalog No. 117



"Accidents from the use of high explosive ammunition, such as smokeless powder, are rendered impossible. After 10,000 shots from smokeless ammunition your gun is just as secure, just as solid, just as perfect fitting as before the first cartridge was fired."

Wow