doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Tobin Collector’s Association?

TOBIN ARMS MFG. CO. LTD. 12-BORE SIDELOCK NON-EJECTOR, serial no. 16555, circa 1912, 30in. nitro reproved Krupp steel barrels (reproved in 1971) with file-cut matt rib, 2 3/4in. chambers, bored approx. full choke in both, hold-open toplever, manual safety, flats marked 'PAT. MAY 23 -98 PATENTS PEND'G', indicating C.M. Wollam patent No. 498043 of May 23rd, 1893, border engraving surrounding scenes of duck, retaining traces of original colour-hardening and finish, 14in. stock (cracked at hand) including buttplate

I have just bought the above at Holts. It is choked full and full,,and if I use it with Bismuth for ducks I will be paying almost as much for a box of 25 as the gun just cost me.

I haven’t received it yet, but hope that as it was reproved in 1971(by which time non-corrosive cartridges were the norm) that the bores will be OK.

Thanks to Imgur I can’t post the pictures but the “crack at hand” seems to be a small one at the back of action tang.

The action, effectively a hybrid between a box-lock and side lock (and perhaps combining the disadvantages of both) is intriguing.

I am sure that there is not a Tobin Collectors Association on this side of the pond, but do they inspire affection Stateside or in Canada?

Parabola, you can do a Tobin search on the doublegunshop. You will find info and pictures that I posted on Frank Major Tobin’s personal side by side. Quite an elaborately engraved gun. You will also see the highest catalog grade gun that I posted as well as the inexpensive Tobin .22 single shot rifle from Tobin that was given away to young folks who could sell a few magazine subscriptions. They are fun guns with quite a few catalogs available and lots of interesting history. I think there is also a good article in the Double Gun Journal about Frank Tobin’s personal gun and maybe another general article on Tobins.

I would assume Daryl is your best source of info- or Researcher. There are some gorgeous ones out there. I have a 16 ga in a similar grade as described above with an English stock. I’ve actually had two just like that ( both 16s ) and chose to sell one rather than preserve the pair, with a bit of regret now that I think about it.

I see as I was typing Daryl chimed in!!

Thanks Daryl, there is a lot if information on the Forum search,and I have got DGJ Volume 5 No. 1 and Volume 8 No. 1 so look forward to re-reading Researcer’s Articles on the Tobin.

Oddly enough I have also got Mr. Money’s book and will look at what he says about the Tobin though he us clearly not an enthusiast,

I have one graded made in Canada,

And one of the units that was made in New York

I think Drew has some pictures of it on his website

Here you go, mostly courtesy of Daryl, Dave & CZ
Most of the ads were from Rod & Gun in Canada
https://docs.google.com/document/d/...jC8g/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.oq5iwpt7tnmp

If you are thinking you got a gun that compares favorably to an English side lock, I’m guessing you will be disappointed.

The design is primitive, but, clever in a few of its details. The springs as cocking rods with the rollers built into the ends was actually similar to an English patent, the name escapes me at the moment, but, it was a good idea. My own personal opinion is the area of the frame that is hogged out to make room for the springs, tumblers and whatnot, is material the design can ill afford to lose, and that became an issue when progressive powders came into common use. I’ve seen Tobins with bent frames. A gun that lived in England all its life would likely have seen fewer big number loads, and perhaps will be in good shape. I’m guessing if the design was built of heat treated 4140 chrome moly steel, it wouldn’t be an issue. Americans tended to view their guns as tools, and they were often run hard until they broke.

The Fox is a good American design. So is the New Ithaca Double, or, NID. There are a few that are very reliable, cheap, and charming, but, like a pretty girl with big buck teeth, the Stevens 311, and the Ithaca Lefever Nitro Special come to mind. I hope you enjoy the Tobin, but, just my opinion, it isn’t one to use all the time.

Good luck.

Best,
Ted

Ted, Greener’s Empire guns used the mainsprings as cocking rods - that May be the one you are thinking of?

I thought it was a higher end English gun than that, but, you could be right. I owned 4 or 5 of them, some were parts guns, two were gorgeous.

A Tobin is a simple gun to take down. Let us know what you find when you get in it.

Best,
Ted

For those who did not see Frank Major Tobin's gun, here is the gun, finished in Pyro Oxide, a special add on.