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Hi, I just received a call asking if I was interested in a Tobin Arms shotgun. I know I've got some articles in the DGJ at home but I'm at work right now. He said it was a sidelock or at least sideplates. I Googled Tobin but not much there I didn't know already. Any info would be appreciated. The price is $250.00 but it's got short barrels.
Thanks, Robert Krull

How short is short.
Tobin's built in Norwich, Conn. are decent guns. I can't say about the Canadian ones, though.
They are not expensive guns and if the barrels still a decent length of choke, might be a good back up gun at that price.
To my knowledge, Tobin's were not built after about 1920 and therefore should be shot with low pressure loads. I don't know if the Tobin name was used after that time even though guns were built in that style for twenty five or thirty years. Any built after the twenties could use SAAMI loads.
Hope this helps a little.
Best,
John

Thanks. I'm headed over there in a few minutes to take a look at it. I'm curious on how short the barrels are also.
Robert Krull

Well, the barrels have been cut down to 20" and it's loose on the face. But it's the first Tobin I've ever seen so it wasn't a complete waste of time.
Robert Krull

Too bad about the condition.
I am interested in the color of the action. Did you note if it were a Norwich, Conn. gun or Canadian?
Best,
John

It was a Norwich gun. I took a couple of quick pictures and can email them to you if you wish. I just haven't figured out how to post them here yet. My mail is rkrullATlonestarcycle.com.
I would say the color is darkish gray. Well used but doesn't appear to be terribly abused. And oddly enough the stock has pretty modern dimensions from just putting it up to my shoulder.
Robert Krull

The reason I asked about the action color, is that Tobin built some with a black finish. I think they were designated as Black Diamonds. They are fairly rare and desirable amongst the Tobin guns. All were Norwich guns. If not mistaken, some had single triggers and ejectors.
Best,
John

The Black Diamond with the Pyro-Oxidized black finish was introduced circa 1907 in Norwich and continued to be offered after the move to Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. In addition to the Black Diamond grade, Tobin offered that finish on any of their higher grades for a bit extra. Tobin was asking $20 to $25 extra for ejectors when Remington Arms Co. were giving them for $5. I guess that is the reason don't see many Tobin ejector guns. Even Frank's personal gun while the top grade, with a single trigger and the pyro-oxidized finish was an extractor gun.

A reproduction of Tobin arms catalogue 311 is to be found in the, "Canadian Journal of arms collecting' Vol; 14 No.1 I believe copies of same are available from:
Museum Restoration Sevices,
P.0. Box 2140
Picton ,
Ont;KOK 2T0
Canada.
Tobin offered 8 variants of their gun; auto ejectors and single trigger options were available. A double hammer gun was priced at $20 and their best gun at $160. The extra cost for a single trigger was $25 auto; ejectors also cost an extra $25.
The Tobin factory building at Woodstock,is still exists, unfortunately in use as a shoe warehouse! Tobin operated in Woodstock from 1909 until 1922. After this date it was taken over by G. B. Crandall who operated under his own name, but continued to market "The Tobin Gun.'

Tobin Arms Mfg. Co. Ltd wasn't listed in the Woodstock City directories after 1916. Listings for the address of the factory in city directories after 1916 show the Arnold Thompson Tool Co. located there. In the 1918, 1920 and 1922 city directories G. B. Crandall is listed as a machinist at the Standard Tube Co. According to the Marvyn Scudder Manual of Extinct and Obsolete Companies Tobin Arms charter was surrendered to the Provincial Secretary and Registrar on December 19, 1921. The earliest G.B. Crandall ad I've found is in the February 1923 issue of Rod & Gun in Canada.

Frank Major Tobin lived the rest of his life in Woodstock. For many years he was secretary of the Canadian Stove Manufacturers Association. According to family members I spoke with back in 1994, he was also involved in the marketing of a collapsible boat and early experiments with milk cartons. Frank died October 10, 1939.

The two Norwich catalogues of Tobin Arms I've found are numbered 206 and 307. The 307 came with a flyer, dated late in 1907, announcing the Black Diamond Grade. My guess is these catalogues equate to 1906 and 1907. Likely there was a 104 or 105 catalogue. Were there 408 and 509?? All the Tobin ads I've found in American sporting magazines were between January 1906 and October 1907. The Woodstock catalogues I've seen are 110, 211, and 311. Are there any others? I have at least four different undated Crandall/Tobin catalogues that one can sort of date by the testimonial letters reproduced therein.