Ross:
Thanks for posting these photos, and I will share with the other posters some of the information I have regarding this gun. When I initially began researching the SAC gun, a NY collector, Maurice Mudge, shared copies of adds in his possession that included an 1894-95 Syracuse, NY directory ad featuring a high-grade SAC gun. For years I wondered if such a gun existed given that the ad was not a photo; but an artist rendering. Then Paul Driscoll called me with news about the gun and sent some photos. Obviously I was quite excited to learn that the old gun was "alive and well" and living in the northeast! I have since been in contact with the owner, who sent the above photos; and, although they are quite good for the most part, I wish I had more detail in certain areas.
This gun is unique and was likely built as a factory promotional piece to be used as a sales tool. It is a 12-bore with 27" barrels; it has no serial numbers, patent dates, or grade stamps, and is indentified only by the engraved maker's name inscription, "Syracuse Arms Co.", on each side of the frame. This unique SAC gun has features not seen on any other example I have recorded, and they are worthy of note. Those features are: Carved/sculpted "wings" or lumps at the breech end of the barrels and relief carved fluer-de-lis patterns on the breech balls similar to period high-grade Lefevers; deep relief carved oak leaves atop the standing breech; a gold name shield atop the grip similar to what is seen on period high-grade Parker hammer guns, ebony or horn (most likely) fluer-de-lis inlays in the cheeks of the stock, as well as the company logo in the fore arm wood; and visible screws in the frame sides (one on the left side and two on the right). As I have been uanble to inspect the gun personally, I have no idea as to the purpose of those screws; but, if one looks carefully at the artist ad rendering, the left side screw slot is clearly visible. In fact, the artist rendering is entirely accurate, with the exception of the wings on the barrels; which were omitted for some unknown reason. I don't know who did the engraving; and although well done, it is not as fine and elaborate as some later examples I have seen. I own an early Hollenbeck marked SAC gun (gun #37 and grade stamped "D2") that was engraved by the same artisan and has about the same amount of coverage, but the scenes are different; and, among other features, lacks those barrel wings and the deep relief frame carvings seen on this example. This unique gun remains in high condition, and I hope I can feature it with better photos in the DGJ at some point in the future. In the interim, I hope you guys find it as interesting as did yours truly. Tom
