doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Dakin Gun Co --20 gauge

9-60 American Rifleman with a San Francisco address



9-61 AR, now imported by Simmons in KC



9-62 AR, still Simmons but also with the Breda autoloader



1962 Gun Digest

Fred & Mike,
The Dakin in question is indead the "Quails Fargo". I have exactly the same gun which I bought used in '71 after getting out of the AF. It accounted for many woodcock, but without a doubt, it is the whippiest gun to ever hit my shoulder.

I'll check the gun this evening. My father in law did call it a Quail Fargo, but I haven't seen that on the gun.
I do appreciate the help. Planning on bringing it down to AZ tomorrow to try on some Gambels. I'm sure I'll quickly return to the Parker Repro 28.

My gun is similar to the one on the left in Ken's phot, with the exception of "FN" in place of the "UA" and is also stamped "mundial".

Those pages from the American Rifleman for 1960 and 1962 bring back a lot of memories for me. At the time, I was a shirt tailed kid living in Paso Robles, Calif. My dad was of the belief that how to properly handle and shoot firearms was an essential part of my upbringing. I was a ready and willing student. I remember going through his copies of the AR, Guns Digest, and Shooters Bible. Amazing what they had back then, along with the prices. I remember Dakin being based out of San Francisco. They ceased operations around 1963 or 64. It was about that time I took an interest in Atlas Arms out of Chicago. I remember sending for their brochures and they carried some real nice side bys and over and unders. As for the Quails Fargo, I remember it being a side by with a straight grip stock, 25 or 26 inch barrels, and a splinter forearm. At the time, it was imported by Simmons.

Yup, 22".

Bill resurrecting 10 year old threads?

During the sixties, Simmons Specialties of Kansas City decided to offer their own branded shotgun and contracted with Savage/Stevens to convert a variant of the Stevens Model 311 20 gauge; stock 311 24" barrel, case colored receiver, and double triggers converted to a single trigger. Simmons would then install a vent rib with a "glow-worm" front bead. They ceased production in 1969.





Simmons Gun Specialties, Inc., moved from 504 East 18th St. (Locust), K.C., Mo. to Olathe, KS in 1965.

I just saw one of the Savage/Stevens Quails Fargo guns for sale on someone's website. Can't recall where. A real blast from the past.

Simmons also offered a Dakin Gun Co. "Quails Fargo" with 22" VR barrels choked Sk 1 / Sk 2 made by Gaspar Arizaga. Note the Locust address