columbia 12 guage

[kodis97]

hello
just wondering if anyone had any info about a Columbia 12 guage shotgun.
i bought it recently and i dont know anything about it, i cant even find anything online about it. thanks!!!:confused:

[WmRoy]

Welcome Aboard! Do you have any pictures? How about a model number?

[kodis97]

i dont have a pic available at this time i am in georgia and my father has it in south carolina.
the only thing on there is columbia and someone scratched 1904 and their initials on it.
do you have any idea who manufactured columbia or when columbia was around?:o

[CoorsLightGuy]

I did some fast Google searches and no luck. I'll try again later today and see if I can find anything. Shotguns are one of those items that have seen a LOT of manufacturers come and go over the years. Back in the good old days, everyone under the sun sold "store brand" shotguns. I may have found a source for you that might have the info you need. I made it bold below.

For example:

Crescent made shotguns for many, many companies under many names. Once amalgamated with H.∓D. Folsom, the list exploded. [The following is an excerpt from my recently published The Shotgun Encyclopedia[d] (2000, Safari Press) that may help identify an heirloom.] H.∓D Folsom was located at 312-14 Broadway, New York, N.Y., and imported and distributed firearms from about 1890 to 1930. At some point they merged with Crescent-Davis, and were finally sold in 1954 to Universal Tackle and Sporting Goods Co. Far from complete, the following list includes brand and trade names of Crescent-made and Folsom-imported shotguns:

American Gun Co., Bacon Arms, Baker Gun Co., T. Barker (for Sears), Carolina Arms Co., Central Arms Co., Cherokee Arms Co., Chesapeake Gun Co., Compeer, Cruso, Cumberland Arms Co., Elgin Arms Co., Elmira Arms Co., Empire Arms Co., Enders Oak Leaf, Enders Royal Service, Essex, Faultless, The Field, F.F. Forbes, C.W. Franklin, Harrison Arms Co., Hartford Arms Co., Harvard, Henry Gun Co., Hermitage Arms Co., Hermitage Gun Co., Howard Arms Co., Hummer, Interstate Arms Co., Jackson Arms Co., Kingsland Special, Kingsland 10 Star, Knickerbocker, Knox-All, Lakeside, J. H. Lau ∓ Co., Leader Gun Co., Lee Special, Lee's Munner Special, Leige Arms Co., J. Manton ∓ Co., Marshwood, Massachusetts Arms Co., Metropolitan, Minnesota Arms Co., Mississippi Valley Arms Co., Mohawk, Monitor, Wm. Moore and Co., Mt. Vernon Arms Co., National Arms Co., New Rival, New York Arms Co., Nitro Bird, Nitro Hunter, Norwich Arms Co., Not-Nac Manufacturing Co., Oxford Arms Co., C. Parker ∓ Co., Peerless, Perfection, Piedmont, Pioneer Arms Co., Quail, Queen City, Rev-O-Noc, W. Richards (not related to the British gunmaker Westley Richards), Richter, Rickard Arms Co., Royal Service, Rummel, Shue's Special, Sickel's Arms Co., Southern Arms Co., Special Service, Spencer Gun Co. Sportsmen, Springfield Arms Co., Square Deal, Stanley, State Arms, H. J. Sterling, St. Louis Arms Co., Sullivan Arms Co., Ten Star, Ten Star Heavy Duty, Tiger, Triumph, U.S. Arms Co., Victor, Victor Special, Virginia Arms Co., Volunteer, Vulcan Arms Co., Warren Arms Co., Wilkinson Arms Co., Wilmont Arms Co., Wilshire Arms Co., Wiltshire Arms Co., Winfield Arms Co., Winoca Arms Co., Wolverine, and Worthington Arms Co.

Most of these were store-brand shotguns, all of the same style, and no repair parts exist for these guns. Certainly a skilled gunsmith can make parts, but given that none of these guns can be considered valuable, the cost is hardly worth it. This is not to say that Grandpa s Nitro Hunter doesn't have great sentimental value, but in dollars and cents to a collector or even someone manning a table at a gun show, of little value. Certainly, it might be fun to try to collect some of these shotgun, say those from one particular hardware company, but they just don't rank with the big names in value.

[Rockman]

My Dad had an old Crescent Arms he bought after he got out of the service and still has a well worn Springfield, both 12 ga. and both single shot as well. I have never heard of Columbia, but will try to help in the search though.

[CoorsLightGuy]

I found this.........

Variations of this name were used on single shot shotguns by several makers.

Columbia - W. H. Davenport Arms Co. 1891-1910

Columbia Arms Co - Trademark owned by Henry Keidel & Co. Baltimore, Md. 1866-1978

Columbia Ejector - W. H. Davenport Arms Co.

Columbia Single - Harrington & Richardson Arms Co 1872-1985

Columbia Single - W. H. Davenport Arms Co. (will have company name marked on upper and lower tangs)

Columbia Single - Hopkins & Allen Arms Co. 1868-1898

The one with the August 11, 1896 patent date is definitely a Davenport. If you have an external side hammer, it was probably made from the 1880's to about 1910. If it is hammerless or the hammer is centered in the action, most likely after 1900 and as late as WWII.

[CoorsLightGuy]

I almost forgot........I read somewhere else that a gunsmith told a guy who had a Columbia shotgun that some of them were made by Stevens.

[kodis97]

hello all
i think i found it
it is possibly a columbia made by Crescent Arms .
i would just like to know more ya know?
thanks ya all!
keep the info coming

[CoorsLightGuy]

I'm just wondering.........If so many companies made a shotgun using the name Columbia, how in the world would you know for sure which one you had? Especially considering how hard information is to find on this.

[WmRoy]

I'm just wondering.........If so many companies made a shotgun using the name Columbia, how in the world would you know for sure which one you had? Especially considering how hard information is to find on this.

A very valid point...........:dontknow:

[kodis97]

my dad found some numbers on it and he went to a gun collector in charlotte nc and he verified it for him!

[CoorsLightGuy]

Does this guy have some "handy-dandy" source of information for this stuff?
If so.........SHARE.

[kodis97]

he says he had seen one before, he charged my dad 10.00 and went on line somewhere and referenced the numbers on the stock (there was a 44 under the columbia mark and a series of 9 numbers on the stock)and came up with it. not really sure i wasnt there. there is also a rumor that crescent is buying these guns back for displays. of course he isnt going to sell it right now.

[varmintstalker]

I have a columbia 12 ga . ANd i am in need of a stock for it , Does any one know where I might find one or one I can convert to fit ?

[WmRoy]

Welcome Varmintstalker,

[nightwizard]

i too have a columbia 12 guage, no info avail also

[xpertgreg]

Welcome nightwizard!

gw

[myvols2002]

I have a Columbia 16 guage that belonged to my Great Grandfather. I too am having a hard time finding anything out about it. I have shot it many times. The barrel is a little loose but it still works. Can't read the patent numbers. Would like to know more about it. Thanks

[Kathy]

hi I have recently been given a shotgun, long barrell, has columbia on one side, and the serial number (ithink its a serial numer) has Dec.15.91.Aug 7(or17) .96.Aug14.00.May22(or27).02 and there is a name or something above those dates (assuming they are dates) that starts with PA?????ED cant see the rest of it. butt end is wooden and there is lever or something that is missing on the right side of the steele. Can you tell me anything about this gun?

[xpertgreg]

The "name" is PATENTED. the dates are likely patent dates. most likely this is a Stevens shotgun sold under the name Columbia. value is usually not much.

[Kathy]

Thank you xpertgreg. Dont wish to sell it I enjoy collecting many different things just so that I can pass them on to my kids. At least I know that the name I couldnt read was "patented", omgoodness, lol, I can't believe I couldnt figure that one out...I am usually really good at piecing words together. It's just older than I am and I like that. lol Anyway, thank you. I will try to find a "thingy mi jiggy" (stock or whatever it its called) on the side and see if it can be repaired...I know that if I do it would (if it was valuable) decrease the value.:grinning-thumbsup:

[niceguyingreenwood]

I Inherited A Shotgun From My
Grandpa Who Recently Died And He Inherited The Shotgun From His Dad Around
The Year 1800, Im Wanting To Find The Date It Was Made, I See The Date On
The Rifle But Cant Make The Date, I Can Make The Months Out, Im Guessing I
Need To Get A Magnifying Glass, Also Were The Months You See It Says
Patented Above The Months, Isnt That The Dates Below The Patented, What
Could I Wipe On It Or Get To Clean To See The Date, I Tried 3-1 Oil But
Didnt Help See The Dates, The Name Of The Gun Is A Columbia, The Barrel
Folds Down By Sliding The Lever To The Right And Has A Trigger Above That
Release And On The Side Theres A Hole With A Circle Like Its Missing A
Safety Or Whatever Goes There On The Right Side Of The Gun When You Are
Hoding Th Shotgun In Your Hand, What Went In This Hole And Who Could I
Contact Or Send Pics Too To See If This Is Indeed A Year 180o Shotgun,
Please Help Me With This, I Can Send Some Pics If I Have A Email To Send The
Pics Of The Shotgun Too, Is There Any Features You Can Tell Me To Look For
On The Gun To Prove Its A Year 1800 Shotgun, I See On The Stock That You Put
Against Your Shoulder Has A Metal Plate And Its Attaced With Flat Looking
Nails But Dont Believe There Nails, What Would They Be Called, I Also
Measured The Length Of The Barrel And It Is 28 1/2 Inches Long, The Shotgun
Is A 12 Gauge Single Shot, I Also Measured The Stock On The Bottom Of The
Barrel And Its About 7 Inces Long, Im Assuming It Shoots 3 Inch Shells Or 3
1/4, Ill Have To Locate Me A Od Tape Or A Set Of Calipers To See What Size
Shels It Shoots

[niceguyingreenwood]

i found out some new information on my columbia shotgun from a guy who had a book, he told me he looked up my columbia shotgun and it was a 1800 year mode or 1900 year model, i believe its a 1800 year model cause it was my great great grandpas and he carved his name jody on the stock, the guy who told me this information also said the book he had was 1995 edition and gave me anumber to call and get a new book, he said its worth about 200 but its worth more than that to me because of the fact my grandpa gave to me, any suggestions or comments welcome

[niceguyingreenwood]

heya coors light guy, i posted 2 posts replys on here about my shotgun, i emailed you other day about the show, i found out some new information on my columbia shotgun from a guy who had a book, he told me he looked up my columbia shotgun and it was a 1800 year mode or 1900 year model, i believe its a 1800 year model cause it was my great great grandpas and he carved his name jody on the stock, the guy who told me this information also said the book he had was 1995 edition and gave me anumber to call and get a new book, he said its worth about 200 but its worth more than that to me because of the fact my grandpa gave to me, any suggestions or comments welcome

[niceguyingreenwood]

memeber kodis97, please message me, were in charlotte nc is this gun collector, i need his number and address, i have a columbia gun 1805 year model or 1905 year model and it was given to me by my grandpa, my grandpas dad gave to him when he was kid, columbia was sold to john t smith company in rockfalls conneticut, the gun was my great great grandpas gun, any questions or comments fom other columbia shotgun owners welcome

[bigtimer304]

i have a columbia ejector model 1855 does any body know any info,on this gun its a single shot hammer is in the center it says columbia arms on the side.any info would be help full thanks.

[Zach2424]

Hey you guys! just bought a colombia 45$ and a look alike columbia for 15$ a couple of days ago from a antique store with the hopes of restoring both. I realy havent realized how difficult it actualy is to get spare parts for these shotguns till now :(. so if you guys could be of any assistance id sure appreciate it..... Well 1st of all the lookalike columbia is a 12 guage single barrel with a 32" barrel and it has the letters CLI (other letters) and a E at the end. Anyone know what that name is? And also where the barrel pivots when opened there is a hole where something seemed to have belonged before. What went there? and in front of that hole there is a screw that someone before jerry rigged in there to make the shotgun stay together and pivot. Thanks

[Zach2424]

Hey found an interesting site. Can anyone find parts that would fit Columbia shot guns? I looked under iver Johnson shotguns mabey the older single barrel iver's parts can be used for Columbia single barrels.
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Products.aspx?catid=2831

[brindisi]

I have a 10 gauge double barrel identified as Cumberland Arms of Belgium. All parts are stamped with the serial number 116666 and all parts are identified as Belgium. There also is a symbol with ELF in a circle which I believe identifies it as of Belgian manufacture.
It at one time belonged to a second cousin and was the first gun I ever fired (around 1950). Inadvertantly pulled both triggers and, since it had deer slugs in it, it set me on my rear quite a ways back from where I was standing. No need to say how sore my shoulder was for a while.
Anyway, this shotgun was given by my cousin to my father and then I inherited it.
Does anyone have any information on Cumberland Arms Co. Everything I find on the web says it in fact was a US company. If so, any ideas on who the Belgian company was that actually made it?

[Old Man]

brindisi

Post number 4 of this thread lists your gun manufacturer as Crescent Arms. They did import some from Belgium I believe.

I too am looking for info on a hardware gun built by them under the name Hartford Firearms Co. I think mine is US made.

Who can tell me the age by the number stamped all over the gun?

90229 12 ga SxS Genuine Armory Steel Choke Bored 30 inch barrels

Thanks,
OM