I found a side-by-side shotgun in my granfathers attic. It's made by W.H. Greenfield. Their are pheasants engraved on either side of the receiver and engrved on the beed between the barrels is " LAMINATED STEEL" . Anyone with knowledge of this gun or maker please reply. Thanx
2007-07-06 16:49:15 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
What you have is a field grade Greenfield Double Damascus steel barreled shotgun. These were produced in the late 1800's til the turn of the century. It is in fact an antique, but the key clues here are "laminated steel" In the early years of shotgun manufacture, barrels were made by taking steel rods and hammering them in layers..one on top of another so on and so forth. This process is called Damascus style barrel making. These guns were designed to shoot paper shotgun shells, using old style Black Powder as the propellant. Herein lies the problem..Modern smokeless gunpowder creates pressures beyond anything a Damascus barrel could handle. If you were to try and shoot this gun with modern shotgun shells, it would probably blow up and splinter the barrels causing serious physical injury to the shooter
and any anyone standing near. The pheasant engraving on the sides indicates it is a "field grade" shotgun, used to hunt with and not a collector's item. I would use this gun to hang on pegs above a fireplace mantel for a conversation piece or family heirloom..but I would not try to fire it under any circumstances. These were produced in 12 gauge and16 gauge. This particular model was in fact mass produced and has no collectors value as such. It is however a family heirloom and should be treated as such .Hope this answers your questions..
2007-07-06 17:13:33 · answer #1 · answered by JD 7 · 11⤊ 1⤋
W.H. Greenfield was a brand name used by Hibbard,Spencer, and Bartlett (Chicago. Ill) from about 1890 to about 1920 or thereabouts. They were actually made/imported by Crescent (Crescent Firearms Co) who made/imported a LOT of guns! Later ones were imported from Belgium.
Look over the barrels really well and see if you can find an ELG mark? It might be under the forearm wood. If it's there, you got a Belgian shotgun. If it's not, yours is from Crescent.
Your weapon has damascus (laminated) steel barrels....and like a couple of others have said, it's not safe to fire with modern ammo OF ANY TYPE! There is no difference in shotgun shells of low brass or high, no matter what anyone tells you. Yours has a 2 1/2" chamber and would only be safe with handloaded blackpowder shells. Modern shells of any type will most likely damage the gun and you.
I'm sorry to say but it's also not a real collectible. They were made by probably the most prolific maker there was and they made a LOT of them. In really prime condition, you might get $600-800 on a good day. I've seen them lagging about on the auctions for weeks with no bids at $700.
Hang it on your wall and tell your friends about it. It's a family hierloom after all. It'll be a real conversation piece.
2007-07-07 20:00:29 · answer #2 · answered by randkl 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hardys Gun Shop Sheffield
2016-12-12 10:10:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
NEVER, EVER, EVER fire a "laminate" or "damascus" barrel shotgun!!!!!!
Ignore the idiot who told you it was ok to use brass rounds...
The process that created that barrel of damascus or lamiinate steel was one that was used for many centuries to create knife and sword blades.....it's use on firearms was foolhardy and short lived.
You shotgun is a valuable collector's item, if it's in good or better condition. DO NOT LET ANYONE SHOOT IT.
This is not only unsafe but it may ruin the value.
2007-07-07 11:17:10 · answer #4 · answered by DJ 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
When your into guns it is easy and when you go and shoot them you learn the caliber and what the guns is, what it does, it comes natural to now all types of guns and sizes.
2016-03-15 00:06:29 · answer #5 · answered by Janice 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take it to a gun store have them tell you what it is worth then insure it for that amount.
2007-07-07 10:47:39 · answer #6 · answered by Steven C 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It is a valuable shotgun*... You can still shoot modern shotgun shells in it providing you use low brass shot shells in it*... Take a dollar bill and put it in a quarter of inch where it closes on the barrels, if you can't pull the dollar bill out when its closed on it , it is safe to use*... If you doubt what I am telling you take it to a reputable gunsmith to verify what I am telling you is true*.....I believe it is more than a field grade shotgun, because of the engraving, which makes it more valuable*... I would not sell it if it was mine, because they are hard to find in good condition, and are collectable*....
2007-07-07 02:31:24 · answer #7 · answered by dca2003311@yahoo.com 7 · 1⤊ 6⤋
You will have to consult with a collector on what you have. Do not shoot it. It may be worth considerable money; I have seen them go above the 10K range.
2007-07-07 05:24:42 · answer #8 · answered by acmeraven 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋
you have a valuable shot gun there. do not let anyone con you out of it.
2007-07-07 06:00:18 · answer #9 · answered by waljac6108 5 · 2⤊ 4⤋
take it to an antique shop. it sounds like a valuable gun.
2007-07-06 16:56:48 · answer #10 · answered by speed_shred 3 · 0⤊ 7⤋