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16577 - Eastern Arms Company 12 Gauge
4/30/2022
Laura Mobile Al US

Maker: Eastern Arms Company, Model: 12 Gauge, Caliber: 12 Gauge, Barrel Length: 30, Finish: Shotgun (Non-Military) - Blue, SN: NONE

Markings:
Fajan on butt plate

Question:
Age of gun. Family heritage

Answer:
Laura- Eastern Arms Company was a store band name used by Sears Roebuck from about 1900-1930.

Fajen was a maker of replacement gun stocks, which could indicate that the stock has been replaced, and would look a lot newer than the rest of the gun. Or, more likely, the original buttplate got broken and someone used a Fajen buttplate to replace it.

These were inexpensive guns made for the farm and ranch trade, not wealthy sportsmen. The quality is probably a little better than the ``Nitro Hunter`` you asked about, but I would still be reluctant to shoot it with modern ammunition.

Collector interest and value are very limited, probably under $100.

Hope that helps, enjoy it as a family heirloom. Those old guns fed a lot of people, especially during the depression.

John Spangler

16576 - Nitro Hunter 12 Gauge
4/23/2022
Laura Mobile Al US

Maker: Nitro Hunter, Model: 12 Gauge Choke, Caliber: 12 Gauge, Barrel Length: 32, Finish: Shotgun (Non-Military) - Rusty, SN: 70008

Markings:
Ram big horn skull

Question:
Age of gun family heritage

Answer:
Laura- Nitro Hunter was a ``store brand`` name used by Belknap Hardware Company of Louisville, KY, on guns made for them by Crescent Firearms Company. These were inexpensive guns made for the farm and ranch trade, not wealthy sportsmen.

Nitro implies they were made for use with smokeless powder instead of traditional early black powder, so it probably dates to circa 1900 or1910 up through the 1920s or 1930s. I would not fire it with modern ammunition.

Collector interest and value are very limited, probably under $100.

Hope that helps, enjoy it as a family heirloom. Those old guns fed a lot of people, especially during the depression.

John Spangler

16574 - Marlin 1893 30-30
4/16/2022
JOE Gold Creek

Maker: Marlin, Model: 1893, Caliber: 30-30, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: Long Gun - Blue, SN: ?

Question:
Morning... My friend has a marlin 1893 30-30 and it has a steel butt plate the butt plate has some major rusting and pits he wants to know what he should do about this problem so as to retain its collector value. Thank You.. Joe

Answer:
Joe- To retain the collector value, I would do nothing. Or, maybe try to remove any active rust, and oil the buttplate to stop further rusting. Anything else will be seen as a negative on value, such as vigorous filing and refinishing. It would probably be okay to replace it with another original buttplate in better condition, but it will be tough to find one which fits properly.

Hope that helps. John Spangler

16583 - Ortgies Value
4/9/2022
denise

Maker: ?, Model: ?, Caliber: 7.65. 32 Cal, Barrel Length: 4 In, Finish: Blue, SN: 44637

Question:
After my Father passed away, we were cleaning out his gun safe and found an Ortgies Deutsche Werke 7.65 mm automatic pistol in really good condition. I know it has the dual safety feature which is quite rare. Also, from looking up the serial number I know it was manufactured in 1919. I really have no idea how much it is worth but have photos, and am interested in more info and possibly selling the pistol to a collector who would appreciate it`s rarity!

Answer:
Denise, your fathers pistol is an Ortgies and I can tell you a little about it. The founder of Ortgies (Heinrich Ortgies) was a German but he lived in Liege for many years, and may have been connected with the firearms business there. During his residence in Belgium, Ortgies designed an automatic pistol incorporating certain ingenious details which he patented in about 1916. After WWI, Ortgies returned to Germany and set up in business in Erfurt manufacturing the Ortgies pistol. Ortgies manufactured upwards of 10,000 pistols and they proved to be such a great success that Deutsche Werke of Erfurt made him an attractive offer to buy his business which he accepted. In 1921 Deutsche Werke took over the Ortgies patents, tools and stock, and began making Ortgies pistols. Original Orgies made pistols are marked on the slide `Ortgies & Co Erfurt Ortgies Patent`, the grips came with a bronze medallion with the intertwined initials `HO`, these grip medallions were retained by Deutsche Werke for some years, and they also retained the wording `Ortgies Patent`. Later production dropped both these features. Unfortunately there is not much collector interest in Ortgies pistols I often see them offered for sale at gunshows in the $250 range. I am sorry but we are not interested in purchase. Marc

16573 - Tranter Patent Target Pistol
4/2/2022
Amy Sachs Troy IL 62294

Maker: George Gibbs, Model: Unsure, Caliber: .22, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: Handgun - Don`t Know, SN: 14

Markings:
39 Corn StBristol

Question:
We are trying to determine the approximate value of an 1898 G.Gibbs single shot .22 caliber pistol in my fathers estate. Can you provide guidance if sent pictures and an authentication letter

Answer:
Amy- Thank you for the photos, they help a lot. Your pistol is a Tranter Patent target pistol, as noted in the letter from George Gibbs, a well known and respected English sporting arms firm with a long history. The letter states this was made in 1898 and therefore an antique under U.S. federal and most state laws.

Although known as Tranter Patent pistols, these were made and/or sold by numerous British makers with varying dealer names added. Value would tend to be about the same regardless of maker or seller.

These were made for indoor target shooting, sometimes called gallery, parlor or Flobert pistols. They used a rimfire cartridge similar to the familiar .22 caliber used by modern shooters, but with a very weak powder charge so they could be used with minimal risk in short range target shooting at 10-50 feet distance. This ammunition is not readily available today, and DO NT TRU TO USE REGULAR .22 CALIBER AMMUNITION.

Collector interest in these indoor target pistols is modest, and prices in the U.S. are lower than in Europe. I found two recent sales of similar pistols. One failed to sell with a minimum asking bid of $500. The other was a sale of a lot of THREE pistols of this type, which went for $1,265 including the buyer`s premium, or about $420.00 each.

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1034/4216/five-antique-english-pistols

In my professional opinion, a fair market retail price for your gun with a willing buyer and willing seller would be around $400 retail. Dealers normally expect to buy items at about 2/3 of expected retail or about $264.

These are not the sort of thing we sell, so we would not be interested in purchase.

There is a reputable dealer in Galesburg, IL, - Simpson, Ltd, Firearms for Collectors who may be interesed if you happen to get up that way. I do not know what sort of hassles goofy Illinois gun laws might present, but in an estate situation, and this being 1898 or earlier I don`t think you will get in any trouble. I hope that helps, Thanks for asking us - John Spangler

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