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] Date Posted:20:47:27 07/11/03 Fri In reply to:
Roy
's message, "Re: Volunteer Arms Co." on 16:33:49 06/02/03 Mon
My son bought a 12 gauge shotgun by Volunteer Arms Company, a few years ago and has been looking everywhere to find out more about it. Could you please tell me how he can find out more about his gun?
Date Posted:17:28:24 07/15/03 Tue
He can look in the library for "Standard Catalog of Firearms", "Price Guide for Antique and Modern Firearms", and all the other books on that shelf. An internet search may turn up something on Belknap Hardware. B. Goforth is working on a book about Iver Johnson Arms, but I don't think it will be published for a few years. There may be some information in "Shotgun Markings" by Joe Vorisek. I doubt if you can find any more information than I gave Robin.
Date Posted:16:45:11 12/12/03 Fri
I was curious about a gun by this same manufacturer. This one is a .45ACP, and made in the style of the Thompson .45 machine gun of the WWII era.
Date Posted:17:48:08 12/17/03 Wed
This is not the same manufacturer. Over the past century or two, several gun makers have used "Volunteer" in either their company name or product name. Your "Tommy Gun" is a modern weapon and you should be able to find information in any of the current firearms reference books: Gun Trader's Guide, The Blue Book of Gun Values, The Standard Catalog of Firearms, and others. Your local library should have at least one of these.
Date Posted:10:08:20 03/15/04 Mon
>I was curious about a gun by this same manufacturer.
>This one is a .45ACP, and made in the style of the
>Thompson .45 machine gun of the WWII era.
I Had one afew years back and loved it they also made one in 9m/m they were made in the 70's and wasnt very expensive i bought mine new at my local shop for $175.00 if its in good shape and your interested in selling or tradeing get in touch with me my only complant was they were expensive to shoot as with any semi auto of this type
Date Posted:17:53:37 08/06/04 Fri
>I was curious about a gun by this same manufacturer.
>This one is a .45ACP, and made in the style of the
>Thompson .45 machine gun of the WWII era.
thats kind or funny i have the same weapon and was wondering what it was worth mine is the elliot ness style if you have any info please share it with me thanks
Date Posted:19:17:10 03/03/04 Wed
>I have a 1910 12 gauge shotgun by Volunteer Arms
>Company. It has a damacus steel barrel and I am trying
to find the value of this gun.
>
>Thanks,
>W.Rhodus
Date Posted:21:10:59 03/03/04 Wed
W. - Although the damascus barrel was fine for the ammunition available in the early 20th century, it makes the gun a wallhanger now. If this is a single shot with a side hammer, it might bring $75 as a mantle decoration.
Date Posted:15:15:09 07/30/04 Fri
I'm not sure what ammunition you refer to when talking about damascus barrels, plenty of people in England still shoot on a regular basis with them, myself included. The cartridges I use in mine are the same as the ones I use in my Berrata 686, just 2.5inches not 2.75, and no more expensive. Constant use on big driven days present no problem at all.
Date Posted:16:40:24 07/30/04 Fri
William - There are also Americans who use damascus and twist barrel shotguns. The prudent ones have their guns checked out and use 2.5" shells with black-powder equivalent loads. The fools find a gun at a yard sale, shove in a 3" magnum shell and use it once!
You have proof laws in England. No such thing here in the US, and most damascus barrels were made before nitro powder was invented so were intended for a much lower peak pressure than is generated by smokeless.
These old shotguns are often found after hanging in barns or stuck up in the rafters with no care for a couple of generations and there can be internal rust even if the surface looks good after it is scrubbed with steel wool. There's no way to tell if the barrel is still sound without some very expensive tests.
We Americans also have the idea that "bigger is better", so it's easier to find 3.5" shells than 2.5" and they will usually go into the short-chambered guns.
W's Volunteer was a cheap gun when it was made. I'd feel much safer with a damascus LeFever, Colt, or Winchester from the 1880's than with ANY store-brand from the early 1900's, even if it had fluid steel barrels. With a 1910 (patent?) date, I doubt if his really has damascus barrels, but it's possible and he says it does.
I compare using modern ammunition in these old guns to driving an automoble from the early 1900's at freeway speeds - It may work for a while, but sooner or later it will fly apart.
Roy
