Rifleman Q&A: St. Louis Arms Co. Shotgun

by
posted on February 17, 2023
Stlouisshotgun

QI have had a hammer shotgun in the closet for many years, 40 or more. Recently, I installed a new stock to replace the broken stock, polished the barrels and brought the Damascus back to life along with new springs for the lever and hammers. The original stock was highly figured English walnut. Can you tell me more about it? The marks on the gun are: St. Louis Arms Co., Climax No. 2, Fine Damascus, 70896. The 30" barrels are 12 gauge with modified chokes.


A. St. Louis Arms Co. was a trade name use by Shapleigh Hardware Co. of St. Louis on American shotguns made for it by Crescent Fire Arms Co. as well as your much-higher-quality English double-hammer Damascus gun. It bears Birmingham proofmarks, indicating that it is 12 ga. and choke bored.

The Climax name was used on a number of American shotguns and a Belgian gun, but yours has the Birmingham proofmarks that indicate it was originally made in England. Since it proudly states “FINE DAMASCUS” on the barrels and has the high serial number, 70,896, I suspect that it was made later rather than earlier, produced probably between about 1890 and 1910.

Be careful with this gun, Damascus barrels might well burst, destroying the gun and seriously injuring the shooter and/or bystanders.

—Angus Laidlaw


This “Questions & Answers” was featured in the April 2007 issue of American Rifleman. At time of publication, "Questions & Answers" was compiled by Staff, Ballistics Editor William C. Davis, Jr., and Contributing Editors: David Andrews, Hugh C. Birnbaum, Bruce N. Canfield, O. Reid Coffield, Charles Q. Cutshaw, Charles M. Fagg, Angus Laidlaw, Harry Hunter, Chuck Karwan, Charles E. Petty, Robert B. Pomeranz, O.D., Jon R. Sundra, Jim Supica, John M. Taylor and John Treakle. 

To subscribe to the magazine, visit the NRA membership page and select American Rifleman as your member magazine.

Latest

KelTec SUB2000 GEN3 Folding PCC
KelTec SUB2000 GEN3 Folding PCC

Wringing Out The KelTec SUB2000 GEN3 Folding PCC

With a rotating fore-end assembly, Kellgren's latest SUB2000 positively advances the design yet retains the classic appeal of the brand's legendary pistol-caliber carbine.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 4, 2024

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Suppressor Sales Setting Records

Nearly 2.2 million suppressors were purchased by law-abiding citizens from May 2021 through July 2024, according to figures compiled by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).

Preview: Underdog Glasses

Sunglasses are often misplaced, forgotten and lost, so Underdog resolves such dilemmas with its clip-on lenses.

New For 2024: Century Arms BFT74 & BFT556

Century Arms expanded its AK-style BFT rifle line in 2024 with two new models chambered for 5.56 NATO and 5.45x39 mm, respectively.

Preview: Armaspec SRS AR-15 Kit

This Armaspec upgrade to the AR-15’s standard buffer and spring includes a trio of interchangeable buffer weights that allow the user to tune it to his or her rifle/load.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.