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you know the cheap single barrels made by Cresent, Stevens, h&r and others sold at hardware stores as their store brand? Just bought a Bridge Gun Co single barrel at a small gun show, made in the 1930`s, and chambered for 2 3/4 shells. medium condition, $100. I have a three gun rack to hang on the wall in my gun room for hardware guns, 16ga only of course.

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

VERY decent price---odd how the single bbl guns have gone up in price--used to pick 'em up @ garage sale or auction for $50 or so--now$150 seems to be the norm

an addition benefit is my 13 yea old grandson likes the way it fits him for shooting trap, better than my pricey win mod 12 he had been using.

Joined: 09 Feb 2015 Posts: 817

My brother- in- law has an old Hercules 16 ga. Looks to be a 32" single. Been trying to get that for 10 years now. Would like to put a decent stock an forearm on it. Even add a rib just to kick it up a notch . Shoots some trap with it. Oh well maybe some day.

Yes, I like "Trade Name" or "Hardware Store" shotguns.
I have a 1920's-1930's "Newport Model WN" single barrel 16 Ga., that was my first 16 Ga. Bought it a year ago for $80 and it was in good shape for a hardware store gun.

"Newport" was trade name used by Hibbard, Spencer and Bartlett of Chicago.
Mine is an H&R No.7 "Bay State" shotgun.
I am really starting to love these inexpensive but decently made guns...
Mark

Here is a link to photos of my Newport WN
http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17598&highlight=newport

Joined: 09 Aug 2015 Posts: 30 Location: CT

My first gun, given to me by my Dad, was an "Excel" single shot 16 gauge. I still have it and am planning on getting it to the range over the winter.

I believe it is choked double extra full choke based on shooting backyard clays with it years ago. It's a hard kicking little bugger though, I think I'll use a slip on recoil pad when I do.

I lost the original forend one day while hunting but was lucky enough to be given another by a friend I met over the old CB radio group. He also gave me a 12 gauge barrel for it; a nearly perfect fit, too.

I once looked up who made the Excel line but forget what I found; I should do that again.

Ken

Here is a little bit more info on Excel Shotguns.
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=169788

From what I have seen/heard...it seems that a lot of them were made by Iver-Johnson and were a trade-name version of the "Champion". Ironically, I just bought a 16 Ga. Iver-Johnson Champion a few weeks ago and posted it here.

If your Excel looks like this, it is very likely it is an Iver-Johnson Champion re-named.
http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18230
What I don't get is that if the Excel was made for Montgomery Wards, why did they not mark it "Western Field" like more of the sporting goods made for Montgomery Ward's? Not that it matters.
Mark

Joined: 09 Aug 2015 Posts: 30 Location: CT

The forend looks about right, as does the trigger guard and shape of the stock mating up to the receiver. My receiver is either nickel or chrome and getting a bit flakey in spots. Is your receiver color case hardened or simply blued? Your receiver seems to be longer than I remember mine being but I could be wrong on that detail.

Mine is at the back of the safe, not easy to get at for pictures but I will dig it out next time I've got the door opened.

Joined: 09 Aug 2015 Posts: 30 Location: CT

OK, I had to go and dig it out and fondle it a bit!

The finish is not as bad as I remember, in fact just a few little speckles here and there. Serial is E 719$$ followed by XF (choke marking maybe?). Located on the lower tang behind the trigger guard.

I think the butt is hardwood. The butt plate is wood, too.

Mine is case hardened, with blued barrel. Pin locations look the same on both, or at least what I can see.
Mark

Joined: 09 Aug 2015 Posts: 30 Location: CT

It seems like I can see what looks like a hinge pin at the front of your receiver. If I look at my full size picture here at home, there is no hinge pin visible on my receiver at all. It's all internal.

got an Excell that fills the bill - nice shape - shoots a little low ... The real hardware gun is my 740 sidelever . It is THE most clunky ever - the shipping was more than the gun even though it was basically new ! Test the super mags in it - no sweat !!

Joined: 30 Jun 2015 Posts: 43 Location: Mississippi

Proud owner of a Western Auto Revelation, made by Savage. Tough, tough, tough old gun. $50 birthday present when I was 10.

I have three of the EXCEL brand, in .410, 20 and 16. To me, they are a version of the Iver-Johnson Champion. The 20ga belonged to my great-grandmother and has had no telling how many rounds fired thru it over the years.

Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 827 Location: N. Shore, mn

My F.I.L. gave me a red letter 16 ga winnie 37. I 'm not sure if that would be a hardware store gun. I also picked up a 16 ga single shot "invincible" in nice shape.
Not sure who makes the Invincible.