doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Meriden Firearms Co

Drew, the barrels are Damascus. No grade is stamped on the receiver. The rib is marked Pat. Applied For like many were. Here's the pattern under the forend.

Thanks again Daryl-I can't pick out the ribband weld lines well enough to identify that as 4- or 6- blade, but obviously high grade damascus. And no maker's marks just in front of the flats to identify the Belgain maker?

No maker's marks anywhere on the barrels and no other marks on the receiver flats besides the serial no.

This is, IMO, a classic study of "gun trade." Most guns in USA were factory made. However, there were a few shops run by master gunmakers. The masters surely knew how to get out a best quality gun. The issue was how to attract commissions. A best grade gun then cost something like 1 to 3 years gross pay for a well paid worker/mid-grade professional; very similar ratio today.

Look at that engraving on that high grade A.J. Aubrey!!! It's on par with and rivals any of the other American doubles!!!
All the best

Rocketman, Rev, and others. Yes, this is a good study of the American gun trade, and American merchandising. The start of the Meriden Firearms Co. in 1905 was the result of the ability of the merchandising scheme of Sears. They operated out of warehouses, with no retail overhead like other previous businesses. They sold guns for many name concerns,including ammunition, but at much lower prices than retail businesses. The complaints from the retail market were listened to by the major ammo and gun manufactures, one of which was Winchester. Winchester and others eventually refused to sell to the undercutter , Sears, so as to protect their retail style outlets. Sears was on top of things and actually connected with Andrew Fryberg to produce lots of inexpensive guns for the Sears under various names. In 1904, Fred Biffar, head of the gun etc sales for Sears contacted A J Aubrey to design and produce a sidelock double barrel to be sold by Sears. In 1905 the Meriden Firearms Co was started to do just that. They produced the Aubrey design and used Aubrey's name on the guns as "Manufactured by the Meriden Firearms Co." This worked well until 1909 when Richard Sears left the company [President of Sears] and then Fred Biffer and later Aubrey left, too. After Aubrey left, the guns were marked Meriden without the Aubrey name. Sears was also manufacturing their own ammunition and buying ammo from Europe and Canada to market. Around 1910 the shooting public's preferences for firearms began to change to the slide action firearm. By 1914 the demand for other types was diminishing for Sears and the Fryberg guns were stopped and by 1916, or so, the Meriden plant was sold to New England Westinghouse. Actually alot of guns were produced in that 10 year span. Sears eventually did sell Winchesters etc, but noted in their catalog that they were not allowed to discount prices. A wonderful history of this concern, by Jim Perkins, is found in the Dec. 2005 Gun Report.

It has been suggested that the plant was sold to New England Westinghouse because they had just received a contract to produce Mosen Nagant rifles and bayonets for Russia. Some guns were produced in another facility on Center Street in Meriden until 1918 when Sears announced that the Meriden Fire Arms Company would discontinue the manufacture of sporting guns.

Rev, one more thought on this subject. Your starting post stated that you purchased a 1908 reprint. I have a strong feeling that it could be from around 1910. I have an original , marked "111V Edition 1." It has the grades advertised as you suggest above. I think prior to 1909, at least in the Sears catalog, the grades were number grades like 53, 58 etc.

The Cornell Pubs ? 1908 repro is ALSO labeled 111C - Ed. 1
I've seen another 'Meriden Firearms' catalog with a red cover.

Daryl,

That is an excellent summary. As the demand for sxs guns diminished so did the demand for damascus tubes. The damascus trade suffered and came to end circa 1926. The demise of the sxs was hasten also when the tariffs began to come down starting around 1915. A sxs is simply more labor intensive to build. The Belgians lost their edge in the marketplace as they went into an inflationary cycle. By the 1930's pump actions and semi-auto's reigned. There was also a resurgence of upland hunting, a result of the spreading ringneck popularity. By the early 30's every state that would have ringneck regulations had a huntable population.

Any idea who did the engraving on your gun?

Pete