Some of you have probably seen these. It's the first for me. Note how quickly the chambers neck down; pic 7. Ya' think maybe they knew the highest pressure is at the breech? 5 lb 4 oz; not bad and a lot lighter than most 410s.


http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=264278644

Thats how they made them in the 1920s. From H & D Folsom Arms Co. Catalogue No. 23



The later .410-bore doubles made by Crescent-Davis Arms Co., a subsidiary of Savage Arms Corp., in the 1930s have breeches much heavier and straight without the bell shape flare at the end. Some of those last Crescent .410-bores were made for 3-inch shells.

You mean they looked like those, ugly to me, straight side chambers on the Stevens/Savage? Some of those 410s weigh 7 lb.

I have owned two of these, the trigger pulls were very hard, so when you finally got them to fire the gun was off target, the metal inside was not good according to my gunsmith who worked on the triggers. Not good guns in my two gun opinion.

PDD

It's overpriced by at least 2X.

Chief

You mean like these? Yeah, they're not the prettiest, but they're really kinda neat little .410's. And I'm guessing none of them weigh 7lbs; this one is around 6-6. Later: sorry, looked at the wrong gun. The gun weighs 5lbs-15oz.

I would think pressure had absolutely nothing to do with those bbl's construction. Max chamber pressure has been traditionally measured at a point 1" from the breech, which ensured always being able to catch the highest peak. Those flares do not extend near an inch so would not assist in containing the max pressure. This construction is purely & simply to reduce the bbls weight while building it on a too large frame. The Stevens may have a more pleasing appearence in many's eyes but does so at the expence of an additionl 1lb 2oz of weight. A proportionately scaled 2 1/2" .410 would not exceed 4-4 1/2 lbs in weight. I have a Crescent built 28ga hammer double which weighs no more than this .410 & have used several 20gas over the years which went from 6 to 6 1/4 lbs. Many 16gas also do not exceed 6-6 1/2 lbs. Any .410 in excess of 5lbs is an aberration to me.

My helmet is on so blaze away if you desire, but to me putting a pip-squeak shell in a normal weight gun makes about as much sense as building a truck which weighs 5-6 tons empty & giving it a carrying capacity of a half ton.

No the later barrels are round all the way to the breech balls, just giving one a lot of extra steel to carry.



This gun which is marked New Empire on the left lock and Crescent Fire Arms Co. on the right weighs 6 pounds 2.3 ounces.





I have a few 20- and 28-gauge guns that weigh less.

+1

I have always liked quail hammerless Crescents. Would love to have one for dog trialing, but they always do seem overpriced.

I'm also curious about the "maroon" butt plate described in the ad. What kind of butt plate would that be? I don't know if I've ever seen one.

Due to my dislike of the straight sided Stevens 410s, I got this earlier version; 1930s I believe. 5 lb 14 oz

I agree with Miller, the idea to make the lighter barrels fit an existing frame to save weight and possibly money.

For 800.00 I would look for a CZ mini frame. I would cringe, but I could work through it! If I could spend a bit more maybe an Ugartechea Gr 1 boxlock. Both a bit over 5#.


Chief

Personally, I think that's stranger looking than the flat-sided profile. But whatever floats your boat.

Concerning the slab sided 410s, someone said, "And I'm guessing none of them weigh 7lbs". Check this one out.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Stevens-311-Series-H-410-Gauge.cfm?gun_id=100200303

It was probably made heavy intentionally so the owner wouldn't get pounded by the heavy recoil from those .410 shells.

Thats a NICE Crescent 410! I have a 16 gauge Crescent New Empire in that condition but the few 410s I have seen were pretty used up.I have a Stevens 311A in 410 and it is a good little gun.I do think the amounts of money that are being asked for tired old 410s are absurd!A couple of years ago I bought a CZ Bobwhite in 410 and I have been very favorably impressed with it.

Gee; I was wrong? Oh well; first time for everything . I had one of those series H's and it weighed 6-6. Can't imagine where they'd find another whole pound on that little gun, but I suppose it's possible.

The Cabelas ad says it is the hardwood stock which is probably more dense than walnut.

Probably so. The one I had was hardwood too though.