doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 8 Ga McComas

Bill,

Your absolutely right....according to the May 1909 issue of Field & Stream, he began his bisiness in 1943 and if the dates are correct my gun was made when he was 49 or 50 years old. I'm no researcher either but it is interesting. Thanks for correcting me....

1843? I wonder if another McComas researcher might tune in and give us some more serial numbers, both percussion guns and breechloaders? I am guessing that Alex started his numbering system at about 2000.

My guess about the Scott numbers was obviously incorrect. Apparently, the serial numbers of these McComas guns were in a seried initiated by McComas and not by Scott.

Hi guys, Bill..you are correct. Alex McComas was born Feb. 27, 1821 at Southampton Farm, Bel Air in Harford County, MD. In 1850 at the age of 29 his residence was at 178 E. Fayette St. in Baltimore. His listed occupation in the census was Gunsmit and lived with his wife Mary and son Edward and 2 apprentice gunsmiths that lived under his household. At the age of 59 in 1880...he is listed as an Importer and Manufacturer of Guns. He passed away at the age of 71 on March 12, 1892 from Bright's disease (which I have no idea what that is). Maybe a bit more than you wanted to know but there it is. Jeff

This is pretty cool. from The Aegis--Oct 1860, 51 S. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD.

Guns! Guns! Guns!
The largest and best assortment in Baltimore. Double and single guns, rifles, pistols, and sporting goods in the greatest variety, cheap and warranted. Persons may rely on getting good article, at 51 S. Calvert Street.

Alex'r McComas.

N.B.---Guns made or repaired in the best manner.

Brights disease is the old name for diabetes.

Ah, thanks RHD45!

McComas was much like Patrick Mullin-both made high quality
guns on barrelled actions-have not seen an engraved B/l of
either maker. The McComas BBl Number 3x,xxx is similiar to
5 digit numbers on some Mullin guns- I feel these are numbers
put on them before they were sent to USA. A High percentage
of both makers guns I've seen are big Bores.
Have records of Two 4 ga single and four 8 Ga double B/L guns
Some used Jones Underlever -others top levers. Serial # 2424
and 2425 were noted sonr Two guns-I have no memory of Any
other #'s. All guns were proofed on BBLs And action.
Bill McPhail

Thanks Bill...we appreciate the information! Jeff

I wonder if the barrel numbers are Scott serial numbers? 32,000 series for Scott is in the early to mid eighties, about the estimated date of the gun in question. What other barrel numbers do we have available for research?