doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com An unusual Essex 12 ga. Double

I recently bought a 12 ga. double advertised as an Essex, the trademark used for Belknap Hardware guns made by Crescent. It had an unusual configuration for one of their guns, very European with straight stock, sling swivels, a silver cartouche on the stock...all characteristics I like. And it was inexpensive as a Crescent gun should be.

When I picked it up the other day and started cleaning it, it held surprises. Essex was inlaid in gold above opening lever; the engraving of a pair of dogs against two hills chasing two ducks on the left side, and chasing two chukars on the right was complemented by a snipe on the bottom of the action. The engraving isn't best quality but OK. The receiver is nickeled; it has a long trigger guard tang as well.

On the barrels and watertable there are clear Spanish proof marks, a *J which should date it as 1937, JU, which is Jose Uriguen's mark (also in the wood of the forearm), the serial number and an additional one, 32 300 which I think is the maker's number (Grulla is #31). The proof marks are consistent with a 1930's date, and it's proofed for 850 kgs, choked M and IM. It is also marked "Sarco Sterling NJ", which is a gun importer who often handled military arms from Spain, so probably the importer when it came in. Most curious, however, is that on the top of the barrels it's marked "Essex Firearms Co." in English. It has an automatic safety, extractors.

It has cleaned up well and looks good to go for ducks with ITX or Nice shot; pointed birds with spreader shells.

So, instead of an inexpensive American hardware store gun I've ended up with a rather nice if not fancy Spanish game gun. Weight is exactly 3 kilos; oh, barrels are typically metric at 27.625 inches; chambers appear a bit longer than 2 3/4, and it's marked (12-70).

Anyone ever see this variation as well? Wonder if Crescent went to importing some Spanish guns on special order late in the 30's when times were tough, demand low, and Spain probably an inexpensive source for this configuration of shotgun? Seems curious, however, as in 1937 (if I dated this correctly) the Spanish Civil War was going strong--but perhaps Eibar was far enough away from the front for shotguns to still be produced. Or it got produced but not sent due to war (ergo the English lettering on top), and that's how Sarco ended up with it later?

Fun to speculate!

If this was imported by SARCO since 1968(likely) they would have had to keep basic records permanently since this is a BATF requirement. They have imported a lot of surplus Spanish military pistols in recent years so shotguns would not surprise me at all. You may want to contact them; they are now located in Pennsylvania, and see what information the can or will provide.
N.B: They also imported a slew of inexpensive doubles from the Scandinavian Countries around 5 years ago so this was something they probably did in earlier times as well.
Jim

In early 1930 Davis-Warner was purchased by J. Stevens Arms Company (owned and operated by Savage Arms Corp.). A Stevens memo dated May 23, 1930, announced the acquisition and the intent to resume manufacture of the Davis doubles. Another Stevens memo dated December 15, 1930, announced the purchase from H&D Folsom Arms Company of the assets of Crescent Fire Arms Company of Norwich, Connecticut. The memo went on to say that the assets of Crescent would be merged with those of Davis-Warner Arms Corporation and that the newly formed firm would be known as The Crescent-Davis Arms Corporation, Norwich, Conn. Crescent-Davis would be operated as a competitor of J. Stevens. The new firm was no more successful than its predecessors. On November 4, 1935, an order of dissolution was filed with the New York Secretary of State. So, after that the remains must have been moved to Chicopee Falls and assembled and sold off under various names. Crescent-Davis and Springfield guns shown in the 1938 to 1941 Stevens paper I have all appear to be variations on the 311.

1940 Belknap catalog shows a boxlock Essex



which doesn't looks like a Crescent-Davis (from Researcher's 1931 catalog)

Since the shotgun in question is clearly an import by SARCO I don't think it's possible to compare it to a brand name used by Crescent or one of the other low end American shotgun manufacturers during the pre-war period.
It would be helpful if Cedar-Creek-Sam would post some pictures.
Jim