A Syracuse Elsie was a master/apprentice produced firearm. Total production was very small (less than 2000 guns, maybe much less) when compared to what flowed out of Fulton (nearly half a million, counting all the variants). All the "transitional" guns reflect that reality to a large degree, which is likely why Houchin's book counts them in with Syracuse production. They remain faithful to Alexander T. Browns original design.
After the Hunter Brother's were done with them (especially after the 1913 re-design) they were fully-streamlined for "mass production" and were a very different prospect indeed.
Much like Kutter, my very 1st double shotgun was an early Field Grade gun that had been my paternal grandfather's first "purchased" firearm. Love 'em or hate 'em, they made (slightly) better doubles available to the masses and put lots of meat into family pots all over this country and... many of them continue to do so to this day.
Last edited by Lloyd3; 04/13/26 10:46 AM.
