doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Newbie w/ Question re JN Scotts St Louis Model 188

As stated I am brand new to this forum and really only joined hoping for info about an old two hammer SxS 10ga(?) identified only by the "JN Scotts" on the side and "St Louis Model 1887 Laminated Steel" lengthwise on the top of the barrels. (A gun owned by my great grandfather before he died)

I have read that a J Scotts had a machine shop here in St Louis at that time wherein the inventor of the first adding machine was employed. But that's all I have found.

I'll try to get pics soon as I am sure that would help, but this is a semi ornate gun with fancy scrolling throughout, a pheasant engraved into the side and a nice butt plate with a buck standing over two does encircled over a small shield. This gun is NOT a pristine example by ANY means, just something I have held onto as a keepsake.

Please help if you can... THANKS!

Jeff W from STL

I can't offer much help, but I also own a JN Scotts SxS; a 14-bore hammerless sidelock of very good quality. I have learned that JN Scott was the manager of the sporting goods division for Simmons Hardware in St. Louis, MO before the turn of the last century. My gun has no serial numbers, or patent dates and is marked London Fine Damascus on the top rib. I believe JN Scotts branded guns were made in England to be imported into the US and marketed thru Simmons Hardware, but have no other information.

Take the barrels off and turn them over. You may find markings on the barrels and the receiver flats. Take a look here for the Belgian proof marks:
http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html

Joe Vorisek in his "Shotgun Markings" attributes JN Scott to Henri Pieper, a large Belgian maker.

Whether made in England or Belgium, it would have been submitted for proof.

WC Scott did have a son, James Charles Scott. So these are not his guns.

"Laminated steel" almost always appears on Belgian guns. It has to do with Belgian law circa 1894 regarding the use of fake ( faux ) damascus.

Pete