doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Off Topic-Double-like single barrel?

This is off the topic of doubles but the answer to this question is frustrating me and I'm sure someone here will know the answer. Over the years most all the American gun companies produced a single barrel, break-action gun. They were usually marketed as entry-level or kids guns. They all had an exposed hammer -- except one. Years ago (in the 1950s and 60s, I think) one of the companies produced a break-action single barrel without an exposed hammer. So it had a top lever, just like a SxS and, without the exposed hammer, looked just like a SxS when viewed from the side, in profile. Does anyone remember the make and model of that gun? I used to know, but can't for the life of me remember.

Back in 1972, I bought a Monkey Wards Model 100SB single shot 20 gauge. On top of the receiver was a piece that you hooked with your thumb and pulled straight back. This cocked the internal hammer, unlocked the breech and applied the safety. The gun was made by Savage for Wards. There was no top lever as on a typical hammerless SxS, though.

Savage model 220. They also made a model 219 which was a rifle. I have one that is a combination 219 in 30-30 cal. with a separate 16ga barrel and forend. The shotgun barrel has a Polychoke; what more could anyone want? Check GunBroker and you'll find a few for sale usually...Geo

Ithaca produced a single barrel called a "Lefever Long Range and Trap" and Savage made the Model 219 and 220 both of which were single barrel break open guns with a tang safety and were hammer less. I have a 219 .410 I used to use for rabbits and a 220 16 gauge I'm waiting to give to a Grandchild. You can occasionally find both listed on Gunbroker.com.

Forgot about the Lefever Long Range. TwiceBarrel is right about that but wrong about the model 219 being a shotgun; it was a rifle. Not to say he might not have one in .410 though. The 219 frame is smaller and would make up a good .410. After all my 30-30/16ga show you could have it either way...Geo

Hammerless singles have been around for a long time. Prior to The Great War, the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. offered the No. 180 a field gun --



and the No. 182 a Trap gun.



After The Great War, the J. Stevens Arms Co. offered the No. 181 field gun --



and the No. 183 a Trap gun.



By their 1925 catalogue the hammerless singles had been dropped from the line.

The Savage 220 is by far the most frequently seen. They're quite light--which is also their problem (on the butt end) if you shoot stout hunting loads in them. True of most of the old singles.

A talented gunsmith could install a safety in an Ithaca Single Barrel Trap Gun. The Flues and Knickerbocker model Ithaca guns are bargains at the price some of them sell for. They would be my choices for a high quality single barrel to hunt with.

Winchester made a single they called a "Semi-Hammerless" I believe. It was the model 37 & was striker fired & had a cocking piece which set low to the tang. This piece was attached to the rear of the striker so it was actually hammerless, though required hand cocking.
I have an old Remington single with internal hammer but is not self cocking. This one uses a side lever for cocking, so no visable hammer.

Similar to the Remington Arms Co.'s side-cocking singles, the Models 1893 and 1902, the American Arms Co. of Boston made a side-cocking hammerless single. They also made a low-priced double with a side-cocking lever on each side.