doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A Brief History of the "Brush Gun"

1926 Davis (Davis-Warner Arms Corp. Brooklyn, NY and Norwich, CT) catalog courtesy of David Noreen listed the Davis MAXIMIN, "specially built and choked for short range and Target 70% at 35 yds. 12 ga.-24 in. barrels. 16 ga.-22 in. barrels. 20 ga.-20 in. barrels. Record of 21 successive wing shots and 21 killings have been made with one of these guns." Price $30.00.

Tryon catalog

I think Greener mentions the idea of short-bbled, light 12s being marketed as Brush guns as nothing new in one of his books.

This Francotte I've been lusting after would certainly qualify as one:

http://montywhitley.com/product/early-francotte-12-gauge-double-ejector-gun/

OWD

He never used the term "brush gun" however, and it may uniquely American
William Wellington Greener, The Gun and Its Development, 1907
http://books.google.com/books?id=3HMCAAAAYAAJ

Hammer welded barrels of any sort was a bug I never caught. I had chances to buy several Bakers over the years, but, never did. Something else always was more important in the end.
If you are interested, Dewey Vicknair has added a postscript to his �American Doubles� post on his blog. He is harsh on the Baker, and while I have no dog in that fight, I would think twice before I ignored what he has to say on the subject.
Most of the low grade Belgium guns I have handled in the last thirty years were not technically firearms anymore.

Best,
Ted

Very interesting topic...thank you!

As per Researcher/Dave N's reply above referring to the A. H. Fox Sterlingworth "Brush" model, here's a picture of my Model 1911 12 gauge Sterlingworth 26" Brush model Serial Number 57979 and the John Callahan/Savage letter confirming that configuration. Shipped October 24, 1911. (25 years to the day before I was born.)

Well Ted just to be totally honest if I was only willing to shoot what Mr Dewey Vickner approved of I likely would have to stick with Tiddly Winks. The only two Bakers I have had any experience with were both solid, well-made shooters although certainly not London Best's.

I'm sorta like Rhett Butler "Franklin I don't give a **** " if he likes them or not, I am fully capable of deciding for myself what I like. At a gun show once I found what was most likely a pristine condition original condition B grade Baker at a very attractive price. Didn't buy it, but should have. At the time I knew virtually nothing about Baker's & thought it simply to high grade to have twist barrels so assumed it was mismatched. I have regretted ever since I didn't buy that gun, have never found another in such good condition at so good a price. This was many years ago when anything with a "Welded" barrel was considered a Wallhanger & a drug on the market.

I do still like my Lefevers better than a Baker, but that doesn't mean I consider them a bad gun, because they're not.

I too don't give a rat what Vicknair thinks. I have three Bakers which seem to be holding together just fine. Along with an assortment of other awful machine made american guns. All still working. I have English and Continental guns too including two best quality guns and they still function, just like my Bakers.

Good for you. I�ve always been willing to listen to what anyone has to say on a subject I�m interested in, even if I don�t always agree with it.

That has saved me from a few �gumption traps� over the years.

Best,
Ted

Well, I wasn't dressed like that, and there was a dog around somewhere. But the departing woodcock and the shooter looking as if he's not likely to get off a shot . . . looks like me yesterday a few times!