I was reading Dig's book "British Boxlocks..." for the second time last night when I noted a statement I had not paid attention to the first time:

"...most capitalist of countries betrayed its faith in the free market when it introduce the McKinley tarrif of 1890. This imposed a charge of 35% plus $6 on every gun....allowing American makers like Parker, to succeed with what was an inferior produt." (p.122)

Can anyone provide some information on the relative prices for English and American shotguns in the 1890's? Did the tarrif have a big impact on the shotgun market?