"Brush" Anglo-French
bruce "brushwood", Old North French
broche, "bush, thicket, undergrowth"
Was the Winchester 1897 Brush introduced in the fall of 1897 the first "Brush Gun"?
Was this a uniquely American term?October 16, 1897
Sporting Life![[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]](https://photos.smugmug.com/Shotshells-and-pressures/Speader-loads/i-zKmjr5D/0/41158a1e/L/October%2016%2C%201897-L.png)
Oct. 23, 1897
Sporting Lifehttps://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll17/id/44707/rec/1Rolla Heikes using the "latest model Winchester brush gun"
Dec. 4, 1897
Sporting LifeThe latest gun which the Winchester Co. have placed on the market for sportsmen is the "Brush gun," and, as its name implies, is designed expressly for bird shooting in the field. It is a very desirable gun for this kind of shooting, owing to it light weight, strong shooting qualities, and also on account of being a magazine gun with five cartridges at command of the shooter, a feature that most successful hunters highly endorse. The gun is listed at $27, which places it within the reach of everyone.
The "Brush" gun is made with a blued frame and a 26-inch, light-weight, rolled steel cylinder bore barrel. The magazine is shorter than that of the regular Model 1897 shotgun, holding, four instead of five cartridges. The Stock is made of plain wood, unchecked, and has a small, well shaped pistol grip. It is 13 3/8 inches long, has a drop of 1 5/8 inches at the comb, and 2 1/2 inches at the heel, and is finished with a rubber butt plate.
The "Takedown" Model was introduced in 1898
https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll17/id/45796/rec/7July 23, 1898
Sporting Life![[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]](https://photos.smugmug.com/Shotshells-and-pressures/Speader-loads/i-p8T47wt/0/c1462f16/L/Juy%2023%2C%201898-L.png)
Recreation, 1899
https://books.google.com/books?id=ytyfAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PR29&lpg Ithaca Brush Gun??
Was this listed in Ithaca catalogs?No mention of a "brush gun" in Henry Sharp,
The Gun: Afield & Afloat, 1904
http://books.google.com/books?id=BFRDAAAAIAAJ Forest & Stream, 1906
https://books.google.com/books?id=r0gcAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA928&lpg Greener Crown Quality Ejector, Westley Richards, Newman & Ithaca "Brush" guns for sale. Did that just mean shorter barrels and open chokes?
In 1909 Baker Gun & Forging Co. offered the
Batavia Brush with 26-inch Twist barrels and a straight-grip stock at $24.
No mention of a "brush gun" George Bird Grinnell,
American Game-bird Shooting, 1910
http://books.google.com/books?id=bZcyAAAAMAAJFebruary 24, 1912
Sporting Life Parker Brush Gun? Was this ever listed in a Parker catalog?
"the finest brush gun made."
![[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]](https://photos.smugmug.com/Shotshells-and-pressures/Speader-loads/i-DxcZDKz/0/99f7988d/M/Feb.%2024%2C%201912-M.png)
Outdoor Recreation, 1918
"Parker Brush Gun"
https://books.google.com/books?id=0Hs7AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA379&lpg Hunter Arms never had a "Brush Gun" but initially the Skeet Special was called the L.C. Smith "Skeet Upland Special", with double triggers, pistol grip stock, and splinter forend.
The
A.H. Fox Skeeter was introduced in 1931 and the Sterlingworth Skeet and Upland in 1935, with automatic ejectors, Fox-Kautzky selective single trigger, beavertail forend, recoil pad, and ivory beads. Savage later offered a Sterlingworth Ejector Brush.
In 1937, the
Stevens No. 500 Skeet Single Trigger Double Barrel Hammerless Shotgun was introduced with either 26- or 28-inch barrels in 12 and 16 gauges and 26-inch barrels in 20 gauge with "special Skeet boring for Skeet, Brush or Upland Shooting."
Any British or Continental "Brush Guns", or just Churchill's XXV with open chokes?
Were swamp rib French guns, possibly with "
canon raye dispersant" chokes referred to as "brush guns" or just Fusil Bécasse?
