Hudson Bay Gun Information

[mooncoon]

Does anyone have a good reference book or website describing how the Hudson Bay Company labelled its shotguns ? I have owned a HBC Imperial #4 which was a percussion double, plus a Imperial #2 which was a percussion single currently have a Imperial #2 which is a cartridge double and am working on an Imperial #2 which is a percussion double

I am sure that somewhere I have filed away a xerox copy from a book detailing what numbers applied to which Imperial series of guns, but not only cannot find it but in my memory, the single barrels and double barreled guns had different numbers

cheers mooncoon

 

[tiriaq]

I'm not sure there was a coherent system for these model names. The Imperial line were sporting styled guns, but I don't know if the numbers actually signified anything.
I have a ml double "The Imperial Extra Special". No number.

 

[Steppenwolf]

From "Trade Guns of the Hudson's Bay Company 1670-1970" by S. James Gooding

Imperial shotguns

No 1, single barrel, muzzle loading
No 2, single barrel, muzzle loading
No 3, double barrel, muzzle loading
No 4, double barrel, muzzle loading


Imperial New Model Guns

No 1, double barrel, hammerless, 12,16 and 20 gauge
No 2, double barrel, hammerless, 10, 12,16 and 20 gauge
No 3, double barrel, hammer
No 4, double barrel, hammer
No 5, double barrel, hammer

I can send the book to you.

 

[MC One Shot]

Very generous offer Steppenwolf....

 

[va7rc]

I have a hudsom bay 12 ga double hammerless,
I am trying to identify it and find its value after inspecting it im pretty sure its a damcus barrel

 

[tiriaq]

These guns were carried in stock into the 1930s. Might be damascus if made prior to 1900. Take the forend and barrels off. What stamps are on the underside of the barrels and on the receiver flats? Can you see damascus pattern on the hidden parts of the barrels?
Value? More than that of a similar gun without the HBC markings. Condition probably won't hurt the value as much as it would affect the value of a non-HBC gun.
Is the action tight? Barrels on face? Bore condition? Mechanically sound?
The ml guns seem to be worth more than the breechloaders. Your gun could have been sold over the counter in Winnipeg or Edmonton.