I have been meaning to post some pictures of a double barrel handed down to me from my grandfather for some time now. I have searched the web several times to gather as much information as I can regarding this gun but haven't found one EXACTLY like it.
A little about the gun: Its an Iver Johnson Ranger Double barrel, double trigger 12ga, 30"barrel, 46" OAL. From what I've read the ranger line of shotguns were made by several manufacturers in what seems like quite a few configurations for Sears. There are not markings on the barrel whatsoever asides from the serial number. The underside of the foregrip has two serial numbers, one stamped in the wood and one in the steel. The Receiver has the name "RANGER" on the left side, and a serial number stamped on the inside of the receiver. No other markings anywhere on this gun, Just the word ranger, and 4 serial numbers. The serial numbers are all matching and only 4 digits long, 2###. The barrels seem to be in pretty good shape, the only real wear is seen in the last bit of the muzzle (see picture). The wood and metal seem to be in pretty decent condition being that it lived in the basement of my grandmothers century home for who knows how many years. Every screw on the gun is in perfect shape, meaning they haven't been torn up with an ill fitting screwdriver. I don't think this gun was fired all too often.
(boring part, you may want to skip this)
I wish I knew more about the family history of this gun. My grandfather passed when I was only a year old and my grandmother several years ago. My mother doesn't know much about this gun and was pretty surprised that he even owned one. As long as she knew him, he never hunted a day in his life. He was married and had two kids before later meeting my grandmother and having two more children (my mother and my uncle) so maybe he had different interests in his early years? He met my grandmother after he returned from WWII, he was born 1908 and already in his 30's when he joined up. Nobody knows if he was the original owner of this gun or if it was given to him. Its doubtful that he would have bought it as he was born and lived in a bit of poverty his whole life and didn't spend a dime on anything. After his return from the war, he worked at a tannery in south Oshawa making peanuts until he retired. He made a few attempts to gain employment with GM but those jobs were given to the younger men. He and much of the older population all went to work at this tannery during the day, and go to the legion in the evening.
So asides from this gun, a picture I have scanned from an original of him in uniform are all I have of him. I am considering having this gun refinished but haven't made up my mind. It has no historical value and is likely not anything someone would find to be collectible so I wouldn't think refinishing would be considered sacrilegious to the firearm community. It is solely sentimental value so refinishing wouldn't be for monetary value (because surely refinishing is worth more that the gun itself).
So to get to my point, I am having a difficult time finding much information in this particular model of Ranger so any input you all may have would be greatly appreciated! If anyone has anything similar, please post pictures or share a story (as anyone who has a gun this age wouldn't likely be the original owner at this point). Thanks!!!
A little about the gun: Its an Iver Johnson Ranger Double barrel, double trigger 12ga, 30"barrel, 46" OAL. From what I've read the ranger line of shotguns were made by several manufacturers in what seems like quite a few configurations for Sears. There are not markings on the barrel whatsoever asides from the serial number. The underside of the foregrip has two serial numbers, one stamped in the wood and one in the steel. The Receiver has the name "RANGER" on the left side, and a serial number stamped on the inside of the receiver. No other markings anywhere on this gun, Just the word ranger, and 4 serial numbers. The serial numbers are all matching and only 4 digits long, 2###. The barrels seem to be in pretty good shape, the only real wear is seen in the last bit of the muzzle (see picture). The wood and metal seem to be in pretty decent condition being that it lived in the basement of my grandmothers century home for who knows how many years. Every screw on the gun is in perfect shape, meaning they haven't been torn up with an ill fitting screwdriver. I don't think this gun was fired all too often.
(boring part, you may want to skip this)
I wish I knew more about the family history of this gun. My grandfather passed when I was only a year old and my grandmother several years ago. My mother doesn't know much about this gun and was pretty surprised that he even owned one. As long as she knew him, he never hunted a day in his life. He was married and had two kids before later meeting my grandmother and having two more children (my mother and my uncle) so maybe he had different interests in his early years? He met my grandmother after he returned from WWII, he was born 1908 and already in his 30's when he joined up. Nobody knows if he was the original owner of this gun or if it was given to him. Its doubtful that he would have bought it as he was born and lived in a bit of poverty his whole life and didn't spend a dime on anything. After his return from the war, he worked at a tannery in south Oshawa making peanuts until he retired. He made a few attempts to gain employment with GM but those jobs were given to the younger men. He and much of the older population all went to work at this tannery during the day, and go to the legion in the evening.
So asides from this gun, a picture I have scanned from an original of him in uniform are all I have of him. I am considering having this gun refinished but haven't made up my mind. It has no historical value and is likely not anything someone would find to be collectible so I wouldn't think refinishing would be considered sacrilegious to the firearm community. It is solely sentimental value so refinishing wouldn't be for monetary value (because surely refinishing is worth more that the gun itself).
So to get to my point, I am having a difficult time finding much information in this particular model of Ranger so any input you all may have would be greatly appreciated! If anyone has anything similar, please post pictures or share a story (as anyone who has a gun this age wouldn't likely be the original owner at this point). Thanks!!!
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