I believe that I can add to the small trove of common knowledge of these guns thanks to the exhaustive research done by the previous owner of my gun. This gentleman, a long time personal friend of mine bought this gun (79032) at Wholesale Sports, Calgary in 1998. It was on consignment and they declined to provide a contact for the consignor when requested, so that is as far back as he was able to trace it’s Canadian history. He knew it was different than anything he had seen before and started what turned out to be a couple of years of far flung research into his new prize. He was always a curious and meticulously thorough individual and his file that came with my gun is about an inch thick, numbering many pages of articles, receipts, correspondence and documents. Fizzling out quickly in Canada, his research quickly led him to Sweden where he was able to get the known facts about the 300 series of Husqvarna sidelocks through correspondence with noted Swedish firearms historian and author Frederik Franzen ( author of 1992 Double Gun Journal Vol 3 #8 article outlining Husqvarna double rifles and shotguns) , researcher and advanced collector Carl Ryd and Husqvarna collector and historians Arne Ohlsson and Holger Ytterfelt. In general….
- The 300 series sidelock was Husqvarna’s best gun, made to answer the domestic demand for a Swedish made best gun rather than purchasing German, Austrian or British guns.
- To make these guns which were all hand made, Husqvarna assembled a special team of about a dozen master gunsmiths whose only task was to build these guns.
- They were made from 1905-1917 when the program was shut down due to decreased demand as a result of WW1 and the flu epidemic and also because their master gunmakers were now too few in number to continue the program.
- They were all made to the highest standards in three ascending grades of finish, the 300, 301 and the 301 LX. The grade is stamped on the water table.
- During the initial ramp up of the program (4-5 years) unfinished actions and then only basic action forgings were purchased from various German manufacturers including Sauer and others. By 1910 these guns were completely made in house.
- As noted, total production in all grades numbered 300.
- These guns were never sold in North America, the bulk being sold domestically in Sweden with others going to Germany, Austria, Denmark, Norway and a few to Finland and Belgium.
Regarding my gun specifically, it was appraised through photos and detailed description in 1999 by Arne Ohlsson at a value of 20,000 Swedish Crowns in Sweden ( about $3,500 Can dollars at this time ) , Canadian or American value unknown. He commented that they are very scarce and highly sought in Sweden and he was very surprised to find out about this gun in Canada, he thought that it may be the only one in North America. I now know it isn’t even the only one in Canada, there are at least two! And about two years ago there was a 301 LX advertised at William Larkin Moore in Scottsdale Ariz., it sold quickly. When my friend first showed up at our club with what is now my gun I was instantly in love, notwithstanding my long love affair with English doubles. He let me try it out and oh my, it fit like it was made for me and I had to have it. He wouldn’t sell! I tried repeatedly to buy this gun over the next 20+ years, no dice. A couple of years ago he passed away, the gun came to me and it has a new appreciative home. I’m slowly moving my treasures like this along to new select homes, this one will go too and it won’t be easy.
There is other information included regarding production numbers, names of the various specialist gunsmiths who made these fine guns, some of which were made for the Swedish royal family, markings and features.
In Canada Husqvarna has long been known for their outstanding hunting rifles which were sold here in quantity after WW2 until Husqvarna discontinued rifle production (in the 1980’s?) and of course for a steady stream of Mauser actioned military surplus rifles but Husqvarna shotguns were almost unknown here until about 10? years ago. This followed major changes in the firearm laws in Sweden and several other European countries limiting the number of firearms that an owner could have and resulted in a massive sell off of the less desirable pieces as owners pared their collections. These showed up in large quantities at outlets like Tradex and others at very attractive prices. These shotguns, including Husqvarnas, that have been coming were well designed, well made, mostly heavily used and well worn and are the only Husqvarna shotguns most of us have any familiarity with.
