Fox Collectors

Came across a very strange 12 ga. hammer double that surfaced at our annual IWLA PIcnic and Swap & Sell meet on Father's Day. Gun looked for all the world like a very early Ithaca but had "Utica Fire Arms Company" in roll script on sides of the receiver and marked "London Fluid Steel" at the base of the rib just at the extension. 3-digit serial number; strangest of all was the (horn) buttplate, marked "Simmons" in a flowery background diagonal stripe from bottom to top across the plate. Actually in very good shape for its age; mirror bores & good wood except for the forend where the last inch or so of the tip had been twist-wired back in place (must have used a nail running fore & aft but nothing visible). Smelled very JABC-ish but would look good over the mantle. Kevin

Bob Hinman's Golden Age of Shotgunning says, "Utica Firearms Company. Hammer double barrel. Nothing further known."

Sounds like a "Trade Branded " gun made for Simmons Hardware Co. of St Louis. LONDON FLUID STEEL is a marking often found on guns made by Hopkins & Allen, here on a hammerless gun --

I saw a Utica double at the Syracuse gunshow probably about 20yrs ago. From what I recall it was hammerless. That was the one & only for me.
tjw

Thanks guys! Dave, your picture is exactly what the gun looks like, except with hammers. Except for the forend issue, a very nice example. Kevin