May 05, 2011 Here is a look at my Forehand Arms Co. 5 shot Revolver. It has a stamp saying 'Pant'd June 1 1891' The serial number is 6178, does anyone know what year. Forehand & Wadsworth Arms of Worcester, Mass. Was active from 1871 until 1892 when they became Forehand Arms Co. This solid frame.32 revolver was made circa 1880. The Forehand & Wadsworth Company 1871 Wadsworth Died in 1890 and it Became Forehand Arms Employees moved between H & R plant and the Forehand plant and many models look alike! Firm became Forehand & Wadsworth in 1871, in 1890 the names was changed to Forehand Arms Company ( Mr. Wadsworth retired ), In 1902 The company was taken over by Hopkins and Allen. Your gun was probably made between 1871 until 1898. Firm started as Allen & Thurber in 1842-47 then from 1847-56 as Allen, Thurber & Co. From 1856 to 1863 as Allen & Wheelock and from 1863-71 as E. Forehand & Wadsworth grew out of E. Allen and operated from 1871-1890 when it became Forehand Arms Co. This is a Forehand Arms Co. Double action, top break.32 S & W revolver with a 3 1/4 inch barrel. The serial no. That makes it a black powder model.
Forehand Arms Co Shotgun Serial Numbers
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 2:13 pm |
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Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:47 pm
Posts: 181
Location: Colorado | I have a friend that owns a Forehand Arms 12 gauge shotgun. The only thing it has for identification is the serial number, and it says 'fine twist barrel'. It also has a leather recoil pad. Does anyone know about this shotgun? Any info would be appreciated!
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Post subject: re: Anybody know about Forehand Arms? |
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Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 10:47 am
Posts: 365
Location: North Carolina | Don't know about that particular shotgun, but 'fine twist steel' usually means a Damascus barrel, which, as a general rule, should never be fired with smokeless powder.
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Post subject: re: Anybody know about Forehand Arms? |
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Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2005 8:42 pm
Posts: 27544
Location: Missouri | Forehand was an old arms company in New England. They later became, or were also known as Forehand and Wadsworth. The gun is an old smokepole. It was a cheap hardware store gun. It did not have a truly fine hand made damascus barrel. It was a cheap twist barrel they called a fine twist barrel. Don't shoot it. Take out the firing pin and throw it away.
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Post subject: re: Anybody know about Forehand Arms? |
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Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:10 pm
Posts: 4830 | Sullivan Forehand and Henry Wadsworth were sons in law and employees of Ethan Allen. Upon Allens death in 1871, the took over the Company as Forehand & Wadsworth. In 1890 Wadsworth retired and it became Forehand Arms Co. They made both Single and Double shotguns, the quality being about that of Stevens, along with a few Higher grade models.. Forehand died in 1898 and in 1901, the Company was sold to Hopkins & Allen.. H & A continued to produce Forehand guns until 1903.. Bushrod
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Post subject: Re: Anybody know about Forehand Arms? |
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Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2015 8:48 am
Posts: 1 | I have acquired a Forehand arms 12 ga side Hammer shotgun, serial # 42083-pat date 8/16/1881. It has a round 30 inch barrel marked 'fine decarbonized steel'. I have several questions. 1. Can you give me an approximate of Manufacture? 2. I read somewhere that it was chambered for a 2-1/2 inch black powder shell-however a modern 3 inch 12 gauge shell fits properly in the chamber--so does this mean it can actually take any shell from 2-1/2 in to 3 inch? 3. If you were to reload a shell with black powder, how many grains would you use? 4. I would say the gun is in VG condition-can you place a value on it. 5. Is there an easy way to tell if a shotgun or rifle has a Damascus barrel? I do not believe this shotgun has one since it is marked 'fine Decarbonized steel'-am I correct?
Thanks,
Doug
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Post subject: Re: Anybody know about Forehand Arms? |
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Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 3:35 pm
Posts: 1532
Location: AZ but dreaming of KS | Decarbonized steel or Parker 'Plain Steel' is neither pattern welded steel nor modern fluid steel. It is 'Bessemer process homogenous wrought iron' and was likely sourced from Remington, which offered the steel on Model 1889 hammer guns
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Post subject: Re: Anybody know about Forehand Arms? |
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Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2015 3:19 pm
Posts: 1 | I have a Forehand 12 gauge side hammer marked Forehand Arms Co.Worcester Mass. patent Aug 16'81 serial 4173 on barrel , forepiece hardware and forepiece release button no other marking on the body that I can find. It has a 10 gauge re-loadable black powder brass marked Winchester 10. Stock has no butt plate it is contoured to fit shoulder. It has a small crack and so does the forepiece Any info would be greatly appreciated Hatchet bingo35@cableone.net
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H&r Arms Co. Serial Numbers