Scoutdog99
03-25-2015, 01:06 AM
I have an old WH Davenport falling block shotgun I’m trying to find some information on as well as what a particular missing part may look like.
I’ve found minimal (and conflicting) information about the company itself– seems to have been in business from 1880 to 1910 or thereabouts. I have found zero information about their falling block shotgun other than the patent on the gun noted below. I don’t even know the model number (or if it had one) nor the dates of production for the falling block model.
On the barrel it says The WH Davenport Fire Arms Co. Norwich’ Conn. U.S.A. Patented Dec 15, 1891. The only other markings are a number located on the breech face, lever arm, and barrel lug.
The gun is missing some type of linkage from the hammer to the mainspring (which is actually located forward in the breech).
I was able to find the patent referenced on the barrel (patent 465354 dated December 15, 1891), but unfortunately the drawings associated with the patent are missing. The patent describes the missing linkage as follows:
“To the right side of the hammer is jointed a connection, its forward end portion being enlarged and cylindrical and fitting an inclined hole formed in the lower portion of the breech-frame and to one side and in advance of the breech-block. The outer end of the connection is still further enlarged to serve as a follower and fitted to move longitudinally in a hole forming a continuation of that just referred to. The outer or front end of the hole screw-threaded and provided with a fine threaded screw or plug. Within the hole or chamber thus produced is located the mainspring, bearing against the adjacent faces of said plug and follower.”
Does anyone have any idea what the missing linkage (or connection as referenced above) looks like or have a picture they could share? I fabricated a simple prototype bending some bar stock and was able to get the action functioning correctly. I’m not sure of the durability of my band aid approach and would like to fabricate something similar to the exact missing part. I’ve tried asking the same thing on a couple of other forums and have struck out so far.
134961134962134963134964134965
I’ve found minimal (and conflicting) information about the company itself– seems to have been in business from 1880 to 1910 or thereabouts. I have found zero information about their falling block shotgun other than the patent on the gun noted below. I don’t even know the model number (or if it had one) nor the dates of production for the falling block model.
On the barrel it says The WH Davenport Fire Arms Co. Norwich’ Conn. U.S.A. Patented Dec 15, 1891. The only other markings are a number located on the breech face, lever arm, and barrel lug.
The gun is missing some type of linkage from the hammer to the mainspring (which is actually located forward in the breech).
I was able to find the patent referenced on the barrel (patent 465354 dated December 15, 1891), but unfortunately the drawings associated with the patent are missing. The patent describes the missing linkage as follows:
“To the right side of the hammer is jointed a connection, its forward end portion being enlarged and cylindrical and fitting an inclined hole formed in the lower portion of the breech-frame and to one side and in advance of the breech-block. The outer end of the connection is still further enlarged to serve as a follower and fitted to move longitudinally in a hole forming a continuation of that just referred to. The outer or front end of the hole screw-threaded and provided with a fine threaded screw or plug. Within the hole or chamber thus produced is located the mainspring, bearing against the adjacent faces of said plug and follower.”
Does anyone have any idea what the missing linkage (or connection as referenced above) looks like or have a picture they could share? I fabricated a simple prototype bending some bar stock and was able to get the action functioning correctly. I’m not sure of the durability of my band aid approach and would like to fabricate something similar to the exact missing part. I’ve tried asking the same thing on a couple of other forums and have struck out so far.
134961134962134963134964134965