Strong Firearms Co. rifle/shotgun

[Rusty Goose]

While checking out a local gun shop for the first time I found this interesting setup. I'm a sucker for the old/odd stuff and it was cheap so....

I had to do some digging on the interwebs, but I still was not able to find a lot of info about these old guns. It seems that the Strong Firearms Co. of New Haven Conn. made these single break open guns from 1878-1890 the continued on just making signal cannons. You could buy just the shotgun 12 or 10 ga., or just the rifle in .44-40 or 38-55. But for a few dollars more you could get both barrels.

This one has the .44-40 barrel and a 12 ga. barrel. Both barrels and the receiver have matching serial #'s.
I wanted to get a better idea of the rifle chamber so I made a cast with cerrosafe and slugged the barrel. The barrel is .429, but the throat is a bit eroded at .430 or so. The chamber seems to be within spec for the .44-40 case. Now I'm on the hunt for some brass. I have some Goex FFF and 777 on hand along with some cast .429 SWC to play with.

I also have a few Fiocchi brass 12 ga hulls for later. Those are new territory for me so I'll hold off until I read up more on those.

[stubshaft]

Nice looking gun!

[RustyReel]

Don't know anything about it other than it is way cool!!

[Nobade]

Really neat! Good find. Remember to use black powder and card wads in the 12 ga, rather than modern wads due to how the throat is cut. They're more fun that way anyhow.

[Shawlerbrook]

That is waaaay cool ! Congratulations.

[uscra112]

Very interesting! More pictures, please.

[HWooldridge]

That will be fun to shoot. Looks like pretty good workmanship, even for something that was probably cheap to buy back in its day.

[Texas by God]

That is very neat.
PM your address and I’ll donate a handful of 44-40 brass and paper 12 gauge hulls for your worthy project.
And keep us posted along the way.


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[Rusty Goose]

From what I found on the internet, in the 1880's they originally sold for $12 as a shotgun or as a rifle. 10 ga. shotgun was $15. To buy both a rifle and shotgun barrel setup was $19.

Winchesters of that era sold for $20-$25???

Rusty

[missionary5155]

That is a good looking set. Those two cartridges can take care of any hunting need.

[Rich/WIS]

Check the chamber length on the 12 gauge, that old probably not 2 3/4 inch.

[sukivel]

I really like that!


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[Gunlaker]

That's pretty cool. There is a super short mention ( A few paragraphs ) in Still More Single Shot Rifles by James J. Grant on p.76 on Dickerman/Strong Fireams.

Chris.

[Jedman]

That’s a really cool unique early break action rifle / shotgun. I have never seen one of them before and really like it that’s the kind of gun I am always looking for.
It must have been a higher priced gun than a Stevens and many others that made break actions as the part octagonal / round barrels the more sculptured top lever and paneled receiver & double underlugs are all nice features. And 44-40 cal. Is prefect !

Jedman

[uscra112]

Want to know how it's laid out inside. Design, precision, materials, etc. Malleable iron frame like Stevens, or forged steel like Winchester?

[Rapier]

It is a hammerless so should have a fast lock time. I would take it apart and check the springs before use. Make a photo with measurements before you break one with use. The leaf springs, if any, are usually the first parts to go. With coil springs all you need is the diameter and original length.

I would not use BP in it if I could find a smokeless substitute for example cowboy action shooting, with original 44-40 BP revolvers. Only pressure concern with that single shot design would be the BP firing pin diameter.

[uscra112]

For coil springs you need the wire diameter and the number of turns, as well as the relaxed length and ID/OD.

[thegatman]

Very cool.

[Rusty Goose]

I'm currently out of town helping my folks move into a assisted living facility, I'll put up more pictures when I return. I had it all apart within a few hours of bringing it home, couldn't help myself. It has one tiny leaf spring for trigger return and coil for the striker. It has a tiny roller where the lever rotates and cocks the action. I was happy to see it working easy and not flattened from lack of lubrication. It has seen a good amount of use. There is signs of someone "tightening"up the lug on the shotgun barrel boss by using a punch to move the metal at the fulcrum pin. I completely forgot to take pictures while I had it apart.

Rusty

[Rusty Goose]

Here are few more pictures of the guts. The side plate fits like a S&W revolver, beautifully machined and tight.