My Collection of Vintage Firearms
IVER JOHNSON and HERCULES GRADE Side by Side Shotgun
Side of barrel: Etching of hunting dog and Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle works Fitchburg Mass, USA.
Butt plate: Picture of owl
Pistol grip cap: Iver Johnson
Two triggers
Checkered stock
Serial number: 905E
Patented March 16, 1915
April 27, 1915
IVER JOHNSON HAMMERLESS HERCULES GRADE------------1924-1935*
Box lock side by side double barrel; each barrel and lug forged as one piece then joined together; 12, 16 & 20 Gauge; Browned barrels and case hardened receiver; American Black Walnut butt stock and fore-end, hand checkered; plain extractor model has slim fore-end and automatic ejector model has beavertail fore-end with D & E fastener; hard rubber butt plate and pistol grip cap; butt stock is 14 inches in length, butt stock drop at comb is 1¾ inches and at heel is 2 ¾ inches; automatic safety; double triggers; overall length with 30 inch barrel 46 3/8 inches; weight 7¾ pounds. Hunting dog etching on the left side of the frame. Some of these double barrel shotguns have been seen with Canadian marking, these were most likely shipped to Canada and then marked as there is no evidence that Iver Johnson’s Arms & Cycle Works ever had a manufacturing factory in Canada. It has been reported that a special run of the Hercules double gun was manufactured for Montgomery Wards & Co. in the 1930’s Marked “WESTERN FIELD MODEL 53”.
