John M. Smyth 12 guage

Question
I have a 12guage shotgun with the numbers 86737 inside trigger guard and has 787 just behind trigger guard.... last patent date may 27, 1902.....was inherited from great-aunt approximately 15yrs.. I understand this is a hardware store purchased item... thank you for sharing any knowledge of this item...

Answer
Hi Bonny,
I don't know what style action it has single or double barrel.If it is Hammer or hammerless, plus sidelock or box locklock design. I can narrow it down without that info.

What I can you is that John M. Smyth Of Chicago was a hardware store. They did  sell house branded firearms most of which were made by the Crescent Arms Company of Norwich Ct. There hundreds of brand names were put on them. Many of them were hardware stores thus the term hardware guns.  Well made inexpensive guns.

You maybe to the photos here to ID it.
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/cpg1410/displayimage.php?album=36&pos=0
http://www.briley.com/articles/grampas_shotgun.html

Depending on which model you have and its condition...

Typical single barrel $50 to $200 and  $150 to $1050 for a double barrel.

Any gunsmith or gun dealer can quickly tell you model you have and grade its condition.

Feel free to ask follow ups.