marlin riverside

Question
QUESTION: My father left me a gun that was my granny's. It is a 20 gauge marlin riverside arms company I would like to find out more about it. It has a #11006 on it. I would like to know how old dit is. My gran died in 79 at the age 97 so it could be god knows how old. can you please help. Nancy Huey

ANSWER: Nancy,

You haven't given me too much to go on.  It would be helpful to have a model number.  Usually they appear on the barrel just above the receiver (where the shells go).

From what you have told me, I can narrow it down a bit as Marlin didn't make that many shotguns in 20 gauge.

It could be a Model 30-20.  They had a barrel of either 26" or 28" and a pistol grip stock.  These were manufactured between 1915 and 1917.  It could also be a Model 31-20 which is a hammerless shotgun manufactured between 1911 and 1923.

Finally, it could be a Model 44A, which is nearly identical to the Model 31, but was a later version, manufactured between 1923 and 1935.

The number, 11006 is most likely a serial number, but there for many manufacturers, including early Marlin guns, the records are not all that good. It wasn't until 1968 when serial numbers were required on all guns that serial number record keeping improved significantly.

The one thing that is a little confusing is your reference to "Riverside Arms".  Riverside Arms was a manufacturer in Chicopee Falls, MA.  Based on the best information I have, Riverside was purchased by J. Stevens around the turn of the century and continued to manufacture under the Riverside Arms name until around 1920.

IF the gun shows that it was manufactured by "Riverside Arms" in Chicopee Falls, MA, then all the Marlin stuff I wrote does not apply...

If you can give me more info regarding the other markings on the gun, I might be able to help you out a bit more.

Best regards,

Doug



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, Thank you so much for the help. The butt of the gun says marlin, the side of the chamber says riverside arms chicopee falls MA. the # I gave you is inside the chamber where the barrels locks in the stock. It has a hammer and it cocks. This gun was my grandmas who lived 1885 to 1979 and then was my fathers who lived 1928 to 2004 and now I have it and would just like to know about it and if it will shoot. I would like to display it with other family momentos but if it shoots will lock it up.

Answer
Nancy,

It looks like it is indeed a Stevens made gun.  That would all fit.  The dating on the gun is between 1894 and 1920, so the timing is correct for it to have belonged to you Grandmother.    At some point, the stock may have been changed out which probably is how you ended up with a 'marlin' buttplate.

From the sounds of it, you may have a working firearm, but it is probably not safe to shoot.  Modern shotgun shells are higher pressure than those from that era.  Also, some shotguns around that time were made with barrels of 'damascus' steel.  You would be able to tell this if the gun barrel looked like 'wound wire' or had a spiral pattern in the metal of the barrel.

In any case, I would not attempt to shoot it.  If you want to make absolutely sure before displaying it, you could have a gunsmith remove the firing pin.

Sounds like you have a 'real deal' antique on your hands...

Best regards,

Doug