origin of old shotgun

Question
I have a shotgun that my father received from his grandfather which belonged to his father or grandfather.  The only name I can find on the single shot 12 gauge is volunteer I beleive and the number 1727 stamped on each piece of the gun.  Can you tell me the age of this gun and if it has any value? Thanks

Answer
Hello Russell. Your shotgun was manufactured for a hardware company known as Belknap Hardware Co. sometime before 1936. There was a major gun manufacturer , Crescent Firearms, that made 100's of shotguns for hardware companies and other businesses. The guns were basically the same make and some were good quality. As for value, they never reached collector status, so $50-$100 will be as high as it goes. If you plan to shoot it, get a competent gunsmith to check it out. If it is not safe to shoot, you might do what I do with many old guns like yours. Make a shadow box and display it on a wall. I hope this answers your questions and thank you for asking for me. Charles Gage