Long Tom? - The Firearms Forum

ms6852 · 11-27-2008, 03:41 PM

I have a 12 gauge shotgun with a very very long barrel. The only markings on it is Long Tom. According to my cousin it was a fun gun to shoot but it no longer does. Is it worth the money getting this old thing to shoot? I can not find a serial or model number anywhere on this gun.

Shooter45 · 11-27-2008, 03:52 PM

The Long Tom was a cheap single-barrel shotgun sold from the 1890s to the 1920s. It was probably made by the Batavia company in Batavia, New York. They made a lot of shotguns for both Sears & Montgomery Ward. Unless the metal's in absolutely pristine condition, it's probably not worth finding a stock & forearm for it. It'll cost you about as much to have the thing restocked by a gunsmith as it would cost you to buy a new, much more reliable single-shot shotgun. If you're determined & you're a skilled woodworker, Dixie Gun Works (www.dixiegunworks.com) has stock and forearm blanks for sale. If you have all the hardware--& you're a skilled woodworker--you can probably make some of their stuff fit.

ms6852 · 11-27-2008, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shooter45

The Long Tom was a cheap single-barrel shotgun sold from the 1890s to the 1920s. It was probably made by the Batavia company in Batavia, New York. They made a lot of shotguns for both Sears & Montgomery Ward. Unless the metal's in absolutely pristine condition, it's probably not worth finding a stock & forearm for it. It'll cost you about as much to have the thing restocked by a gunsmith as it would cost you to buy a new, much more reliable single-shot shotgun. If you're determined & you're a skilled woodworker, Dixie Gun Works (www.dixiegunworks.com) has stock and forearm blanks for sale. If you have all the hardware--& you're a skilled woodworker--you can probably make some of their stuff fit.

I thought as much, it does not need any stock work done and the barrel is quite good close to excellent shape. I just was not sure if it was worth getting the firing pin fixed. The barrel seems very thin to my liking and I personally would not feel comfortable shooting it. I'll let my cousing know and see if he wants to spend the time and money on it. Thanks for the info.

RJay · 11-27-2008, 09:42 PM

Grew up with a Sears Long Tom. Nothing wrong with it, very strong shotgun took a lot of game. Remember, theres a big difference between inexpensive and cheap made. Several firms made the Log Tom for Sears, from the 1930s it was made by Stevens ( compare it to Stevens old Model 94). If he has the old firing pin it would take a machinist about 20 minutes to make one, Heck, I make one in high school shop. very simple pin. Fix it, shoot it, enjoy it.

armedandsafe · 11-28-2008, 01:00 AM

Watch the chamber length. Many of the older shotguns are chambered for shorter than 2 1/2" shells. And, the advent of full (folded star) crimp rather than roll crimp made this even more troublesome.

Pops

carver · 11-28-2008, 07:26 AM

One more bit of advice, don't shoot high brass shells in your Long Tom. Back when that gun was made shells were not loaded to the pressures that they are today. Shoot only low brass shells, IE, field loads. My brother has one that was he bought off my sisters husband, and was given to him by his dad. I have worked on the gun several times and they are easy to repair. Great gun for birds and squirrels!

Anchor Clanker · 11-28-2008, 11:32 PM

Long Tom. "Trade Brand Name" shotgun made by one of two makers. J. Stevens Arms Company (used on their Models 90 and 95) or Meridian Fire Arms Co. Made for and sold by Sears Roebuck & Co. If made by Stevens, made after 1915. If made by Meridian made sometime between 1905 and 1915. Value depends on condition and will range from about $250 for a factory new condition to less than $10 for a rusty rotten incomplete piece of junk that might make a good tomato stake.

mtdburnett · 04-08-2011, 10:37 PM

I have a Long Tom. Great condition, 40" bbl. Does anyone have an owners manual for it and/or know how to remove the forearm. I'd like to do a detailed cleaning. Since they apparently aren't worth much, I might like to reblue and refinish the stock. Would be attractive over the fireplace.

mtdburnett · 04-27-2011, 10:55 AM

Never mind. I figured it out and have since reblued the barrel, refinished the stock, cleaned it up as best i could. Gun looks great and is a lot easier to operate minus the gunk and with a little new oil. Figured it wasn't worth much as a collectable so decided to restore it. Really didn't need more than cosmetic/preservative work. Nicely made and simple.

Jim K · 04-27-2011, 11:11 AM

Ms6852, if your gun is in reasonably good shape, it should be worth having the firing pin replaced. But some of those guns were made in the era when smokeless powder was just coming in, and Damascus barrels were still common. So if you plan to fire the gun, make sure it is safe with ANY modern ammo.

Also, is the firing pin broken, or just missing? In that era, many owners who had old shotguns they knew were unsafe removed the firing pins to make sure the gun couldn't be fired. Before replacing the firing pins, we should consider that they might have been smarter than we are.

Jim

j6sranch · 05-20-2011, 07:13 PM

I have a 16 gauge long tom shotgun number 211684 that has no manufacturer listed on the gun. I need a "open lever" for it and a butt plate. The open lever broke and it was brass welded to put it back into operation, but will not hold for long. I no longer shoot the gun because of its age, but would like to restore it to good condition. Can you tell me where I could possibly find these two parts for this gun? Thank You very much.

11-27-2008, 03:41 PM	#1
ms6852 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Antonio Texas Posts: 157	Long Tom? I have a 12 gauge shotgun with a very very long barrel. The only markings on it is Long Tom. According to my cousin it was a fun gun to shoot but it no longer does. Is it worth the money getting this old thing to shoot? I can not find a serial or model number anywhere on this gun. -->

11-27-2008, 03:52 PM	#2
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,753	Re: Long Tom? The Long Tom was a cheap single-barrel shotgun sold from the 1890s to the 1920s. It was probably made by the Batavia company in Batavia, New York. They made a lot of shotguns for both Sears & Montgomery Ward. Unless the metal's in absolutely pristine condition, it's probably not worth finding a stock & forearm for it. It'll cost you about as much to have the thing restocked by a gunsmith as it would cost you to buy a new, much more reliable single-shot shotgun. If you're determined & you're a skilled woodworker, Dixie Gun Works (www.dixiegunworks.com) has stock and forearm blanks for sale. If you have all the hardware--& you're a skilled woodworker--you can probably make some of their stuff fit.

11-27-2008, 09:42 PM	#4
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,487	Re: Long Tom? Grew up with a Sears Long Tom. Nothing wrong with it, very strong shotgun took a lot of game. Remember, theres a big difference between inexpensive and cheap made. Several firms made the Log Tom for Sears, from the 1930s it was made by Stevens ( compare it to Stevens old Model 94). If he has the old firing pin it would take a machinist about 20 minutes to make one, Heck, I make one in high school shop. very simple pin. Fix it, shoot it, enjoy it. __________________ RonJames Last edited by RJay; 11-27-2008 at 10:21 PM..

11-28-2008, 01:00 AM	#5
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	Re: Long Tom? Watch the chamber length. Many of the older shotguns are chambered for shorter than 2 1/2" shells. And, the advent of full (folded star) crimp rather than roll crimp made this even more troublesome. Pops

11-28-2008, 07:26 AM	#6
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,288	Re: Long Tom? One more bit of advice, don't shoot high brass shells in your Long Tom. Back when that gun was made shells were not loaded to the pressures that they are today. Shoot only low brass shells, IE, field loads. My brother has one that was he bought off my sisters husband, and was given to him by his dad. I have worked on the gun several times and they are easy to repair. Great gun for birds and squirrels! __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

11-28-2008, 11:32 PM	#7
Anchor Clanker V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vacaville,California Posts: 196	Re: Long Tom? Long Tom. "Trade Brand Name" shotgun made by one of two makers. J. Stevens Arms Company (used on their Models 90 and 95) or Meridian Fire Arms Co. Made for and sold by Sears Roebuck & Co. If made by Stevens, made after 1915. If made by Meridian made sometime between 1905 and 1915. Value depends on condition and will range from about $250 for a factory new condition to less than $10 for a rusty rotten incomplete piece of junk that might make a good tomato stake.

04-08-2011, 10:37 PM	#8
mtdburnett Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2	Re: Long Tom? I have a Long Tom. Great condition, 40" bbl. Does anyone have an owners manual for it and/or know how to remove the forearm. I'd like to do a detailed cleaning. Since they apparently aren't worth much, I might like to reblue and refinish the stock. Would be attractive over the fireplace.

04-27-2011, 10:55 AM	#9
mtdburnett Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2	Re: Long Tom ? Never mind. I figured it out and have since reblued the barrel, refinished the stock, cleaned it up as best i could. Gun looks great and is a lot easier to operate minus the gunk and with a little new oil. Figured it wasn't worth much as a collectable so decided to restore it. Really didn't need more than cosmetic/preservative work. Nicely made and simple.

04-27-2011, 11:11 AM	#10
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Long Tom? Ms6852, if your gun is in reasonably good shape, it should be worth having the firing pin replaced. But some of those guns were made in the era when smokeless powder was just coming in, and Damascus barrels were still common. So if you plan to fire the gun, make sure it is safe with ANY modern ammo. Also, is the firing pin broken, or just missing? In that era, many owners who had old shotguns they knew were unsafe removed the firing pins to make sure the gun couldn't be fired. Before replacing the firing pins, we should consider that they might have been smarter than we are. Jim

05-20-2011, 07:13 PM	#11
j6sranch Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1	Re: Long Tom? I have a 16 gauge long tom shotgun number 211684 that has no manufacturer listed on the gun. I need a "open lever" for it and a butt plate. The open lever broke and it was brass welded to put it back into operation, but will not hold for long. I no longer shoot the gun because of its age, but would like to restore it to good condition. Can you tell me where I could possibly find these two parts for this gun? Thank You very much.