I recently spent a weekend helping a friend clear out an old barn on his property, and tucked away behind a stack of rusted farming equipment, we stumbled across a dusty acme arms double barrel shotgun. It wasn't in what you'd call "collector's condition"—there was a bit of pitting on the barrels and the stock had some battle scars—but it immediately sparked a long conversation about the history of these old "hardware store" guns. If you've spent any time poking around estate sales or small-town gun shops, you've likely seen the name Acme Arms Co. pop up on a few side-by-sides.
The thing about the acme arms double barrel shotgun is that it represents a very specific era in American history. Back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, you didn't always go to a dedicated sporting goods store to buy your hunting gear. You went to the local hardware store or ordered through a massive mail-order catalog. Because these retailers wanted to build their own brand loyalty, they'd contract with big manufacturers to put a custom "trade name" on the firearms. That's exactly what Acme was—a trade name used primarily by the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company and occasionally H&D Folsom (who owned Crescent Fire Arms).
What Exactly Is a Trade Name Gun?
If you're holding an acme arms double barrel shotgun, you're basically holding a piece of early mass-marketing history. Back then, places like Cornwall Hardware or Sears would ask manufacturers to stamp a name like "Acme," "Lakeside," or "Knickerbocker" on the side plates. It made the customer feel like they were getting something exclusive to that shop, even though the internal parts were often identical to thousands of other shotguns being pumped out of factories in Connecticut or Belgium.
Most of the Acme-branded guns were solid, working-man's tools. They weren't flashy, and they certainly weren't meant to compete with the high-end Parkers or L.C. Smiths of the world. They were designed for the farmer who needed to keep pests out of the corn or the young man looking to put a couple of rabbits on the dinner table. They were built to be used, abused, and eventually leaned against a wall and forgotten.
The Feel of a Classic Side-by-Side
There's something uniquely satisfying about the balance of an old acme arms double barrel shotgun. When you snap the action shut, you get that heavy, metallic clink that modern polymer-heavy guns just can't replicate. Most of these were "hammerless" designs, meaning the firing pins were cocked internally when you broke the action open, though you'll occasionally find older versions with external "rabbit ear" hammers.
The swing on these guns is surprisingly intuitive. Because they don't have the bulk of a pump-action or a semi-auto receiver, the weight is centered right between your hands. It makes them feel light and lively, even if the actual weight on a scale says otherwise. If you've ever walked through a field of tall grass looking for pheasant, you know how much a heavy gun can wear on your shoulders by the afternoon. These old side-by-sides were built for those long walks.
Identifying Your Model
If you're trying to figure out exactly what you have, you'll want to look closely at the water table—that's the flat part of the frame where the barrels meet the action. You might see some small proof marks there. If you see a little "ELG" in a circle, your acme arms double barrel shotgun was actually made in Belgium and imported. If it's clean or has small letters like "S" or "C," it was likely made right here in the States by Stevens or Crescent.
The Belgian imports were often a bit cheaper and sometimes used "laminated steel" or Damascus barrels. This is a huge point of interest for collectors and shooters alike, mostly because it dictates whether or not you should ever actually fire the thing.
A Word of Caution on Damascus Barrels
I can't talk about the acme arms double barrel shotgun without mentioning safety, because it's the first thing any gunsmith will bring up. Many of these older guns were built with Damascus (twist) barrels. They were made by wrapping strips of iron and steel around a mandrel and welding them together. While they look beautiful—with a sort of wood-grain or wavy pattern in the metal—they aren't designed for modern, high-pressure smokeless powder shells.
Over time, the welds in these barrels can develop microscopic bits of rust. If you shove a modern 12-gauge shell into a 100-year-old acme arms double barrel shotgun with Damascus barrels, you're essentially holding a pipe bomb. If the barrels are plain fluid steel, you're in better shape, but you still need to check the chamber length. A lot of these older guns were chambered for 2 1/2-inch or 2 5/8-inch shells, not the standard 2 3/4-inch shells we use today. Using the wrong size can cause a spike in pressure that the old steel just wasn't meant to handle.
Is It a Collector's Item?
Truth be told, an acme arms double barrel shotgun isn't going to fund your retirement. Since they were "trade guns" and produced in such high volumes, they don't carry the same prestige as a Fox or a Winchester. However, they have a massive amount of "cool factor." For a lot of people, these are family heirlooms. Maybe it was the first gun your great-grandfather bought when he moved to the farm. That kind of history is worth way more than the blue-book value.
In terms of market price, you'll usually see them going for a few hundred dollars depending on the condition. If the wood is cracked or the bores are pitted, they're mostly "wall hangers"—beautiful pieces of decor for a den or a cabin. But if the action is tight and the steel is clean, they are a blast to take to the range with some low-pressure black powder loads.
Restoring an Old Workhorse
If you happen to find an acme arms double barrel shotgun that's seen better days, restoration can be a fun project, provided you know what you're getting into. I've seen people do amazing things with some fine steel wool and a bit of oil to pull the surface rust off without ruining the patina.
The walnut stocks on these guns are usually quite high-quality wood, even if they're covered in a century of grime. A gentle cleaning and a fresh coat of linseed oil can make that grain pop in a way that'll make you wonder why we ever started using plastic stocks on modern guns. Just be careful not to over-sand; you want to keep those sharp lines where the wood meets the metal.
Finding Parts
One of the downsides of owning a trade name gun like the acme arms double barrel shotgun is that finding exact replacement parts can be a bit of a scavenger hunt. Since multiple manufacturers used the name, you have to be 100% sure who actually built the frame. Usually, parts from a Stevens Model 335 or certain Crescent models will swap right in, but you might need a bit of "persuasion" from a file to get everything fitting perfectly. It's a labor of love, for sure.
Final Thoughts on the Acme Legacy
There's a certain nostalgia that comes with holding an acme arms double barrel shotgun. It reminds us of a time when things were built to last and when a trip to the local hardware store was the highlight of the week. They might not be the most expensive firearms on the market, but they are honest guns. They don't pretend to be anything they aren't.
Whether you've inherited one from a relative or you just like the aesthetic of a classic American side-by-side, the acme arms double barrel shotgun is a great entry point into the world of vintage firearms. Just remember to have a qualified gunsmith look it over before you try to bust any clays with it. Safety first, but once you know it's solid, there's nothing quite like the experience of taking a piece of history out into the field for a walk.