What is a used Mears Arms Company Double Barrel 12 gauge shotgun worth?

Answer 1

I'm no expert, but I believe that Mears shotguns, at least some of them, are Belgian made. One I am familiar with has Damascus-twist barrels and exposed hammers. They are representative of a type that was sold during the first part of the 20th (and latter part of the 19th) century. They were mainly mass produced by a number of European firms for export. Unless they have special features or have a documented noteworthy history (owned by a famous person, used in a historical event, etc.) they are classified as "wall hangers". That is, they look cool over the fireplace (although I wouldn't recommend displaying an unsecured firearm), or are just interesting artifacts. Naturally, they are priceless if owned by an ancestor or have family ties. Like any old gun, they shouldn't be fired with modern ammunition (or fired at all) until checked by a qualified gunsmith. This is especially true if they have Damascus barrels. That can be determined by markings on the barrels, or if the barrels display a swirly, ormamental texture in the metal. Most were designed to fire blackpowder ammunition which has a much lower pressure that modern smokeless ammunition. Take this for what it's worth. There are always exceptions. In general though, these guns have little collector and utilitarian value. Again, this is just the opinion of an amateur firearms collector. Good luck in your research. Joe