The story of Strother's "Columbia"
16 gauge shotgun as told by Robert
Crabtree, Strother's grandson.Â
Strother gave the gun to Robert
just before Strother died. It is
believed that the original cost was
$2.50. Several stories surround this
gun as told by Strother and
remembered by Robert. Factual
truth is not guaranteed!
It was told that the long barrel (32
inches) enabled it to drop a rabbit at
100 yards.Â
Another story was that he sat the
gun against a wagon wheel; the wagon
moved catching the gun between the
wheel spokes and breaking the
wooden stock. Strother built a new
stock and fitted it to the gun. The
stock is hand made and Strother was a
very skilled wood worker.
Yet another story was Strother
used the gun to shoot at a person
stealing chickens one night. Strother
claimed he could only see a white bag
held by a man, so he shot at it severely
wounding the man's arm. The
incident stirred controversy and that
may be one reason for Strother to
leave the West Virginia Mountains
and move to Missouri.   Â
16 gauge shotgun as told by Robert
Crabtree, Strother's grandson.Â
Strother gave the gun to Robert
just before Strother died. It is
believed that the original cost was
$2.50. Several stories surround this
gun as told by Strother and
remembered by Robert. Factual
truth is not guaranteed!
It was told that the long barrel (32
inches) enabled it to drop a rabbit at
100 yards.Â
Another story was that he sat the
gun against a wagon wheel; the wagon
moved catching the gun between the
wheel spokes and breaking the
wooden stock. Strother built a new
stock and fitted it to the gun. The
stock is hand made and Strother was a
very skilled wood worker.
Yet another story was Strother
used the gun to shoot at a person
stealing chickens one night. Strother
claimed he could only see a white bag
held by a man, so he shot at it severely
wounding the man's arm. The
incident stirred controversy and that
may be one reason for Strother to
leave the West Virginia Mountains
and move to Missouri.   Â
There is not much information on "Columbia" Shotguns. The following is from
www.faqfarm.com.Â
There are several variations of Columbia (Arms, Gun Co, etc) on trade name shotguns made
in the late 19th - early 20th century. Many imported from Belgium, some made by US
companies like Crescent, Stevens, Davenport and sold in hardware stores for as little as $3.
Most are not considered safe with modern ammunition and are usually valued as mantle
decorations. A single shot may bring $25-$50 and a double barrel with large sidehammers
could go as high as $250. Another source believes Columbia was a trade name used on
single barrel shotguns made by the Harrington and Richardson Arms Co. about 1905.
www.faqfarm.com.Â
There are several variations of Columbia (Arms, Gun Co, etc) on trade name shotguns made
in the late 19th - early 20th century. Many imported from Belgium, some made by US
companies like Crescent, Stevens, Davenport and sold in hardware stores for as little as $3.
Most are not considered safe with modern ammunition and are usually valued as mantle
decorations. A single shot may bring $25-$50 and a double barrel with large sidehammers
could go as high as $250. Another source believes Columbia was a trade name used on
single barrel shotguns made by the Harrington and Richardson Arms Co. about 1905.
