Single Barreled Shotgun

Harrington & Richardson Topper Shotgun - 12 gauge. This is a common single barreled breach loading top break shotgun.

Harrington & Richardson Topper Model 158 Shotgun with case hardened receiver - 12 gauge

Montgomery Ward Texas Ranger - 16 gauge. This model was also available in 12 gauge, 20 gauge and 410 gauge.

The 12 gauge single shot shotgun has been available to the public for many years. The Single shot breach loading shotgun was an instrumental weapon for hunting in 1880s America. It's light weight and cheap cost (relative to other firearms) made it very popular for hunting fowl and other light game. 12 gauge single shot breach loading shotguns have been made by Ithaca, Stevens, Savage, Remington, Winchester, Harrington & Richardson and other manufacturers. Many shotguns between the 1880s and the 1950s were sold through the major 'mail order' companies of the time, Sears Roebuck, Montgomery Ward and several others. The Guns marked Sears or Montgomery Ward were contract guns which were actually built by Stevens or Savage Arms.

For the sake of simplicity, the title of this page is 12 gauge Single shot Shotgun, since the majority of the single barreled top break shotguns seen in film are 12 gauge versions, however, the single shot shotguns were offered in 16, 18, 20 and 410 gauge.

The 12 gauge single shot shotgun has appeared in the following:

Film

• Enrique Munoz as the Monastery Guard in Vampires: Los Muertos

• One of Martinez's men in Dawn of the Dead (1978)

• Bruce Campbell as Ash in Evil Dead

• The Postman