Description:
Punt gun, or single-barrel shotgun, made by C.S. Shattuck, Hatfield, Massachusetts. The plain twist steel barrel was probably made in Belgium. The "77" stamped twice inside the breech refers to the part number. "American" stamped on top of the barrel likely refers to the model name. This 8 gauge breech-loader was commercially used for hunting ducks, which explains its weight. It was not intended to be used in the woods, but fired from a boat. It used black powder. The butt plate is either missing or was sawed off, neither of which is unusual. Major Charles S. Shattuck (1840-1919), born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and Andrew Hyde made first guns in Springfield. The factory was the former Prescott Pistol Co., for which Shattuck previously worked. They moved their activities to Hatfield in February 1877. There they went into partnership with Mrs. Mary D. Porter in the Thomas Meekin sawmill, on Prospect Street, established in 1874. Mrs Porter withdraw from the partnership in 1878. Shattuck and Hyde continued their business of inexpensive handguns. Hyde was bought out in 1880. Shortly later he came out with his single barrel breech-loading shotguns and a few years later he offered double shotguns. Production of shotguns was so about 15.000/year. In 1881, the shop burned but was immediately rebuilt. In 1910 the manufacture of guns stopped. In 1910 a four-shot gun turned out but it is unknown for how long.
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