Established in 1923, Hoffman Arms recruited top talent from a number of American and English gun making firms including Colt and Griffin & Howe with an eye to break directly into the upper tiers of the sporting arms trade. Though the venture did not withstand the pressures of the market, their output included some fantastic pieces. This example is outfitted with a single brass bead sight on the textured barrel rib with "HOFFMAN ARMS CO. CLEVELAND OHIO 214" on top of the rib, "410:GAUGE" on the top of each barrel, a band of engraving around the breech, and a series of Birmingham proofmarks on the underside including nitro proofs, "CHOKE" and "410". The frame is finely casehardened and scroll engraved with floral designs on the screws and barrel hinge, deeper cut and sculpted leafy scroll on the recoil shields and upper tang, and a geometric pattern on the lower tang. Each side has a banner just beneath the barrels marked "Hoffman Arms Co." on the left and "Cleveland, Ohio" on the right, and each side shows a well-cut scene of a gold-inlaid game bird in an engraved field with a pheasant on the left and a quail on the right. It is fitted with a fancy checkered walnut pistol grip stock and splinter forearm with engraved forearm hardware, teardrop accents on the flats, a leafy engraved casehardened buttcap, a silver inscription panel initialed "R/C/V" and a checkered flat naked butt. Measurements: Chokes - modified and full, chambers - 2 1/2 inches, ejectors - automatic, weight - 5 pounds 5.6 ounces, drop at comb - 1 1/2 inches, drop at heel - 2 7/8 inches, length of pull - 14 inches.

Excellent. The barrels retain 95% plus original blue finish with minor handling marks and a few tiny patches of surface rust, and the trigger guard shows 75% original finish with a brown patina on the tang. 80% of the original case colors are present with some fading to brown and especially bright color on the sides of the frame. The wood is excellent with a couple of light scuffs on the right side of the stock, light handling marks, crisp checkering and attractive grain. The engraving is all finely executed.