12 guage hammer gun

Question
I have a 12 guage double barrel shotgun stamped American Gun Co. numbers stamp is 90648. It has engraving on the side plates and under side. On the barrells there a number 2 horizonal and the other barrel number 4 vertical. The barrel might be damascus - ring like marks on barrells. Can you tell me year of this gun and value to insure?

Answer
Hi Sherry,
American Gun Co. was trade of Crescent Arms Company of Norwich CT. and distributed H D Folsom of NY. They were in business 1892 to 1930. They inexpensive but well made shotguns often hardware guns because they sold at hardware stores.  They no way to date them exactly. If it is damascus it predates 1909 and is not safe with modern smokeless powder ammo. It would look like this http://damascus-barrels.com/Image_barrels.html Its sounds like you have American Gun Co. #4 Hammer Sidelock. Its worth $300 to $800 depending on condition.