Folding shotguns comprise solely a small phase of the firearm market. Nevertheless, they do provide an actual benefit for anybody who must maintain a shotgun helpful when area is proscribed. This platform is right for a truck gun or tenting journey. Some bush aircraft pilots depend on folding shotguns, storing them within the cockpit as predator backup when ferrying hunters into the backcountry.
Granted, all motion sorts—pumps, auto-loaders, and break-actions—may be disassembled into two items. However folding shotguns let you skip reassembly, which is not any small consideration in an emergency. Right here’s a have a look at some notable folding designs previous and current.
The First Folding Shotgun
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Lengthy earlier than the folding shotgun idea grew to become the province of comparatively cheap break-open “utility weapons,” there was the Burgess pump-action designed by Andrew Burgess.
Produced from 1894 to 1899 on the Burgess Gun Firm in Buffalo, New York, the gun was initially meant for fight and legislation enforcement. The Burgess was a tactical shotgun earlier than the time period existed. That includes a 20-inch barrel and six-shot capability, this hinged, external-hammer 12-gauge might be holstered, making it a concealable choice beneath a jacket or vest . A pivoting pin and folding latch allowed the gun to be carried folded in its holster with a completely loaded journal. The Burgess might then be drawn by its shooter and shortly locked into battery.
As an alternative of the widespread reciprocating handguard used to cycle pump shotguns—that patent hadn’t expired but—the Burgess featured a sleeve across the wrist of the inventory. Yanking again the sleeve—together with the grip and set off guard—after which pushing it ahead, unlocks the bolt, ejects the empty, and chambers the following spherical from the journal.
In 1895 a standard-grade Burgess price $30, plus $1.50 for the holster. By 1899, Winchester had purchased out Burgess, most probably to scale back competitors with their Mannequin 97 pump. Right this moment, the Burgess is a collectible. One in excellent situation can fetch near $8,000.
TriStar Folding Survival Shotgun
This Turkish-made single-shot folder in 12-gauge has a 3-inch chamber (TriStar additionally provided it in 20-gauge and .410-bore). It’s a no-frills synthetic-stock gun with a Parkerized end, that includes a 20-inch mounted choke cylinder bore barrel. The curb weight is 4.5 kilos, so the recoil from buckshot or slugs shall be substantial, although you may outfit the TriStar with a recoil pad. The inventory is hole for stashing small provides like matches or a first-aid equipment—when you’ve got a screwdriver to take away the recoil pad. The shotgun breaks open by way of a lever ahead of the set off guard. It’s not produced by TriStar, so you’ll have to search the used marketplace for one. It shouldn’t price you greater than $100. When folded, it actually suits the definition of a pack gun and might be used to hunt small sport, notably within the mountains the place each pound you carry makes a distinction.
Yildiz TK36 and TK12
One in all Turkey’s oldest gunmakers gives two notable single-barrel folders: the Yildiz TK36 .410 and TK12 12-gauge. Each single-shots function choose Turkish walnut shares and fore-ends, recoil pads, mounted modified chokes, pistol-grip shares, and tang-mounted safeties. They each use the identical lever system ahead of the set off guard because the TriStar. The TK36 weighs simply 3.3 kilos and measures beneath 4 toes lengthy (44 inches) with a 28-inch barrel. The TK12 is similar size, however weighs in at 4.8 kilos because it’s a 12-gauge. Each weapons are nonetheless in manufacturing and price lower than $200.
Khan Arms Stylox
Khan Arms, a Turkish producer, gives the Stylox sequence of single-shot folders in 12- and 20-gauge, plus .410-bore. The Stylox is offered in 10 variants with artificial, camouflage, and wooden end choices. For backcountry pursuits and protection, the Tac Fidelio is an ideal selection resulting from its artificial exterior, raised blade entrance sight, and Picatinny rail for mounting an optic. When you don’t want the sights or rail, the Kind-S is an identical gun that makes use of a standard entrance bead. Each choices have recoil pads to mitigate felt recoil.
Chiappa Double Badger
As anybody who has owned a Savage Mannequin 24, Valmet, or Baikal rifle-shotgun is aware of, mixture weapons will not be new expertise. Chiappa took the idea a step additional with the Double Badger, which has double triggers. It’s obtainable in .410/.22 LR, .410/.22 WMR, 20 gauge/.22 LR, and .410/.243. When folded in half, the Double Badger is simply 21.2 inches, which implies it’s pack pleasant or may be stowed beneath a seat in your truck. For elevated accuracy, this gun has fiber-optic ghost ring sights, plus a rail for optics. At 6.25 kilos, it’s heavy by folding gun requirements. Chiappa does make a handier choice referred to as the Little Badger Deluxe, though that’s not a shotgun: It’s a rifle-only platform chambered in .22 LR or .22 WMR. That gun weighs solely 3.6 kilos and measures 17 inches when folded.
Learn subsequent: Pocket Pistols for Private Safety
Beretta Mannequin 412
Imports of Beretta’s extremely regarded Mannequin 412 sequence started in 1946, and led to 1988. The 412 was a single-barrel folder provided in 12-, 20-, 28-gauge, or .410. The barrel is a monobloc design, which implies it was braised to a single part versus a demibloc that provides extra power for double-barrel shotguns. The Mannequin 412 weighs a scant 5 kilos and contains a checkered fore-end and pistol grip inventory. They’re lovely weapons that price lower than $200—if yow will discover one. If not, contemplate the legendary 412, which continued in Effebi’s Beta sequence. It may be had in the identical gauges because the 412, although it’s much less elegant. It additionally breaks open in a different way, utilizing a lever system positioned on the tang of the shotgun—much like that of many over/beneath and side-by-side shotguns—as a substitute of the trigger-style lever the Beretta employs.
Harrington & Richardson Folding Shotgun
This time-honored American firm made its contribution to the folding shotgun platform with a sequence of single pictures from the early 1900s to the Forties in 12-, 20-, 16-gauge, and .410-bore. The H&R folders sometimes have case-hardened frames, exterior hammers, top-break levers, 26-inch barrels, and walnut pistol grip shares. As a really wise function, the forend was recessed to simply accept the set off guard when the gun is folded, making it extra compact. Weights vary from 5¾ to 6½ kilos. H&R folders are nonetheless obtainable on the used market, however they’re getting somewhat expensive for a model related to economic system merchandise. A current search listed one for $450.
