The Bay State Arms Company was a
Massachusetts-based maker of single-barrel
shotguns
A shotgun (also known as a scattergun, or historically as a fowling piece) is a long gun, long-barreled firearm designed to shoot a straight-walled cartridge (firearms), cartridge known as a shotshell, which usually discharges numerous small p ...
and
falling block rifle
A rifle is a long-barreled firearm designed for accurate shooting, with a barrel that has a helical pattern of grooves ( rifling) cut into the bore wall. In keeping with their focus on accuracy, rifles are typically designed to be held with ...
s. It operated from 1870 to 1902.
History
The company was founded in
Worcester, Massachusetts in 1870. it was moved to
Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Local references in Uxbridge date the company in the 1880s located on the
Mumford River
The Mumford River is an U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 1, 2011 river in south-central Massachusetts. It is a tributary of the Blackstone River.
The river rises f ...
at
Seth Reads old Gristmill established in the 1770s. It appears that around 1874 the company was discontinued. The business was reorganized in 1880 in Worcester, Massachusetts making "Bay State Gun" branded firearms. In 1909 the company was purchased by
Hopkins & Allen Arms Company of
Norwich, Connecticut
Norwich ( ) (also called "The Rose of New England") is a city in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The Yantic, Shetucket, and Quinebaug Rivers flow into the city and form its harbor, from which the Thames River flows south to Long ...
which continued to use the "Bay State" brand name on single-barrel shotguns.
Other uses of the name
The trade name "Bay State" was also used by
H & R Firearms on single barrel guns. Harrington & Richardson was active from 1872 to 1985.
References
External links
WorcesterMass.comGabelGuns.com
1870 establishments in Massachusetts
1902 disestablishments in Massachusetts
American companies established in 1870
Companies based in Worcester, Massachusetts
Defunct manufacturing companies based in Massachusetts
Defunct firearms manufacturers of the United States
History of Worcester, Massachusetts
Manufacturing companies established in 1870
Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1902
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