Firearm Factory of the Month: C.S. Shattuck Arms

 The story begins with Major Charles S. Shattuck who served with the 6th Vermont Infantry during the Civil War.

In 1875 Shattuck along with Andrew Hyde started a pistol manufacturing business in Springfield, Massachusetts to cash in on the massive post war demand for affordable pocket pistols.

In February of 1877 they moved to Hatfield Massachusetts and took on a third partner a Mrs. Mary D. Porter.

They set up shop in the factory that once housed the recently failed Crescent Pistol Co. The factory was converted from the old Thomas Meekin Sawmill which sat on the banks of the Mill River at a man-made fall, designed to provide waterpower for the machines.

A year later Mrs. Porter withdrew from the company. In 1880 Shattuck bought out Hyde and continued on his own.

Many of the pistols produced could be categorized as "Suicide Specials". The one below was actually designed by Oscar Mossberg, who later with his two sons founded the famous shotgun company.

Soon after Hyde's departure Shattuck began making single barrel breech-loading shotguns, which led to double barrel shotguns. The shotguns were chambered in the typical sizes as well as larger ones, as large as an 8 bore.

The factory cranked out some 15,000 guns per year.

In 1881 the gun factory burned to the ground; it was quickly rebuilt on the same site.

Most agree that the C.S. Shattuck company ended production in 1908, however some have stated that guns continued to be made in the factory for another year or two. After that it may have been used as a grist mill.

 

The old gun factory still stands on the banks of the Mill River, just off Prospect Street in Hatfield. It is now a bed and breakfast, see more info here.