Noble Model 50

The Noble Model 50 is a pump-action shotgun manufactured by the Noble Manufacturing Company of Haydenville, Massachusetts. Noble operated from the 1950s through the early 1970s, producing affordable shotguns and rifles aimed at the budget-conscious American sportsman. The company carved out a niche by offering functional, no-frills firearms at price points well below the major brands, making them popular with first-time gun owners, farm and ranch users, and casual hunters who needed a reliable tool without paying a premium.

The Model 50 features a slide-action design with a tubular magazine, plain barrel, and a straightforward walnut stock. It was offered primarily in 12 gauge and was designed for general-purpose use, from upland bird hunting to home defense. The action is smooth enough for practical shooting, and the gun’s overall construction, while not ornate, is solid and serviceable. Noble shotguns were marketed through hardware stores and catalog retailers, placing them directly in the hands of everyday Americans during the postwar era when outdoor recreation was booming.

Though Noble Manufacturing closed its doors in the early 1970s, their shotguns remain common finds at gun shows and estate sales. The Model 50 may lack the collector cachet of a Winchester or Remington, but it carries its own kind of appeal as an honest working gun from a small American manufacturer that served its customers well during its two decades of production.