1889 barrel length?

Topics related to Pre - 1898 Remington Shotguns
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jaxenro
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2017 6:53 am

1889 barrel length?

Post by jaxenro »

I am looking at buying a 1889 12 gauge with 28" barrelsis this the length they came from the factory?
dieNusse1
Posts: 400
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:12 pm
Location: Mishawaka, IN

Re: 1889 barrel length?

Post by dieNusse1 »

According to Semmer's book Remington Double Shotguns 30 and 32" barrels were offered. However Semmer does mention at least one 28" barrel. Remington would build to order so a 28" barrel is possible. As an aside, the 1889 was offered in three grades off the shelf which differed mainly in barrel material. No.1 has decarbonized steel, No. 2 has twist steel and the most expensive No. 3 has damascus. The grade is stamped on the water table to the left of the S/N.

Grades 4 and greater were available via special order.

Your best bet would to mic the bores to see if there is any choke left.
Researcher
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Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2003 11:06 pm
Location: Washington and Alaska

Re: 1889 barrel length?

Post by Researcher »

In the early Remington Arms Co. catalogs, through April 1897, the Model 1889 hammer double was offered in 10- and 12-gauges with 30- or 32-inch barrels. By the 1898 catalog, the 16-gauge had been added to the offerings with 28-, 30- and 32-inch barrels and 28-inch barrels were added to the 12-gauge offerings. Between the 1905-06 and the first 1906 Remington Arms Co. catalog the 32-inch 16-gauge barrels were dropped from the offerings. From 1906 to the end the offerings were 10-gauge with 30- and 32-inch barrels, 12-gauge with 28-, 30- and 32-inch barrels and 16-gauge with 28- and 30-inch barrels.
jaxenro
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2017 6:53 am

Re: 1889 barrel length?

Post by jaxenro »

So it will depend on year of manufacture to see if 28" barrels were offered that year. Was the barrel length marked anywhere? Seems like there are a few markings I have read about. Serial number, choke, grade.
dieNusse1
Posts: 400
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:12 pm
Location: Mishawaka, IN

Re: 1889 barrel length?

Post by dieNusse1 »

Barrel length is not marked. The S/N is stamped on the water table with the grade stamped just to the left of the S/N. Grades 1 - 3 were offered off the shelf with grades 4 and higher being special order.

The choke has to be calculated using the pellet counts found stamped on the barrel lug. Usually two characters are stamped with a leading 3 assumed. Remington used 1 1/4 oz loads of #8 shot fired at a 30" circle from 40 yards to determine choke. For example, as there are 511 pellets in a 1 1/4 oz load a pellet count of 346 would indicate a IM choke (346/511 = 68%).

We will need the S/N to determine production year.
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