Choke size / barrel length 1894

[Wsmith]

My 1894 has a pellet count stamped 36 and 32. What choke does this indicate? My barrels are 25.5 ". I trying to determine if they have been shortened.

[Researcher]

They have for sure been shortened. The load used to target 12-gauge guns was 1 1/4 ounce of #8 shot, which went 511 pellets. With a two-digit number on the lug, a leading 3 is implied. So, 336/511 = 65.8% and 332/511 = 65% or about improved modified in both barrels. I have a 30-inch gun marked 24 right and 33 left, and the chokes measure .027" in both barrels.

The 12-gauge barrel lengths offered in the Remington Arms Co. catalogues were 28-, 30- and 32-inch from the October 1894 introduction of the Remington Hammerless Double Barrel Shotgun thru the 1901 catalogue. Beginning with the 1902 Remington Arms Co. catalogue 26-inch barrels were added to the C-Grade and higher offerings. In the 1908-09 and 1909 Remington Arms Co. catalogues they offered 26-inch barrels on the various A-grade guns and the K-/KE-Grade guns. They never catalogued 26-inch barrels for the various B-Grade guns?!?

[dieNusse1]

When it left the factory it was choked somewhere between improved modified and full. Remington used 511 #8 pellets in its' 1 1/4 oz patterning loads. A leading 3 is assumed on the barrel stamping so --- 332/511 = 65% in a 30" circle at 40 yards.

Unless special order - Remington did not offer a 25.5" barrel.

[Wsmith]

Thanks for the info. I am trying to ID the grade. Looks like D or E. Lots of engraving and checkering excellent condition. No grade stamp on watertable. How much will barell being shortened hurt value?

[Researcher]

Post some pictures. We need to see this.

Generally cut barrels are the kiss of death, and drop market value 50%.

[Wsmith]

I have pictures but cant seem to attach them. I guess I dont know how.

[Researcher]

You need to have your pictures loaded on a photo hosting site, such as Photobucket.com and then copy and paste the links here.

If you're having trouble with this, you can email them to me at AHFCA@comcast.net and I'll post them.

Dave

[Researcher]

Looks like a nice DE-Grade --

[Researcher]

According to the serial number chronology in the late Charles Semmer's book, Remington Double Shotguns, this gun is of 1898 vintage. Normally D-/DE-Grade Remington Hammerless Doubles had game scenes on the sides of the receiver and only scroll on the bottom. However, Semmer shows another DE-Grade, also of 1898 vintage, that has scroll on the sides and a game scene on the bottom.

[Wsmith]

Thank you so much for loading the pictures. I had suspected it is a D grade and thanks for comformation. Does anyone know how many D grades are known? Any ideas as to value of a gun like this with shortened barrels. Really a beautiful gun.

[dieNusse1]

What a great gun!! The English style stock is an added plus - not many out there.

Any pics of the muzzle?

[Wsmith]

Thanks for your comments. I do not have a picture of muzzle. Not good at posting photos. Muzzle looks great. I can see no indication of the cutting so must have been done by a pro. Does not have original butt cap. Has a pad.

[dieNusse1]

Have you measured the bores? Using 0.729" as a nominal cylinder bore, an improved modified choke should measure about 0.704 - 0.706".

As for the butt stock, was it cut when installing the recoil pad?

[Researcher]

While there is no way to prove it, I believe this DEO-Grade left Ilion with this leather-faced Silvers recoil pad --





Unfortunately I don't have a photo handy that shows the widow's peak.

[2shooter]

The stock looks bright and clean has it been refinished? Looks to bright and no marks. The silvers recoil pad is right.