Author: RemingtonSociety

Remington 1890 Survey

This list was compiled from past auction catalogs, books, gun show observations, and owner replies. Catalog info can be incomplete and this survey
has only what was in the catalogs. Therefore there may be errors in this list because of errors in the catalogs. In the future we hope to add more
numbers.
In this list only the 7 1⁄2″ barrels are listed, the others all have the 5 3/4″ barrel. This was done only so that the barrels lengths are easily found and
counted. Grip material was included and non-rubber grips are aftermarket. A list of abbreviations is on the last page.
The size of this sample (185) is not large enough (91.8%) to be significant, with a production of over 2020, but it does raise interesting possibilities
about what we thought we knew about the 1890 Model, including the number made.
Serial finish bbl grips comments Source
1 Ni 7 rubber 99% Gary Phillips
5 Ni Tx Dept of Safety GA 05-2017
7 Ni 7 re-finished RIA 02-2016
11 Ni rubber 80%, with speckling over all the gun Morphy’s Auction 4-25-2019 ( #2619)
20 Ni re-finished, replaced grips, Balto 09-2018
33 Ni 7 ivory Bill T, Balto 2016
38 Ni 7 rubber
40 Ni MOP gold lipped pearl
44 Ni ivory carved ivory grips
55 Ni 7 rubber
75 Ni 7 rubber 85% finish RIA 5-20-2011 (1360)
85 Ni 7 rubber
87 Ni 7 rubber 90% finish, RIA 5-20-2011, (#1141), RIA 4-2018
96 Ni 7 no lanyard or ring RIA
97 NI 7 no lanyard or ring G.P. 04-2016
99 Ni 7 rubber 60% finish RIA 05-2011 (#3312)
117 blue 5 cut ivory bbl cut down, Morphy Nov 2018 (#1625)
130 blue rubber Poulin 04-2017
134 blue wood no lanyard Leroy Mertz
145 blue 7 wood 1875 grips G Mac 1875, Tulsa, 11- 2016

Remington Model 1890 Survey

152 blue 7 Ivory Engraved R. Prior
177 blue 7 rubber Julia 04-2017
184 blue 7 no lanyard or ring G.P. 04-2016
190 blue 7 engraved armsbid 02-2011 (1420)
195 blue re-blued RIA 02-2016
198 blue 7 rubber
207 Ni 7 rubber 97%, missing 2 scews RIA 5-20-2011 #(3308), RIA 12-2018
209 Ni 7 Cowans 11-2015
228 Ni rubber
234 Ni wood re-finish, cut down 75 ? Left hand address, 44 on TG b- Little John’s 08-2012
239 Ni 7 plastic modern plastic replacements Cowan 11-05-2015 (#829)
250 Ni 7
257 Ni Little John’s
271 Ni rubber Engraved, restored, both grips repaired RIA 02-2018
274 Ni Arms bid
276 Ni 7 re-finished Little John’s 05-2017
282 Ni wood grips inlayed with 1905 Costa Rican coin and silver feather RIA 6-2018
287 blue Reno 08-2017 G. Phillips
293 Ni Watson 07-2015
301 blue rubber
329 blue 7 no lanyard or ring GP 04-2016
330 blue rubber 50%, WK scratched on frame RIA May 17
337 blue left handed address Little John’s 04-2016
356 blue 7 replacement re-finished, bbl marked “Colts 44″ RIA June 18
362 Ni No ring Robels 04-2018
373 Ag 7 rubber engraved
392 Ni bone bbl cut, re-finished, no lanyard ring Rem Arms p-25
381 Ni RSA forum 12-2015
396 Ni 7 rubber 85% Milestone Auctions, 02-2016
398 Ni wood possible 1888 RIA 02-2018 (2130)

Remington Model 1890 Survey

406 Ni rubber old re-nickel Amoskeag 08-2018 (208)
416 blue rubber Robels 12-2018
432 Ni 7 rubber bbl is bored out, comes with GB 9-2017
450 blue rubber excellent Julia 2014
491 Ni rubber Amoskeag 08-2018
514 Ni rubber no lanyard RIA 02-17-2013
516 ? 7 rubber RSA Journal 1990s
522 Au ebony engraved
525 Ni rubber GAC p. 140, Moldenhauer #277
534 Ni rubber
556 blue 7 rubber Believe metal cleaned & refinished R. Prior
571 blue wood USID stamped in bottom of grip (?)
591 blue 7 rubber 40% finish RIA 5-20-2011 #(1354)
618 blue 7 none RIA 5-21-2010
645 blue rubber 95%
670 re-blue rubber apparent duplicate serial Cowan’s 4-30-14 (#945) has lanyard
689 blue rubber RIA 9-2012
692 blue 7 rubber LJA 5-30-2017 (*842), GOR p 211
705 Ni ivory engraved Heritage Arms 12-14-2014
709 Ni-Au ? engraved, nickel and gold plating RIA 7-2014
710 Ni rubber Affiliated Auction 01-2018
713 Ni rubber no lanyard GP 4-2016
719 Ni rubber
732 Ni rubber Slim Kohler collection GOR p-21
733 Ni rubber
738 Ni rubber engraved, no lanyard ring Arms Bid 3-11-2011
746 Ni rubber
753 Ni plastic 30%, heavy pin pricking RIA, 02-2018, lot 211
783 Ni rubber Rem Arms p-61
793 Ni rubber grips numbered to the gun

Remington Model 1890 Survey

828 Ni rubber
834 Ni rubber LJA
850 Ni 7 wood engraved by Ben Lane (mid-late 20th

century), re-finished

854 Ni 7 ivory GB 5-15
860 Ni 5 cut wood bbl cut, gun re-finished, replaced fnt sight PO – Balto 2019
882 Ni 7 rubber modified fnt sight RIA 2-15
912 Ni 7 rubber
916 Ni rubber
930 Ni rubber RSA forum 10-08-2013
934 Ni 7 rubber grips repaired, worn smooth, w/notches, Heritage Auction, 2013
936 blue rubber PO – Balto 2019
945 Ni rubber
962 blue rubber LJA 5-2011
965 blue rubber Poulin 03-2015
976 Ni 7 rubber Rem-Oldest Gunmaker
979 blue wood Rem Arms p-25
985 blue rubber
994 blue rubber RSA forum 11-2016
995 blue rubber G.I.
1017 blue rubber GP 4-2016
1027 blue rubber no lanyard ring LJA 5-2010
1036 blue rubber Poulin 04-2017
1041 blue rubber Garth’s
1044 blue rubber heavy wear, rt grip brown from light, gate has 416 RIA 12-2018
1057 blue rubber
1061 Ni 7 ivory engraved
1064 blue wood no lanyard ring or stud, wood grips w/ “HE” Reate Pass Auction, 01-2018
1071 blue ivory no lanyard ring, replaced grips? LJA Nov 13
1101 blue BT
1161 Ni 7 rubber Julia 10-2005

Remington Model 1890 Survey

1162 blue rubber no lanyard ring Heritage 6-2013
1171 Ni 7 wood no lanyard ring, hole filled Morphy 10-2018 (1625)
1182 blue 5 cut ivory no lanyard ring, freckling all over Morphy 10-2018 (#1624)
1187 Ni ivory Heritage 6-2013
1189 blue rubber LJA 02-2010
1196 blue 7 rubber bbl cut to 5 5/8″ – replaced front sight Poulin 10-2014
1208 blue rubber lf grip chipped, Rem Arms p-25
1209 patina ivory grips no finish apparent
1214 blue ivory engraved LJohn Auction
1217 blue 7 rubber
1244 blue rubber wood grips, refinished Cowans 12-2018 (#96)
1254 Ni ivory bbl engraved, “Presented to Tom Horn from his friend John Coble RSA Journal 02-2006
1257 blue 7 rubber College Hill
1267 blue 7 rubber College Hill Arsenal
1270 blue rubber piece out of rt grip Cabela’s Boise, ID
1278 blue rubber
1299 Ni rubber
1342 blue rubber LJA
1344 blue bone C Watson Auction 11-2016
1350 blue rubber Re for 12-31-2009
1351 blue ? Rubber Rem for S Butler 9-2007
1379 blue rubber repro grips? RIA 02-2016
1432 Ni ivory given by Bill Cody to “Niven”, July 1901; 1 of 2 ?
1434 blue toned restored with toned grips Morphy 6-2018
1449 blue rubber no lanyard, G Mac, Tulsa 11-2016
1471 Ni 7 rubber re-finished, hole filled, grips chipped LeRoy Mertz 03-2018
1482 blue 7 wood no lanyard, Inverted “D” rt grip frame LBS Auction 01-2017
1518 Ni wood 44WCF on left frame, old re-finish, replaced fnt sight Rem Arms p-24
1538 blue 7 rubber
1544 Ni ivory gun engraved, grips checkered ivory or plastic? Cowan 11-05-2015 (#839)

Remington Model 1890 Survey

1553 blue 7 rubber marked with star over “B.W/39” over 2 more stars. Poul 10-14, Rem Arms p-24
1557 blue 7 rubber traces of blue with pin pricking RIA 5-20-2011 (#3315)
1571 blue wood RIA 02-2013
1588 Ni Walnut 85% original finish . Lanyard ring. R. Prior
1592 blue 7 rubber Rem for 02-14-06
1601 Ni MOP cased, engraved
1609 Ni rubber Inverted “D” rt grip frame, grips repaired, D Gravatt 05-2018
1610 Ni rubber
1613 Ni rubber Heritage 12-2012
1618 Ni ivory given by Bill Cody to “Niven”, July 1901; 2 of 2 ?
1634 blue stag re-finished, case colored frame, no stud, Guns Inter 10-2018
1638 Ni rubber Poulin 04-2017
1639 Ni rubber lanyard hole plugged RIA 12-2017
1646 Ni wood GB 8-2014
1657 blue rubber Tulsa show 2017
1731 blue 7 plastic 80% condition GB 8-14-2018
1734 Ni 7 rubber
1749 Ni 7 wood GB 4-20-2016
1755 blue 7 rubber
1784 blue rubber re-blued R. Prior, Rem Arms p-24
1796 blue rubber worn, not shootable LSB Auction 03-2017
1798 blue rubber excellent condition RIA 12-20121810 blue 7
1810 blue 7 rubber GAC p. 140, Moldenhauer #278
1817 blue ivory engraved RIA Apr 13
1822 blue 7 repro re-blue, modern repro grips Morphy 10-2018
1838 blue rubber
1840 Ni rubber Rem Arms p-45
1877 blue 7 rubber 96% grips numbered to gun
1878 blue 7 rubber 1888? Bbl marked E Rem&Sons Rem Arms p-66
1894 blue 7 rubber Julia 3-2014

Remington Model 1890 Survey

1903 ? ? ? Rem for 7-30-2010
1906 Ni rubber G.A. 7-23-2016
1935 Ni rubber 45-50% finish Lanyard post – R. Prior, Rem Arms p-25
1946 blue rubber re-finished RIA 02-2015
1958 blue 7 rubber
1978 Ni mop re-finished RIA 02-2014
1982 blue 7 rubber 60% L. Mertz 2018
1985 blue rubber
1994 blue 7 rubber
1997 blue ivory grips are replaced GI-TB
2004 blue 7 rubber
2014 blue 7 rubber refinished RIA 06-2016
2015 Ni 7 ivory
2021 blue 7 rubber claims to be owned by Cole Younger?
2028 blue 7 rubber highest serial made? Poulin 10-2017

Notes on the 1890 Survey

This survey was started in an effort to get a better understanding of the distribution of the 1890 models by finish and by barrel length. Common
sources said that of the 2020 pistols made, most were nickel, and most were 7 1⁄2″ barrel, with maybe 500 or less of the 5 3/4″ barrels made. It seems
that this may not be true based on what was appearing at gun shows. Three people contributed most of this info, Douglas Gravatt, Daniel Pozarek,
and Bill Thielen.
Sources include books, auction catalogs, private ownership, and personal observation at gun shows. When possible the original source is listed.
Some guns showed up in 2 or 3 places over the course of several years.
The survey numer of 185 is 91.8% of the 2028 total known. This is less that the preferred 10% before making any presumptions about what the data
shows. How many wre made is not known, but is believed to be close to the 2028. As more 90s tuen up they will be added to the list, and the survey
will be updated biannually.

Distribution by finish
blue – 91 = 49.1% Ni – 88 = 47.5 %
Au – 1 = .5% Ag – 1 = .5%
2-tone – 1 = .5% unk -3 = 1.6%

Distribution by barrel length and finish
7″ blue 39 = 21.0% 5″ blue 52 = 28.1%
7″ Ni 32 = 17.3% 5″ Ni 56 = 30.2%
7″ Ag 1 = .5% 5″ Au 1 = .5%
7″ unk 1 = .5% 5″ 2-tone 1 = .5%

5″ unk 2 = 1.1%
total 73 = 39.4% total 112 = 60.5%

Distribution by serial number blocks

1 – 99 16 700 – 799 12 1400 – 1499 5
100 – 199 10 800 – 899 6 1500 – 1599 8
200 – 299 13 900 – 999 13 1600 – 1699 10
300 – 399 11 1000 – 1099 8 1700 – 1799 7
400 – 499 5 1100 – 1199 8 1800 – 1899 8
500 – 599 8 1200 – 1299 11 1900 – 1999 10
600 – 699 6 1300 – 1399 5 2000 – 2099 5

The First Quarter 2016 From the Editor


 

Dear RSA Members,

Welcome to a new year lled with promise for Remington’s 200th Anniversary, and the RSA will be there every step of the way. “America’s Oldest Gunmaker” celebrates its bi-centennial – two hundred years making rearms history.

This 1st Quarter Remington’s Collector’s Journal will feature Remington’s initial plans for their year-long cel- ebrations and rearms offerings. In the 2nd Quarter Jour- nal we will look back one hundred years to Remington’s

Centennial Celebration in 1916. The 3rd Quarter Journal will take us back to 1966, Remington’s 150th Celebration, and the 4th Quarter Journal will take us back to 1991, when Remington celebrated its 175th year in business.
Also in this issue you’ll enjoy Al Houde’s article on a famous World War Two hero, General Merritt “Red Mike” Edson’s own Remington Model 17 shotgun. Al is the Senior Arms Curator at the U.S. Marine Corps National Museum.

Did you attend the Antique Arms Show in Vegas in January? Surely one of the best gun shows in the country is also where your Remington Society holds its Annual Member’s Meeting. This year about fty or more members and guests attended and learned about all of the programs planned for 2016, including the RSA’s 20th Annual Histori- cal Seminar which is planned for Spring eld, Missouri, this coming September. Lot’s of activities are planned this year – the year of Remington’s 200th year in business!

 

 

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future issue?

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  • The Last word –

 

 

Boy Scout Rifles



Remington Society of America –









 



No. 4-S “Boy Scout” Rifles


(1913-1914)

Serial numbers known to 1482

Total quantity made is unknown, but may be as many as 1,500 rifles





 		 

In 1913, Remington introduced a revised version of the Cadet rifle, calling it the No.4-S Boy Scout rifle. Early production examples were stamped AMERICAN BOY SCOUT on the left side of the receiver. Some modern-day references indicate that the words “Boy Scout” were stamped on early No.4-S rifles and that some rifles were unmarked, but only guns marked AMERICAN BOY SCOUT have been found.

In 1913 there were three major rival scout organizations: The Boy Scouts of America, The Boy Scouts of the United States, and The American Boy Scout. This latter organization renewed an earlier request for a military-style, single-shot rifle suitable for their boys. This request was formally sent to Remington Arms-Union Metallic Cartridge Company, the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, Ridabeck & Co., and to J.C. Stevens Arms & Tool Company.

On July 1, 1913, the American Boy Scout firearms selection committee recommended adoption of the Remington No.4S Boy Scout rifle as their official arm:

 



“We unhesitatingly recommend the arm submitted by the Remington Arms-UMC Co. To be adopted as the official rifle of the American Boy Scouts with the following changes: the barrel to be screwed into the frame instead of take-down (as submitted); and a new rear sight to be constructed with elevating cross bar.”

The American Boy Scout organization adopted the No.4-S Boy Scout rifle as their official arm. However, because of pressure from anti-violence influential donors, the Boy Scouts of America did not adopt any rifle. Ironically, the 1913 BSA Manual (on page 36) provided detailed information on a Marksmanship Badge that could be earned by the scouts.

The initial sales of Remington No.4-S Boy Scout rifles were funneled through the American Boy Scout organization. Remington’s stated goal (in the Minutes of the 3rd convention held January 6-11, 1913) was to get out a rifle for the boys who didn’t have enough money to buy an expensive rifle, and whom we wanted to have a Remington rifle in his hands. Only members of the American Boy Scouts could buy the rifle. Remington omitted the jobber and dealer and was able to sell the new rifle with bayonet directly to scouts for only $5. However, within a few months normal distribution channels were opened and the No.4-S Boy Scout rifle was sold to the general public for $8. (1913-14 Remington-UMC catalog).

 



The catalog also stated:

“The new Remington-UMC Boy Scout and Cadet Rifle is designed to meet the demand for an attractive and durable .22 cal. military arm of light weight for the younger generation. Its extreme accuracy and splendid handling qualities recommend it particularly for drill and target work. These features have caused it to be adopted by a number of the leading military academies throughout the country.”

A copy of a letter from the American Boy Scout organization dated July 1, 1912 verifies that the rifle submitted for testing from Remington-UMC was recommended as the authorized arm of the American Boy Scout. It was called unquestionably the strongest constructed arm submitted. Other guns, made by Stevens Arms and Tool Co., Winchester Repeating Arms Co. and Ridabock & Co. were also tested, but Remington received the order.

Characteristics of the No.4-S Boy Scout rifle include:

  • 28 inch round barrel fitted with a removable bayonet lug.
  • One-piece bayonet with leather scabbard that was originally furnished with the rifle.
  • Oil finished, American Walnut stock (identical to that on No.4 sporting rifles) and a 23¼ inch military-style, tapered wood forearm, a 13½ inch handguard, two barrel bands, and a stacking swivel.
  • Unique, small, military-type rear sight with ladder adjustment rear sight was that was not used on any other Remington firearm.
  • Simple square metal blade front sight, dovetailed into the barrel.
  • Case hardened receiver with the remainder of the metal parts (barrel, breech block, hammer, butt plate, barrel bands, etc.) blued.
  • Advertised throughout its production as a solid frame, but it was not. The take-down frames from the lever system were used. A take-down screw (flush with the receiver (not a thumb screw) was on the right side of the receiver with left hand threads. The left hand threads were the cause of many angry words and mangled screw heads.




 

Most No.4-S Boy Scout Rifles do not have serial numbers. However, on those that do, the serial numbers are stamped on the bottom of the barrel in front of the receiver. The forearm needs to be removed to see the serial number. All serial numbers examined are under 5000. Some of these rifles have been found with numbers stamped prominently on the butt stock. These are ID numbers from academies, scout groups or other organizations, not from the Remington factory.

 



During its short production, the No.4-S Boy Scout rifle had at least three different barrel stamps:

  • The earliest rifles retained the barrel stamping and location found on the predecessor No.4 Cadet rifle. All barrel markings were hidden by the forearm.
  • The next type of barrel stamp was moved forward so they could be seen without removing the handguard.
  • The third type, which includes the majority of production examples known added MODEL 4-S ahead of the other stamps.

The Remington “Boy Scout Model” was replaced by the Remington Military Model rifle in 1914.





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