Model 1900 Forend Missing

[rdavisabc]

Hello folks! New to the forum, but not new to guns. I have just been given my wife's great-grandfather's Remington Arms Model 1900, out of Hillsboro, Texas, which I believe was produced in 1907. I have a few questions that I hope forum members can answer.

First, the forend is missing. Is it possible to obtain a replacement for the wood and metal? If so, should I expect a replacement to attach and function properly?

Here are the significant numbers:

Water table:
PAT OCT. 30th 94
6627
66272805
372805

Trigger Guard (what is the significance of this number?):
P132774

Barrel Lug (extractor model with choke numbers):
K
42
37

Below Barrel Lug:
372805 (with the 8 over struck on a 7)

Barrels:
LKEY
LKEY

Forend Catch:
6627
anchor stamp
8
8









I would appreciate any comments or sage advice on bringing this gun back to life!

Randy

[dieNusse1]

Well, to begin - your trigger guard is from a model 1894. The S/N for 1900's all started with a 3 while the 1894's started with a 1. Sometimes the 1894 would have a P before the S/N while the 1900's would have a Q. There should be a S/N stamped on the wood under the guard tang. From the picture it appears the stock might be be from a 1894. From the S/N your gun was made in 1908 while the guard in 1905.

The LKEY on the barrels indicate that it has ejectors and Remington steel barrels rather than damascus. The 1900's were a less expensive version of the 1894 and were all K grade with four versions being offered from the least expensive (K) to the most expensive (KED) -

K - extractors and Remington steel barrels
KD - extractors and damascus steel
KE - ejectors and Remington steel
KED - ejectors and damascus steel

Forearms come up for auction on eBay. Or maybe someone on the forum can help. Should work but may take some hand fitting. Be sure you get one equipped for ejectors. Also, one from a '94 will not work unless you modify attachment to the barrels. The 1900 uses a snap while the 1894 is a Purdy style.

As far as the choke numbers on the lug. Remington used 1 1/4 oz of #8 pellets to establish the choke. The load was fired at a 30" circle from 40 yards. If two numbers are stamped a leading 3 is assumed so your pellet counts are 342 and 337. Since there are 511 pellets in the 1 1/4 oz load your choke is 342/511 = 67% or improved modified.

Many (most) of the other stampings are a mystery.

Feel free to ask away with any more questions.

[rdavisabc]

Wonderful, wonderful information. I have a lot to learn about this fine old firearm, and want to learn as much as I can. Thank you for clarifying the serial number on the trigger guard. I am, however, uncertain about the 372805 number on the water table. Is that a receiver serial number? If so, do I have a mix-master with the trigger guard/stock belonging to an 1894 and the receiver belonging to a 1900? Sorry to be so dense.

[dieNusse1]

The S/N on the action body and barrels agree so that's the guns' S/N (372805). The trigger guard and maybe the stock were added at a later date. Did you check under the guard tang for the S/N?

The missing forearm also should have been stamped with the S/N.

It's a bit unusual for a strike-over but there it is.

[rdavisabc]

Hi DeNusse1,

I haven't checked under the trigger guard yet, but will do so when I get home. That will at least clarify whether the trigger guard and stock belong together. I think it is interesting how some of these old guns were re-assembled over time using whatever was available to make 'em shoot...

So I would call this piece a Model 1900 mix-master.

Thanks again for your insight, and I appreciate any other thoughts you may have.

Randy

[rdavisabc]

I just looked under the trigger guard tang, and --- no S/N. Plain wood.

[dieNusse1]

So what we appear to have is a replacement stock with a '94 trigger guard mounted on a 1900 gun. If the barrels are in good shape and bores bright I'd find a forearm and enjoy it as a shooter.

[rdavisabc]

Will do. Two minor dents on the barrels that show marks inside. I'll have a gunsmith remove them before shooting it. Thank you!

BTW, here's a picture of the buttstock. I wonder if it is original:

[dieNusse1]

The '94 and 1900 used the same butt plate until about 1906 or so when the new style came about for the 1900. So the butt plate you have is correct. Maybe the stock is a 1900 although the checkering appears to be better quality than found on most 1900's. Wouldn't be the first time a S/N was missed.

But why the '94 trigger guard? We'll never know.

[rdavisabc]

The original forend has been found!


All numbers match on wood and metal, and the forend latch spring and ejectors work perfectly. Everything locks up very tightly with no rattles using the barrel shake test.

I expect that this will become a fine shooter, and am looking to use Winchester AA Low Recoil and Low Noise shells.

Thank you, again, for all your help.

[dieNusse1]

Wow!! That was a bit of luck. Do you have any lottery numbers you can share?

[Don Doubles]

Your 1900 Remington was built on the small 16ga. receiver
It should weight around 6 lb. 9oz to 7 lb.
By the number of the barrel lug it was 1 1/8 load and was full and full
If you were going to hunt with it I would use 7/8 to 1 oz. 2 1/2 " shells in lite loads from RST shell
My self I like the paper shells from them

[dieNusse1]

Don - just reread your post concerning this 1900. For my continued education how did you determine this 1900 was a small frame weapon from the information provided? Does the L in LKEY indicate "lite"? I have a small frame from 1910 (LKEDY) plus a regular frame from 1902 (*KG3) which does not contain a L in the grade designation.

Another issue is that I assumed the gun is a 12 GA but it's not stated as such.


Thanks in advance for your help.

[Researcher]

While the gun has the "correct" butt plate, that butt stock is certainly not original Remington. The shape of the grip, the checkering, the shape of the stock cheeks and the nose of the comb are all wrong for a Model 1900 of any vintage.

1906 Remington Arms Co. catalog

K- and KE-Grades 1906 picture.jpg (97.8 KiB) Viewed 6512 times

1906 Remington Arms Co. catalog

K- and KE-Grades 1906 text.jpg (94.86 KiB) Viewed 6512 times

[dieNusse1]

Yes I quite agree that the stock is not original to the gun. However, the subject of my last post questioned how it can be determined that this gun is built on a small rather than a standard frame, as stated in a previous post, given the information and photos offered. Any input?

Also - from the information presented - how was it determined that a choke proof load of 1 1/8 oz was used rather than the standard 1 1/4 oz as stated in the same previous post?

Just trying too expand my knowledge base. Thanks for your help.