1894 SXS Questions

Topics related to Pre - 1898 Remington Shotguns
wannagohunting
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon May 07, 2007 10:04 am

1894 SXS Questions

Post by wannagohunting »

I just acquired 2 Rem 1894 SXS"s both on smaller frames for ga.
One is an A grade with ejectors 16ga made in 1902 , Damascus barrels . On the bottom of the dolls head there is only one v channel.

Two is a B grade with ejectors 12ga also made in 1902, Damascus barrels and also has one v channel on the bottom of the dolls head and has a capped pistol grip.

There is nothing in the Semmer book about frame sizes.
Is the one v channel the way to identify frame size?
I was told the capped pistol grip was special order only. True?

Are the B grades pretty rare?
Thank you,
Dale
dieNusse1
Posts: 400
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:12 pm
Location: Mishawaka, IN

Re: 1894 SXS Questions

Post by dieNusse1 »

It's my understanding that the single V grove indicates the smaller frame while the double grove was used on the standard frame size. This is also true of the Model 1900.

Although differing frame sizes were mentioned for earlier models, I too could not find any reference for differing frame sizes for Models 1894 & 1900 in Semmers book. He did state that the B grade was somewhat rare in that people who could afford an engraved gun would more than likely select a higher grade.

Without seeing the gun, it would be difficult to determine whether or not the capped grip was special order from the factory. Indeed, it may not be possible at all. I'll let those with more experience answer that question.
wannagohunting
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon May 07, 2007 10:04 am

Re: 1894 SXS Questions

Post by wannagohunting »

So I see I accidentally posted this in the handgun forum. Can someone move it to the shotgun forum or will I need to repost it.
Thank you,
Dale
dieNusse1
Posts: 400
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:12 pm
Location: Mishawaka, IN

Re: 1894 SXS Questions

Post by dieNusse1 »

To followup the grip cap question - Remington stamped the stocks' S/N under the trigger guard tang. Is there a factory S/N stamped in that location?
wannagohunting
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon May 07, 2007 10:04 am

Re: 1894 SXS Questions

Post by wannagohunting »

I haven't taken the trigger guard off but have no reason to believe it is aftermarket.
Image

Thank you.
wannagohunting
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon May 07, 2007 10:04 am

Re: 1894 SXS Questions

Post by wannagohunting »

So if it appears to be a factory grip cap was that a special order only option?
dieNusse1
Posts: 400
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:12 pm
Location: Mishawaka, IN

Re: 1894 SXS Questions

Post by dieNusse1 »

A photo on page 136 of Semmers book shows a B stock with no grip cap. It is possible that your stock was a special order or came off a higher grade gun. A check of the S/N and grade stamped on the stock should indicate whether or not the stock is original to the gun.
Researcher
Posts: 1080
Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2003 11:06 pm
Location: Washington and Alaska

Re: 1894 SXS Questions

Post by Researcher »

The choice of "half or Full pistol grip" was a standard catalog offering from 1899 onwards. Here are the B quality pages from the first 1902 Remington Arms Co. Catalogue --
1902 Catalogue B-, BE-Grade.jpeg
1902 Catalogue B-, BE-Grade.jpeg (424.02 KiB) Viewed 5893 times
1902 Catalogue B.O.-, B.E.O.-Grade.jpeg
1902 Catalogue B.O.-, B.E.O.-Grade.jpeg (423.56 KiB) Viewed 5893 times
The 1902 Remington Arms Co. Catalogues were the first to picture all the various grades of the Remington Hammerless Double. From 1894 to 1899 they only pictured the A.- and A.E.-grades and just listed the other grades. The 1901 Remington Arms Co. Catalogues also pictured the K.- and K.E.D.-Grades.
No Remington Arms Co. Catalogue dated 1900 has come to light. I did see, a number of years ago, an 1899 with an insert for the K.- and K.E.D.-Grades on ebay, but I didn't win the auction. The 1902 Catalogues mention the option of straight grips for the D and E quality guns, and pictures a straight grip C quality gun on the Pigeon Gun page. Finally beginning with the 1908 Remington Arms Co. Catalogue they added the word straight to the C quality grip choices, and actually picture B quality and A quality Ordnance Steel barrel guns with straight grips but don't mention a straight grip option in the texts?!? A bit of disconnect between the folks in the office and those on the factory floor!!
dieNusse1
Posts: 400
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:12 pm
Location: Mishawaka, IN

Re: 1894 SXS Questions

Post by dieNusse1 »

Thanks for the information. I still haven't been able to determine the difference between between a half or full pistol grip as offered in the catalog. Does one of these offerings include a grip cap? It doesn't appear that the drawings demonstrate this feature.
wannagohunting
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon May 07, 2007 10:04 am

Re: 1894 SXS Questions

Post by wannagohunting »

Well by gosh there is no serial number on the wood under the trigger guard. What does that mean?
Researcher
Posts: 1080
Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2003 11:06 pm
Location: Washington and Alaska

Re: 1894 SXS Questions

Post by Researcher »

The difference between a half-pistol and full-pistol grip on a Remington Hammerless Double is essentially the presence of a grip cap.
125000 09.jpg
125000 09.jpg (273.52 KiB) Viewed 5879 times

P132280 08 16-ga DEO-Grade stock left 8x10.jpg
P132280 08 16-ga DEO-Grade stock left 8x10.jpg (58 KiB) Viewed 5879 times
Though sometimes it looks like a grip cap put on a half-pistol grip.
107252 05.jpg
107252 05.jpg (443.55 KiB) Viewed 5879 times
dieNusse1
Posts: 400
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:12 pm
Location: Mishawaka, IN

Re: 1894 SXS Questions

Post by dieNusse1 »

Well that answers that question. Thanks!

Since there's no S/N it seems we now have a new question.
Canvasback
Posts: 56
Joined: Mon Dec 02, 2013 11:21 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: 1894 SXS Questions

Post by Canvasback »

Interesting thread, seeing as I have two 1894 BE's in 12 gauge. One is from 1897 and the other from 1907. Both have the half grip.

Did not know about the connection between the V grooves and frame size. My 1897 gun has the double grooves. My 1907 gun is at the smiths right now so I can't check it. It's being re-stocked as the original stock was a mess. I'm slightly upgrading the stock, seeing as I'm going to the expense, rather than an exact, grade accurate replacement. It's going to be a mix of C and D grade wood, chequering and drop points.

Wannagohunting, what are the specs on your gun? I'd like to compare with mine and if LOP and barrel length are similar, would be interesting to see the weight difference between the smaller and larger frame size guns.

My 1897 gun has 30" Damascus barrels and an LOP of 14". It weighs 7 pounds 9 oz. The barrels on their own are 3 pounds 12 oz and have a minimum barrel wall thickness of .045 and a bore of .731. So the rest of the gun (stock, action and forend) weighs 3 pounds 13 oz.
Researcher
Posts: 1080
Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2003 11:06 pm
Location: Washington and Alaska

Re: 1894 SXS Questions

Post by Researcher »

My two 16-gauge guns are both ejector guns, on the late style action, both with 28-inch barrels, both weigh within a fraction of an ounce of seven pounds. The DEO-grade has the two groves style ejector guide --
P132280 15.JPG
P132280 15.JPG (515.68 KiB) Viewed 5775 times
and the KE-grade has the single V-groove.
Q380786 01 KE-Grade 16-Gauge.JPG
Q380786 01 KE-Grade 16-Gauge.JPG (571.7 KiB) Viewed 5775 times
Canvasback
Posts: 56
Joined: Mon Dec 02, 2013 11:21 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: 1894 SXS Questions

Post by Canvasback »

Reasearcher, interesting that the two are so similar in weight. Makes one wonder what the point of the different sized receivers may have been.
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