26" Barrel on Model 1900?

Topics related to Post - 1898 Remington Shotguns
Post Reply
Jack71
Posts: 50
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:00 pm

26" Barrel on Model 1900?

Post by Jack71 »

Charles Semmer's book on Remington doubles references the 1901 catalog and says the 1900 was available in barrel lengths of 28, 30 and 32 inches. I have a reprint of the 1909 catalog that shows barrel lengths of 26, 28, 30 and 32 available.

I recently saw a 1900 for sale with 26" barrels and wonder if it is original. It had the older style 'round' stock, so it was probably made prior to about 1907.

Has anyone seen (or own) a Model 1900 with 26" uncut barrels? If so, do you know approximately when it was made? Thanks in advance for any assistance!
Researcher
Posts: 1080
Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2003 11:06 pm
Location: Washington and Alaska

Re: 26" Barrel on Model 1900?

Post by Researcher »

The first catalog listing of 26-inch barrels for the K- and KE-Grades is in the 1908-09 Remington Arms Co. catalog. The KD- and KED-grades were never offered with 26-inch barrels. The late Charles Semmer showed this hang tag for a 26-inch barrel KE-Grade --
372340 Hang Tag KE-grade 1908.jpg
372340 Hang Tag KE-grade 1908.jpg (198.27 KiB) Viewed 4162 times
in his book, Remington Double Shotguns, and according to his serial number chronology it would be a very early 1908 gun. There is a good chance the boys and girls on the factory floor at Ilion were making them before the folks in the office got the information into the catalogs.

Of note about this hang tag is that by this time UMCs NITRO CLUB shell with Load No. X 8 was only offered in a 2 3/4 inch shell.
Jack71
Posts: 50
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:00 pm

Re: 26" Barrel on Model 1900?

Post by Jack71 »

Researcher, thanks, I missed that hang tag - but it's right there on page 260. So I guess the answer to my question is yes, the 1900 was made with 26" steel barrels although probably not until well into the gun's production history. But here is evidence that by early 1908 the shorter barrels were being made.

You are an amazing source of information on these things. Thank you!
2shooter
Posts: 228
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2007 5:42 pm
Location: ohio

Re: 26" Barrel on Model 1900?

Post by 2shooter »

Be careful of 26 inch barrels most have been cut check the pellet count stamp on them and the chokes. I have a 1900 that has 30 and 26 inch two barrel set the serial number is 315359 the pellet count for 26 in. right 201 left 289. Both set of barrels are serial number to the gun.
Jack71
Posts: 50
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:00 pm

Re: 26" Barrel on Model 1900?

Post by Jack71 »

Thanks, 2shooter. That's interesting, an early (1901?) gun with a 26" barrel. I wonder if that barrel came with the gun when it was new or if it was made at the Remington factory later at a customer's request.

The 201 and 289 pellet count (39% and 57%) would seem to be appropriate for a shorter barrel. While I haven't seen a lot of 1900 barrels, the ones in my collection are 28" and 30" and have pellet counts in the 320 to 390 range.

Until I saw the 1909 catalog and asked the question here, I assumed any 26" Remington 1900 barrel was a cut 28, 30 or 32 inch barrel. While there are a lot of cut barrels out there on these older doubles, I now know some were indeed made with 26" barrels.
2shooter
Posts: 228
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2007 5:42 pm
Location: ohio

Re: 26" Barrel on Model 1900?

Post by 2shooter »

This 1900 from what I can put together was sent back to Remington factory after 1911 restock and 26 inch set of barrels add to gun all serial numbers match.
Jack71
Posts: 50
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:00 pm

Re: 26" Barrel on Model 1900?

Post by Jack71 »

Again, thank you Researcher and 2shooter for your replies. Here's the follow-up on the gun I mentioned in my first post:

I decided to buy the gun with the 26" barrels. The gun is serial #3458xx, made in 1904. I don't believe the barrels were cut, they touch at the muzzle and my drop-in gauge indicate they are choked full and modified. Most cut barrels have little or no choke remaining.

Of course, these barrels could have also been made by the Remington factory at a later date like those on 2shooter's gun. They are serial numbered to the gun.
dieNusse1
Posts: 400
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:12 pm
Location: Mishawaka, IN

Re: 26" Barrel on Model 1900?

Post by dieNusse1 »

Does the pellet count stamped on the lug agree with the drop-in guage?
Jack71
Posts: 50
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:00 pm

Re: 26" Barrel on Model 1900?

Post by Jack71 »

dieNusse1 wrote: Thu Mar 01, 2018 5:48 pm Does the pellet count stamped on the lug agree with the drop-in guage?
Maybe. The pellet count for the right barrel is (or was) 50 but it has been maked out with two Xs. The number for the left barrel is either 86 or 98 depending on how you look at it. If that means 386 or 398 it would be between 76% and 78%, which is very full.

I've found my drop-in gauge to be not be especially accurate on older guns because of the varrience in bore diameters in those days and I don't have any way to measure the bore diameter. But there appears to be a significant amount of choke remaining. If the barrels had been cut all or nearly all of the choke would be gone.
Post Reply