1874 Side by Side 12 gauge?

[Kennybob]

I contacted Remington Arms Co. and they sent me here. I have a Remington Arms Co. double barrel 12 gauge rabbit ear 30" barrel shotgun that I bought 35 years ago, and would like to know what I have. Each piece is stamped 1 74 and 54xxx, also under the barrels is marked 2, and also 132. It's in good shape, but missing 1 of the firing pins. Could someone help me with the year, model. Thanks.

[Researcher]

Remington Arms Co. only made one hammer double barrel shotgun, the Model 1889. According to the table in Charles Semmer's book, Remington Double Shotguns, a Model 1889 with a serial number of 54522 would have been a 1893 vintage gun. The lowest grade, Grade 1, had decarbonized steel barrels. A Grade 2 had twist steel barrels and a Grade 3 had Damascus barrels. Grades 1, 2, and 3 had no engraving and half-pistol grip stocks. Higher grades, 4, 5, 6, and 7 had increasing amounts of engraving, finer wood and checkering, and finer Damascus barrels. The Model 1889 was dropped in 1908.

[Kennybob]

Thank you. I finally found pictures of the 1889, and that's what it is. The value seems to be all over the place.

[paul harm]

Remington started making "hammer guns" in 1873. There were 6 models before the 1889, depending on the year. Paul

[Researcher]

Paul, Read my answer --

Remington Arms Co. only made one hammer double barrel shotgun, the Model 1889.

All the earlier model hammer double guns were made by E. Remington & Sons.

[paul harm]

Sorry, I had the feeling there was more to it. When he said "rabbit ear" it made me think of my 1873, where as my 1889 is not. I stand corrected, you are right. Paul