Model 31 Skeet, vent rib with Cutts

[Researcher]

Through at least 1934, the only "Skeet Gun" Remington Arms Co., Inc. offered was the Model 32 Skeet Gun. I don't have any 1935 Remington paper, but by 1936 they offer The "Sportsman" Skeet Gun and the Model 31 Skeet Gun, as well as the Model 32 Skeet Gun. The Model 31 Skeet Gun was offered in 12-, 16-, and 20-gauges with a plain or solid rib barrel. and in 12-gauge only with a ventilated rib barrel. The first Remington offering of the Cutts Compensator from the factory appears in the 1939 catalogue --



The listing remained the same thru 1942. After WW-II this was the listing in 1947 and 48 --



This was the listing in the 1949 catalogue --

[Researcher]

121xxx would be right near the end of Model 31 production. Look for a two or three letter date code on the left side of the barrel just ahead of the receiver. There will probably be an inspector's mark or two in that area as well. My Model 31 TC with a 121xxx serial number has a barrel date code of KUU, K = May, UU = 1949. My gun also has a second barrel that is not serial numbered, which indicates to me it was a purchase at a later date and fitted to the gun, and it has the date code AUU, A = March and UU = 1949, on the bottom of the barrel.

[Researcher]

B = January and TT = 1948. D = September and UU = 1949.

[lowgun]

I have not seen a Model 31 with Cutts without a choke marking. I am assuming that the Cutts installations at the factory were on barrels already marked with the SKEET designation. Am I right or wrong?

[lowgun]

I agree it is a choke marking, not a grade marking. I guess, if there are Cutts guns with no choke marking, we are to assume that Cutts guns with choke markings are retrofitted with the Cutts rather than factory installations.

[Researcher]

The Model 31 Skeet Gun didn't have near as nice wood as a Model 31 TC Trap Gun. The Model 31 Skeet Gun did have a checkered, capped pistol grip and the large checkered forearm. While the Remington catalogues I have are hit and miss about sights on the Skeet Gun, the catalogue pictures show a mid-bead. From the mid-1930s on, a skeet choked barrel was an offering on any Model 31s, Model 11s or "The Sportsman", years of observation, but of a pretty small sample, indicate these barrels didn't regularly come with a mid-bead.
1937


1939


1948


1949

[RufusG]

Of course then, if the "skeet" is only a choke marking, how do we identify a Skeet grade? Is it just the upgraded target wood?

I used to have what I think was a fairly unusual Model 31, a skeet choked gun with a 1934 date code, and '31 pattern features. What I thought unusual was it had the later grip checkering pattern (coming to one point on top) and a four sharp points checkering pattern on the beavertail forearm, whereas the later guns had a two points pattern. S/N was IIRC in the 16XXX range but I could be mis-remembering that. That's the earliest gun I have seen with wood like that.

And I'm also pretty sure Renttis's BTT code factory Cutts gun has passed through my hands on it's way to him.

[RufusG]

And I'm also pretty sure Renttis's BTT code factory Cutts gun has passed through my hands on it's way to him.

RufusG,

Would your name be Tony and would you be the gentleman from Az. I purchased that gun from?

That would be me. Glad to see you're getting good use from it.