is this xtra fine engraving for an 1894 remington sxs shotg

[Researcher]

I don't think so. The C- and higher grades were all made to order, with no two exactly alike. Even the general style of the C quality engraving changed somewhat over time. I just noted that the engraving is different on the two pictures of C quality guns in the 1904-05 Remington Arms Co. catalogue. This is the only picture I have in my files of the bottom of a CE-Grade, and while it is different, I don't believe it is more or less then the gun pictured --



and the CEO-Grade down in my gunroom is different than either of these.

[Researcher]

I don't think anyone has really decoded those letters and hashmarks down the barrel tube bottoms. I've posted this information before, but if someone with a lot of Remingtons, add these to what he has and what is in Charles Semmer's book, maybe a pattern will emerge.

1906 12-gauge KE-Grade has /// K E Y

1907 12-gauge KE-Grade has L K E Y

1909 16-gauge KE-Grade has X K E A1

1896 12-gauge AE-Grade has P A

1906 12-gauge FE Trap has /// F E G 13

1894 12-gauge BE-Grade has B J and a poorly struck E or an F

1907 CEO-Grade 12-gauge has /// M

1905 DEO-Grade 16-gauge has X O

In some cases you can get the grade as in the KE and FE. My BE-Grade has Chain Damascus barrels, and on the Remington Damascus salesman sample the Chain Damascus is labeled CHAIN J. So, B for the grade, J for the barrel material and E for ejectors?!? Hmmm....

[Researcher]

That little F is some inspectors mark, and appears on a lot of Remington Hammerless Doubles from that time period. Perhaps the little F is for Rimmon C. Fay, who was issued the two patents No. 528,507 and No. 528,508 (along with G.E. Humphreys) both granted Oct. 30, 1894, which apply to the Remington Hammerless Double Barrel Shotgun. Two of my Remington Hammerless Double Barrel Shotguns have the little F, both in the 13xxxx serial number range. In thumbing through Semmer's book, I see the little F on a CEO 112619, and a E-quality gun 113013. There are a lot of letters and symbols stamped all over Remington Hammerless Double Barrel Shotguns that the meaning of has been lost to the sands of time.

If your gun has Ordnance Steel barrels, that would have been engraved on the left barrel. Ordnance Steel barrel guns of C-quality or higher were engraved --

REMINGTON ARMS CO.

on top of the right barrel, and

ILION, N.Y., U.S.A.
ORDNANCE STEEL

on top of the left barrel. Guns of A- and B-quality with Ordnance Steel barrels were roll stamped ORDNANCE STEEL on top of both barrels.

[Researcher]

You need to check out Charles G. Semmer's book "Remington Double Shotguns." It is available from the author 7885 Cyd Drive, Denver, CO 80221, for $60 plus $5 shipping and handling. It is invaluable if you are going to shoot, invest, collect or play in the Remington double gun field.