1889 shotgun

[TonyR]

Hello, I'm new to this site. Found it when I was looking for information on an old Remington Shotgun I've had for several years. After reading all the posts I determined that I must have a 1889 Hammer gun in the 225xxx range.It has steel barrels,12 ga. 26.5 in length.They are proofed 33 and 37.The stock has fine checkering on the grip and forearm area and there is a black insert at the end of the forearm. It shoots great the fit is tight and the gun seems sound. How can I tell wich grade it is and are the barrel lengths correct? Any information will help. Thanks, This is a great web-site,TonyR

[Researcher]

A Model 1889 in the 225,xxx serial number range would be of 1902 vintage. The decarbonized steel barrels were on the Grade 1, the lowest grade. The Grade 2 had fine twist barrels, while the Grades 3 to 7 had increasingly finer Damscus barrels. In the 1902 Remington Arms Co. catalogue the Grade 1 had a list price of $30, but in the 1902 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue they could be had for $20. The 1902 catalogue lists 30- and 32-inch barrels in 10-gauge and 28-, 30-, and 32-inch barrels in 12- and 16-gauges. None of my Remington Arms Co. catalogues offer the Model 1889 with barrels shorter then 28-inches. The 33 and 37 are the pellet counts of the test patterns shot with your gun at the factory. If it were a three-digit number that would be the count. With the two digit numbers a leading 3 is implied. The normal load used to pattern 12 gauge guns was 1 1/4 ounce of #8 shot going 511 pellets to the load. So, your gun originally targetted 333/511 = 65% and 337/511 = 66% or about what we would consider improved modified today.

[TonyR]

So then I must assume that the barrels were cut off to 26.5 inches for some reason and they no longer have any choke left.It appears to have been done by someone who knew what he was doing as there are no signs of tool marks and the sight looks Ok. Has this significantly reduced the value? I have been shooting low brass winchester skeet loads without any problems,do you think that this is a safe practice to continue? I paid 125.00 for it about 10 years ago, is it worth more now? Any comments are appreciated. Thanks TonyR