Model 11 mfg. date

[Slim42]

I would like to find the mfg. date on a 20 ga. my father owned. The serial number is 1,039,512. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Researcher]

The Model 11 20-gauge was introduced in 1930. The receiver with serial number 1039512 was put into production around 24 April 1931. With slow sales during The Great Depression, it could have languished in inventory for several years before actually being sold. From the old factory ledger it appears they produced just over 40000 Model 11 20-gauges in 1930 and 31, then production slowed to a trickle until it picked up again in 1937.