Need help Identifying this late 1800's Remington Shotgun (Update it's a 75/76)

Topics related to Pre - 1898 Remington Shotguns
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Bronze Knight
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:18 pm

Need help Identifying this late 1800's Remington Shotgun (Update it's a 75/76)

Post by Bronze Knight »

Was wondering if anyone could help me identify this shotgun.

Link to Imgur gallery https://imgur.com/a/rPwLP

I did some google searching which seems to indicate that it's a late 1800's Remington. Was hoping I could get an exact date or model name.

It's 12Ga, and marked Remington. Ilion. N.Y.
The barrel is 30'' long and Damascus steel (or possibly just engraved/etched?).


Only SN I can find is 3328, however, the receiver has a 20 above the 3328, seems to be matching numbers all the way around. (There is also patt. 1871 and 1872)

The receiver is etched with hunting dogs, duck on one side rabbit on the other.

That's about all the hard facts I have on this gun.

So anecdotally here is the rest of the story about this gun. I found this gun in the attic of my grandparent's garage when we were cleaning out the farm. There was a lot of bad family situations going on and the farm was going to be sold so we were going through everything. Anyhow, I find this thing dissembled into barrel, receiver, foregrip, in a bag that had completely dry rotted and almost disintegrated when I picked it up. (Looking back I wish I had kept it for a pattern.) Now everything else we had pulled out of that attic had been my great grandfather's stuff, he was an architect in Chevy Chase so we figured it must have been his and that he had it for hunting and skeet with his friends.

Anyhow my Dad and I get this thing out into the light and look it over, and put it together it all seems to work. So I ask my Dad, “Heyyy since nobody knew this thing was up there and I found it... can I keep it?” And he says, “Ya know, I've go just the thing.” So we head out to the barn and fish around in the ammo cans and he pulls out some boxes of low brass Federal game load and says “Here ya go buddy, but don't come crying to me if the whole thing detonates in your hand.”

I have a few mixed feelings about that statement, but still happy with my treasure I go out and fire off a few and its works great!

This was all, yeash, almost 9 or 10 years ago now. It's lived in the gun safe for most of that time I've probably put less than 50 rounds through it in that time, I think I last shot it 4 years ago. I have NO intention of selling it, just want to clean it up a bit, t's in rather rough shape all the way around anyhow.


Point is, I was thinking about this gun the other day and thought I should:
A. Figure out what its age and model is.
B. Get rid of the rust without destroying the etching or Damascus steel (Have tried CLP + cloth and elbow grease, no joy.)
C. Get the trigger guard fixed.

Is getting rid of the rust and fixing the trigger guard something any old gunsmith can do?


TL:DR Found in grandparent's garage attic, belonged to great-grandfather, have shot does work, want to identify, and get rid of rust and fix trigger guard.
Last edited by Bronze Knight on Thu Oct 05, 2017 12:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
admin
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Re: Need help Identifying this late 1800's Remington Shotgun

Post by admin »

Looks like one heck of a beautiful Whitemore 1878 but NOT being a shotgun guy, hold on one of the experts might tell me I'm full of it (again) :lol:
P.S. There's a few people out there that can do MAGIC with wood, if your interested.
2shooter
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Re: Need help Identifying this late 1800's Remington Shotgun

Post by 2shooter »

We need more pictures or detail description of the gun. if its a 12ga. it is not a 1878 Duck Gun they were only made in 10ga. How is the for end held on wedge.The engraving you said tells me it is a grade 5.Could be a 1875 or 1876.
admin
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Re: Need help Identifying this late 1800's Remington Shotgun

Post by admin »

2shooter wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2017 9:22 am We need more pictures or detail description of the gun. if its a 12ga. it is not a 1878 Duck Gun they were only made in 10ga. How is the for end held on wedge.The engraving you said tells me it is a grade 5.Could be a 1875 or 1876.
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Researcher
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Re: Need help Identifying this late 1800's Remington Shotgun

Post by Researcher »

Close but no cigar, Admin!!

The gun in question is a Model 1875 or 1876. The serial number puts it right in the transition range from the 1875 to 1876. A Model 1878 would have a dolls-head rib extension and no percussion fences. This gun was made well before the introduction of smokeless powder shotgun shells. At the time this gun was made most shooters were hand loading their own black powder shells in brass cases, or getting paper case shells from small local loaders. The big ammunition companies didn't load shotgun shells, just provided the empty brass or paper cases. In their 1880 catalog Union Metallic Cartridge Co. offered 12-gauge brass cases in 2 5/8 inch and 2 3/4 inch and paper cases in lengths from 2 5/8 inch to 3 1/4 inch. Most 12-gauge Remington doubles were chambered for 2 5/8 inch shells. Bottom line, you shouldn't be shooting it with modern ammunition!!

From the pictures the gun appears to be a Grade 5 with quite a few condition issues, but rare enough to be worthy of a proper restoration by one of our present day specialists such as Bachelder Master Gunmakers in Grand Rapids, Michigan, or Turnbull Manufacturing in Bloomfield, New York. That will be several thousand dollars. But, you are better off to leave it alone then entrust it to Joe S**t the local 870 parts replacer!!
Last edited by Researcher on Thu Oct 05, 2017 10:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
admin
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Re: Need help Identifying this late 1800's Remington Shotgun

Post by admin »

Can't say it didn't almost expect it :D
That is a beautiful shotgun!
Bronze Knight
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Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:18 pm

Re: Need help Identifying this late 1800's Remington Shotgun

Post by Bronze Knight »

Thank you Admin and Researcher!

Wish I knew if it had come from my great-grandfather's side of the family or not though, its possible that he just bought this second hand from someone.

Kinda disappointing that I can't shoot modern ammo through it though. To be honest that kind of kills my motivation to get it fixed up.
dieNusse1
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Re: Need help Identifying this late 1800's Remington Shotgun (Update it's a 75/76)

Post by dieNusse1 »

Ah but shooting black powder can be a blast - no pun intended.

Modern brass shells are available for about a buck apiece and will last forever. I use antique cases I've picked up at auctions over the years. Some modern cases still use large rifle prImers while others use 209s. I use 11 gauge wads. Rule of thumb is equal volume of powder to shot.

Soap and water to clean barrels.

I haven't used black powder substitutes but should work just as well and produce less fouling.
admin
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Re: Need help Identifying this late 1800's Remington Shotgun (Update it's a 75/76)

Post by admin »

I load black powder for a couple pistols, I image is a shotgun it's maybe isn't as bad but you have keep a can of brake or firearm cleaner and REM oil :D if you shoot a a lot because the cylinder will start to get real stiff ;)
2shooter
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Re: Need help Identifying this late 1800's Remington Shotgun (Update it's a 75/76)

Post by 2shooter »

Your gun is a grade 5 Model 1876 the hammer face is flat and short. There is one thing I see that I would fix is the hammer screws are not original Your barrels should be brown not blue they are fine. You can use # 3 or 4 steel wool with oil will help clean the rust off. You can get correct screws if the holes have not been drilled out. This is a nice Double if you want to sell it I would buy. For the hammer screws call- Jake 330-669-2138
dieNusse1
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Re: Need help Identifying this late 1800's Remington Shotgun (Update it's a 75/76)

Post by dieNusse1 »

To Admin -- I have the same experience when shooting BP pistols. As far as shotguns are concerned my experience is that only the barrels become fouled as there seems to be enough sealing in the chamber which prevents or greatly reduces any gas exiting the breach.

Muzzle loading shotguns are different story. Messy, messy, messy
paul harm
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Re: Need help Identifying this late 1800's Remington Shotgun (Update it's a 75/76)

Post by paul harm »

You can shoot modern ammo. RST makes low pressure modern shells for it . Here's their web site www.rstshells.americommerce.com
There are others who make low pressure shells or reload your own. Over the years I've owned two 1873, a 1882 and a 1889 Remington hammer guns and never checked the chamber length, just shot my reloaded 2 3/4" shells in them with no problem. Pressure only goes up 500 to 1000psi when going from 2 1/2 to 2 3/4, so a 2 5/8 chamber should be no problem with a low pressure shell. JMHO
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