Need some help

[smokeyandthebandit05]

I received a Remington 12 gauge pump for Christmas from my dad. He bought it from one of his friends and from what I can find it was probably made in March 1959.

It is a Sportsman 12 Pump Magnum with a serial number of W290589M

Any info is greatly appreciated

[smokeyandthebandit05]

please anyone?!?!

[Mike Strietbeck]

Good Evening Smoke..... and welcome to the RSA Forum,

In 1984, Remington introduced its Sportsman® Series of high-power and .22 caliber sporting rifles and 12 gauge shotguns. These included the Sportsman 78 bolt action rifle, the Sportsman 76 pump rifle, the Sportsman 78 bolt action rifle, and the Sportsman 12 pump shotgun. Remington’s advertising stated that “the new Sportsman® Series offers uncompromised Remington quality, at very competitive prices.” Each of these guns shared these features: deep black finish on all exposed metal parts and satin-finished hardwood stocks. Introduced in 1984, the Sportsman 12 pump-action shotgun features an impressed-checkered, straight-combed stock, 30" vent rib barrel, 5-round magazine, 7lb/8oz weight, and chambered for 12 gauge 3” shells. In 1986, Remington added a 28" Rem™Choke barrel. Remington discontinued this gun in December 1986.Only the Sportsman 12 Auto and Pump guns had a simple impressed checkering on the stock and fore-end. In 1985, Remington introduced the Sportsman 12 autoloading shotgun.

If your shotgun fits the above description, then the mfg. date you have listed conflicts with my information. How did you arrive at that date? If it doesn't fit the description, post a photo of your shotgun and I'll try again. Be patient with me on the answer time, work keeps me busy as well.

Best regards,

Mike Strietbeck
RemShots

[smokeyandthebandit05]

I took the codes off the left side of the barrel and looked at the dates of manufacture on the home page. I could be wrong lol

I'll post up some pics tonight when I get a chance

[Wulfman]

There was also a Sportsman 58 series, too.

http://www.remington.com/library/histor ... rtsman.asp


Den

[Mike Strietbeck]

Thanks for the input on the Sportman 58. this model is easily identifiable for on the engraved panel of the left receiver, in addition to the dog and quail engraving it is marked Sportsman 58. If the photo's show this, I'll begin the serial number search for that model.

Thanks again,

Mike Strietbeck
RemShots

[Wulfman]

Mike and Smokey,

The confusing part is that the first post indicated that it is a pump shotgun, but dating from the late '50's......however, many of the other earlier "Sportsman" shotguns were auto-loaders. I guess there was even a version of the model 11 back in the 30's that was labeled "Sportsman".
In any case, Remington has used that name on a number of things over the years.

When you look at the whole list in Remington's firearm model history page, the only "Sportsman" shotguns appear in the autoloading category.

http://www.remington.com/library/histor ... rm_models/

Pictures would help.

Den

[smokeyandthebandit05]

I think its from 1959 but it could also be from 85. My dads friend who he bought it from, got it from a guy who was selling off his dads firearms when he died. I'll get some pics up in a bit.

the barrel codes are


what look like


xx AF 9

[smokeyandthebandit05]

the first 2 markings are kinda hard to read but from what I see they are XX AF 9

[smokeyandthebandit05]

if you guys need more/better pics let me know

[Mike Strietbeck]

Well guys,

A careful reading of Roy Marcots excellent book - REMINGTON - Americas Oldest Gunmaker solves 99% of the issue. Here's what he has to say.


“The Sportsman” Shotguns
In 1931, Remington brought out a three-shot variation of the five-shot Model 11 autoloading shotgun , and called it The Sportsman. The Sportsman had a two-shot magazine. Remington Arms Company, Inc. announced The Sportsman shotgun to the public in 1930, stating that “it will be in your dealer’s hands in September 1930." It first appeared in a Remington Catalog in 1931. This streamlined shotgun was offered in 12, 16 and 20 gauges, each retailing for $56.75 (the same price as the corresponding Model 11 shotguns). Like the M11, The Sportsman also had a recoiling barrel action designed by John M. Browning, with design improvements by Remington’s Crawford C. Loomis. The following year, 1932, Remington offered The Sportsman in A Standard Grade for $48.50, B Special Grade - for $72.00, C Trap Grade for $72.00 (discontinued in December 1937), D Tournament Grade for $130.00, E Expert Grade for $190.00, and F Premier Grade for $250.00.
In May 1935, Remington introduced The Sportsman Skeet Gun in 12, 16 and 20 gauges with special skeet bored barrels. Prices ranged from $60.65 for a plain barrel version, to $74.95 for a ventilated rib barrel gun. Remington also offered The Sportsman Skeet Gun in grades A, B, D, E and F, with increasing quality of engraving and wood.
In 1942, Remington temporarily dropped all variations except for The Sportsman A Standard Grade shotgun and The Sportsman Skeet Grade shotgun. The war interrupted civilian production, except for some shotguns made for aerial gunnery training for the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1945, Remington resumed production of all grades and variations of The Sportsman except for the C Trap Grade gun, which had been discontinued in December 1937.
In all, Remington sold 45,155 Sportsman 12 gauge shotguns, 49,176 Sportsman 16 gauge shotguns, and 44,155 Sportsman 20 gauge shotguns in the seventeen-year period between 1931 and 1948. The Sportsman was replaced in mid-1948 by the new Remington Sportsman-’48 autoloading shotgun.

(from Roy Marcots excellent book - REMINGTON - Americas Oldest Gunmaker)

With the date code marking of AF, which is duplicated (either 1959 or 1985), and the earlier version of the Sportsman series being dicontinued in 1948, I think this means it has to be March 1985.

Wulfman's observation about it missing from the Remington Arms Co. website history link is accurate and makes me wonder why.

Mike

[Virginian]

This was Remington's first attempt at producing a less expensive pump gun in the mid-80s. The 'W' serial number prefix started in 1984. It was the forerunner of the Express series. Hardwood furniture, but much more polished metalwork than featured on the Expresses. I had a friend who bought one. Close your eyes with gloves on and you would have never known it was not a Wingmaster.

[Wulfman]

Thanks for the pictures, Smokey.
Yep, it's definitely a 1980's vintage 870.
In addition to what Virginian said about the Express models, I've also noticed (in my collection of catalogs) that the "plain Jane" versions also "morphed" into the "Special Purpose" models around the same time.


Den

[smokeyandthebandit05]

So I can buy current production 870 parts (ie shorter/longer barrels and magazine extensions, stocks)?

[Virginian]

Yes, but if you get parts designed to match the Express, it won't match your blued model.