1889 ???

[gharrington]

I have a hand me down from my father from his father serial number starts with 53XXX . All peices have this number so I assume to be the serial # . There is also a number 804 stamped on each peice. On bottom of barrels it has the number 2 , this also appears on the reciever breach. I see also the number 16 on the breach.On the base of the barrels at the lock one side has number 40 the other 45. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. It appears to be a 10 ga. fair condition . Don't know if I should clean it up or leave as is.

[Jay Huber]

I assume you have an 1889 Double barrel Shotgun. It was made in 1893. The numbers are all inspector numbers and assembly numbers. As to restoration that is up to you depending on condition which I do not know. Jay Huber RSA

[Researcher]

Remington Arms Co. stamped the actual pellet counts of their test patterns on the rear barrel lug of their Model 1889 hammer doubles and their Model 1894 and 1900 hammerless doubles. If the number is three digits, that is the count, if the number is two digits a leading 3 is implied. The standard load they used to target both 10- and 12-gauge guns was 1 1/4 ounces of #8 going 511 pellets to the load. My 12-gauge KE-Grade Model 1900 is stamped 33 on the left and 24 on the right. That would be 333/511 = 65% left and 324/511 = 64% right, or about improved modified in both barrels. The chokes measure .027" in both barrels of that gun. Yours would be 340/511 = 66.5% and 345/511 = 67.5% also about improved modified in both barrels.