I see that there were a number of grades of this model:
Grades Offered:
11 A – Standard Grade
11 R – Riot Special
11 P – Police Special
11 B – Special Grade
11 C – Trap Grade
11 D – Tournament Grade
11 E – Expert Grade
11 F – Premier Grade
I might be able to guess at the grades 11 R and 11 P (short barrel, etc.) but are there markings, clues, or a guide to identifying the grade of a particular Model 11?
The grades of the model 11 are determined by the amount of engraving a checkering. You will have to refer to an old catalog to determine the engraving patterns. Regards Jay Huber RSA
Jay Huber wrote:The grades of the model 11 are determined by the amount of engraving a checkering. You will have to refer to an old catalog to determine the engraving patterns. Regards Jay Huber RSA
Thanks! I'll hunt around the 'net for an old catalog. In the meantime if someone out there already has one, I've put up some images of the Model 11 I have:
Wayne
I am not an expert on the model 11. I have several old catalogs from 1913 to 1923. In looking at these, it looks like your shotgun is a "B" "Special" grade. The "C" is a trap gun and the "D" starts with the scroll engraving. The "E" grade has scroll engraving with a game panel on the left side. The "F" grade has a game panel on both sides. Hope this helps.
Loren
Your Gun is a late one made in November or December of 1940 and is an 11 A Standard Grade. The later guns were stamp engraved with a pheasant on one side and a duck on the other side. I have a 16 ga that is identical to yous and made in 1938. Regards Jay Huber RSA
My 1938 Original Catalog shows the11A with the exact same checkering and stamped engraving and the picture is excellent. The 11B is exactly the same except it has much higher quality wood. I would say his gun has the standard quality wood. I just learned something I didn't know! Jay Huber RSA
