dating of 1874 to 1880 side by side

[T-MON-X]

I have a 1800's side by side shotgun. Has a whitmore style lifter,pistol style grip with checkering & no engaving. Has the #1862 in 4 places, think this is the serial #. also has a #787 on the base & the #87 on the base & forearm. 30" barrels. The barrels are either badly pitted or the barrel are twist barrels, or both. Has the standard patten on the base aug 8th 1871/april16th 1872. E.Remington & Sons Ilion NY on the rib. looking to try to pinpoint the year, Unsure of ga. droped a 12 ga shell in breach, had alot of play wondering if this might be a 10 ga. I understand this gun is not shootable, To be hung on board with a info plac about gun. Looking to get decription right.

[dieNusse1]

Welcome to the forum!

Three lifter models started with S/N 1

1873 - 1 to 5000

1875 - 1 to 3350

1878 - 1 to 2400

The hammers are a very good guide to model ID. The 1873 hammers will have recessed faces similar to percussion guns whereas all others models have a flat face.

It would be helpful if you could post pictures.

[Researcher]

Shotgun technology was evolving quickly in the 1870s. There are five different models of the E. Remington & Sons Whitmore lifter-action guns. In the original, Model 1873, the two patent dates you mentioned are on the sliding block on the top of the breech which moves rearward as the gun is opened and, if not broken, lifts the hammers to half-cock. On the later Models those patent dates are on the watertable, and the guns are fitted with the L.L. Hepburn patented rebounding locks. On the Models 1875 and 1876 the plate on top of the breech is fixed, and the Models 1878 and 1879 have a dollshead rib extension. The Model 1879 has the Deeley patent lever forearm latch. All the others have the sliding cross-pin to attach the forearm to the barrels.

There are no production records surviving for these guns, so an exact year of production or sale cannot be known. From his years of observing the guns and recording data, Charles Semmer, author of the book Remington Double Shotguns has a table of observed serial number ranges for the various Models. Unfortunately, your serial number could be a Model 1873, 1875, 1878 or 1879. We'll need to see some pictures of your gun in order to tell which Model it is and narrow down the years it was offered.

[T-MON-X]

With the responces, this would seem to be a 1879. The forearm does not have the cross pin latch, the latch is lenght wise on the forearm, so this must be a new deeley lever. As to the dollshead rib extention can this be discribed, I am having difficulties loadin pics. will keep trying

[2shooter]

Need more Information, pictures with you said my guest you have Model 1879 in a 10ga.if it has a Deeley & Edge forend release, ones that I have seen have serial number 1000 to 1800 serial number range. Call 330-669-2138 he can tell you what you have.

[T-MON-X]

THANKS To everybody who replied. This gun turned out to be a 1879 10 ga with a deeley & edge forend catch, Whitmore lifter, & dollshead rib extention.Thanks again have a good new year. Tom