Help! Model 11, I think?

[brcreger]

I have what I believe to be a pre-WWII Model 11, although there is nothing on the gun that indicates the model. On the left side of the receiver, it says “The Sportsman,” along with the Remington trade mark and the serial number (S500890). That side of the receiver has engravings of ducks. The right side of the receiver has pheasants engraved on it. The barrel is stamped “Full” for choke indication. It also has the stamp of “OZ,” which I believe represents April 1931 for the barrel mfg date. It has a Lyman Cutts Comp (steel) on the muzzle. It also has a Pachmayr recoil pad on the butt.

I am looking for any additional information that could be provided about this shotgun, and a potential value, as well. Thanks in advance!

[Researcher]

Your gun is an early 12-gauge "Sportsman". The "Sportsman" is a three-shot version of the 5-shot Model 11.

Model 11 and Sportsman.jpg (27.18 KiB) Viewed 2710 times

The "Sportsman" was introduced in 20-gauge in 1930, along with the introduction of the Model 11 in 20-gauge.

Sportsman Ad June 1931 Field & Stream.jpg (66.59 KiB) Viewed 2710 times

In 1931, the 16-gauge Model 11 was introduced and both the 12- and 16-gauge were added to the "Sportsman" line. As originally introduced, the "Sportsman" serial numbers were preceded by an S, with 20-gauge serial numbers starting at S1 or maybe S1000, 16-gauge at S200000 and 12-gauge at S500000. According to the old factory ledger, your receiver with serial number S500890 was put in work between 26 June and 3 July 1931. The barrel date code on your gun of OZ is O = July, Z = 1931. At some point in time, I'm not exactly sure when, Remington dropped the S preceding the serial numbers and reduced the roll-stamping on the sides of the receiver to one bird on each side. My 12-gauge "Sportsman" or February 1936 vintage is such a gun. On August 24, 1937, Remington ended the separate serial numbering series for the 12-gauge "Sportsman" and began using 12-gauge Model 11 serial numbers and the name The Sportsman or Model 11 was moved from the left side of the receiver to the breechbolt. The change for 16-gauge the Sportsman came on September 24, 1937, and for 20-gauge February 14, 1938.

It appears someone made a skeet gun out of it by whacking its original full choke barrel and adding a Cutts Compensator and a recoil pad. The really interesting thing is that someone machined a hole in the left side of the receiver and added the Browning A5 style magazine cut off!?!

The demand for old "square-back" Remingtons is pretty low. They languish in the pawn shops around here at $250. One with a whacked barrel with a Cutts and a recoil pad more like $200.

[Marc24]

There must be a mistake with the timeline for serial numbers you referenced. My Sportsman's serial number is "S310XXX, so it pre-dates the S5xxxx sequence you referenced. The Remington historian told me it predates their records and was from an earlier time. Wish someone had more information on the entire history of the Sportsman and not just starting with the 1930's. The one I have is in 98+% condition.

[Researcher]

There must be a mistake with the timeline for serial numbers you referenced. My Sportsman's serial number is "S310XXX, so it pre-dates the S5xxxx sequence you referenced. The Remington historian told me it predates their records and was from an earlier time. Wish someone had more information on the entire history of the Sportsman and not just starting with the 1930's. The one I have is in 98+% condition.

T

Without pictures it doesn't exist.

[Marc24]

My mistake the serial number is S503xx. I transcribed it incorrect. The barrel however does not have the copyright/patent dates I see on other series. The one I have just has copyright patents that are a string of numbers and do not have any dates. Is this normal? Again, my apology on the question with the date.