The "Routledge" barrels were not converted by Fred R. They were purchased by him from Remington in their final form.
The gun you mention sounds like a well made conversion. The factory sbs do have bead front sights. My smooth bores, whether counter-bored or not, do not show any signs of rifling, and do not have dove tails filled in.
John Gyde
Model 121 smoothbore, a converted piece??
M/121SB
My non counter-bored SB is stamped ".22 CAL. SMOOTH BORE".
Some others (COUNTER-BORED) are stamped
"ROUTLEDGE BORE FOR .22 LONG RIFLE SHOT CARTRIDGE" (most common),
"SMOOTH BORE 22 SHORT, LONG, OR LONG RIFLE" (1939 PRODUCTION),
OR
"22 CAL MO-SKEET-O BORE".
Hope this helps.
John Gyde
Some others (COUNTER-BORED) are stamped
"ROUTLEDGE BORE FOR .22 LONG RIFLE SHOT CARTRIDGE" (most common),
"SMOOTH BORE 22 SHORT, LONG, OR LONG RIFLE" (1939 PRODUCTION),
OR
"22 CAL MO-SKEET-O BORE".
Hope this helps.
John Gyde
Re: Model 121 smoothbore, a converted piece??
John Gyde are you still involved with Remingtons? I have a mod 121 Routledge with ser # 202xxx above what is published as production end. can we talk?
Re: Model 121 smoothbore, a converted piece??
Hi, I know this is an older post but I am curious if you learned anything about the 202,XXX serial number. I too have one in that range and this is the first time I can find anything about this high of a serial number. Mine is a smooth bore as well.