John M. Browning began
developmental work on a new pump-action shotgun in
1913, and had filed for patent protection in late
November of that year. Eventually he was issued U.S.
Patent #1,143,170 on June 15, 1915, and he granted
manufacturing rights to the Remington Arms and
Ammunition Company. By then, Remington was gearing up
for the war effort, and it would be another six years
until the company was ready to produce and market their
first 20 gauge, pump shotgun–the Model 17.
It was another famous Remington inventor, John D.
Pedersen, who, in 1919, made refinements to Browning’s
basic Model 17 design, and much later, Remington’s G.H.
Garrison would make further design improvements to this
shotgun.
The Model 17 is a pump-action, hammerless,
underloading, tubular-magazine, bottom-ejecting,
take-down shotgun which chambers both 2½” and
2¾” 20 gauge shotshells.
Remington’s Model 17A Standard Grade shotgun was
announced on January 3, 1921–initially selling for
$60.92, although the price dropped to $52.50 the
following year. The shotgun was lightweight, tipping
the scales at just 5lbs/12 oz.
Four other grades were offered in 1923, including the
M17B Special Grade, the M17D Tournament Grade, the
Model 17E Expert Grade, and the M17F Premier Grade.
The M17R Riot Grade shotgun with a 20″ choke-bored
barrel was introduced in 1926, selling for $46.95.
In all, Remington sold a total of 72,644 Model 17
shotguns between 1921 and 1941, although production had
been halted in 1933.
