Simmons 20

[jefferyconnor]

I have this shotgun enroute. I bought it to fill in a perceived need for an American made gun of the Stevens 311 type. Evidently, these were made in the sixties with the Fox B/Stevens 311 guns as a base. Alternatively, they could also have a frame/barrels made in Italy or Spain by a company named Dakin.

One internet source says the frames were sent to Simmons bare and they made the barrels, stocks and finished the guns. Looking at the pictures, before the gun's arrival, I think the barrels were made by Savage, not Simmons. Simmons may have added the rib and that was it. I'll know more once it arrives.

What are your thoughts?

[Dave Noreen]

91265

The Simmon's "Quails Fargo" is really more of a variation of Savage's Fox Model B ST or BSE. The Stevens Model 311 ws never offered with a single trigger or ejectors.

91266

[jefferyconnor]

Thanks, Researcher! I had been looking for a late D or E prefix Fox B as the nicest of the Stevens 311 types when I came across this variant, which seems about as nice as a 311 type gets. Though, on Gunbroker you see some interesting things at times, like custom restocked 311's or even Win. 24s with fancy wood and straight grips, this has got to be about as nice as a cheap gun comes, yet $175 sounds pretty expensive for the sixties. I wonder what a Model 12 or Ithaca 37 cost back then?

[Drew Hause]

What Dave said.
During the sixties, Simmons Specialties of Kansas City decided to offer their own branded shotgun and contracted with Savage/Stevens to convert a variant of the Stevens Model 311 20 gauge; stock 311 24" barrel, case colored receiver, and double triggers converted to a single trigger. Simmons would then install a vent rib with a "glow-worm" front bead. They ceased production in 1969.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17126410/413203564.jpg

Simmons also offered a Dakin Gun Co. "Quails Fargo" with 22" VR barrels choked Sk 1 / Sk 2 made by Gaspar Arizaga.

[charlie cleveland]

nice guns looks like a good quail gun...charlie

[Matt Buckley]

I have an uncle who had one of these as a kid in the 60's and wanted to relive his youth so he found one of these on a Rock Island Auction about 4-5 years back and purchased it after we looked for a couple of years for one. He has had a problem with the gun doubling on him when he tried using 3" loads in the gun. The gun functions fine with 2 3/4". Just something to keep in mind, 3" loads would hammer the heck out of the shooter anyway.

[jefferyconnor]

I have an uncle who had one of these as a kid in the 60's and wanted to relive his youth so he found one of these on a Rock Island Auction about 4-5 years back and purchased it after we looked for a couple of years for one. He has had a problem with the gun doubling on him when he tried using 3" loads in the gun. The gun functions fine with 2 3/4". Just something to keep in mind, 3" loads would hammer the heck out of the shooter anyway.

I'll keep that in mind! I've read Savage never made the Fox BSE 12 gauge with 3" chambers, maybe to prevent this sort of problem. I've read that only the two trigger B model 12 gauges came with the 3" chamber.

[Jim Beilke]

Matt forgot to mention that when his uncle fired his Quails Fargo it would double and bloody his nose. Thats the part I enjoyed

[Drew Hause]

A bit better resolution image of the Simmons Dakin "Quails Fargo" ad. Still the KC address. Simmons Gun Specialties, Inc. moved from K.C., Mo. to Olathe, Ks. in 1965, where they remain right off I-35.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1373/6511424/17126410/413203550.jpg

[Bruce Day]

Some may recall the ill fated attempt by Simmons to make new Parker barrels about ten years ago.

[jefferyconnor]

The Quails Fargo arrived a few weeks ago. This is a nice little gun, the fit and finish are decent, satin polished like 220 grit on the blued and cased metal, with a nice satin lacquer on the wood. The single trigger works fine and it's pretty much in mint condition. In my view, a lot of gun for the money. As you can see it has a really straight stock, which I like. It's not light, 6# 8 oz. yet has nice balance and shoulders and points great for me. The case colors are really nice, as you can see, probably cyanide. I had been looking for a post 1980 B Fox, 12 gauge, 3" double trigger which has the cut checkering and raised rib, but then this turned up and I'm glad it did. Thank you to everyone who posted related information, especially Researcher who has come through with period literature on a number of occasions.

[jefferyconnor]

Here's a close up of the frame, this gun has great case coloring whatever process they used, not garish or cheap looking, in my opinion. That could be due to the frame being only polished to about 220 grit or so.

[charlie cleveland]

good looking little 20 ga and your right about the case colors they are great...charlie