Model 11 Remington Collection
 

From left to right, 1910 Premier #6 12/28, 1930 11F 20/28, 1910 #4 Tournament 12/28, 1928 11-A grade. The guns that killed off the SxS LOL.

That F/20 sure is a stunner Craig.

If I’m not mistaken you showed me the 11F 20 at Mike’s . And I liked it quite a bit :cool:

I also blame you and Frank for me buying the half dozen or so I acquired in the last ten months . Of course none of mine are the beautifully engraved grades .

My Grade 6 Premier is actually the "Remington Autoloading Shotgun", or "Autoloading Gun" (RAG!?), the c. 1909 predecessor to the Remington Model 11, so designated that year. The shorebirds and waterfowl engraved on the sides of the receiver put the hook in me so bad I had to buy it. Being a loyal Browning A-5 fan and former collector helped put me over the edge. Special ordered for a big mahaf in San Antonio, it is the living embodiment of the statement that, "all art is not flat."

Thanks for posting. I started with Model 11s. I've never seen an engraved model in person. Very nice.

You guys are making my little $600 collection of three Sportsman A "Standard" Grades look bad!!

Attachment 109121

Try to buy a plain 16 or 20 for $600 now , typically you’ll be disappointed :eek:

Nice lineup!

Is the right one marked as an 11-a? In the original graded lineup the A was unchecked. So that gun would be a later equivalent to an early B. You need to find yourself a nice C now.

The Model 11A "Standard" Grade got checkered wood circa 1928/9 when the Model 11 changed to the cross-bolt safety. Same time as the Model 10 was replaced with the Model 29. The Model 29A "Standard" Grade was introduced with checkered wood. Also, at that time, the Model 17A "Standard" Grade got a checkered stock and slide handle replacing the plain stock and ringed forearm they had since the 1920 introduction.

The Model 11B "Special" Grade came with an imported walnut stock while the A "Standard" Grade had American walnut. About 1936/7 the B went to select American walnut.

Actually, my collection was a bit over $600. The guns were $189 to $215. The 12- and 16-gauges are pre-WW-II solid rib guns and the 20-gauge is a 1948 plain barrel 28-inch modified. I later spent over half the price of the collection for a 26-inch vent rib SKEET barrel for the 20-gauge.

Brian when I bought the Model 11 A I thought it was a B until speaking with Dave. The grade E/Expert is the one grade that rarely appears. A E was on display at the Southern but the wood had been poorly refinished and the asking price was very steep. You also come across very few straight grip Traps.

I started my hunting with a plain Jane 16ga model 11 that an uncle gave me.

Remington Arms Co. was on a roll right at the same time as our man Ansley H. Fox was trying to get the A.H. Fox Gun Co. going. Remington's professional shooter William Heer carried the high average for 1906 --

Attachment 109135

Then for 1907, J.J. Blanks won the GAH with a Remington Autoloading Shotgun --

Attachment 109134

Fred Harlow did it again in 1908.

A gracious benefactor loaned me a 16 ga. M11 when I was about 11 yrs. old. He had previously loaned me a .410 S X S at age 8, and "swapped it out with me". He owned a plantation that adjoined my Grandad's farm, where my parents and I lived (I still do), and would have numerous dove shoots to which he would invite Grandad and me. I really clicked with that M11 and in a year or so was outshooting most of the grown men on the fields. I can vividly recall the men leaving the field and moving to a shady area where they would sit and watch me shoot.

Though I killed my first quail and dove with the little .410 that M11 made a shooter out of me. I shot it until my 16th birthday, when I received a new 12 ga. from my parents, and returned the M11 to our friend. I remember it, and many of the dove shoots I used it on, with great fondness.

As Bob Hope used to sing, "thanks for the memories".

I was at my little local shop today and they had a 16ga Sportsman there on consignment. Cursory look seemed like real good condition; tag said $900. Don't know anything about the guns so don't know if that's a good or bad price. Not interested myself.

Based on watching GB auctions I’d say $900 is at or slightly above what they’re bringing online .

Good Looking Start!
 

Glad to see things are coming together for your collecting Craig!

You'll have to put one to use this fall!

Will

I wonder if barrels and parts from a browning humback shotgun will fit barrel and other parts from a model 11 Remington....charlie

Generally speaking. No.

There MAY be a few small parts that can interchange. But I cannot say for sure.

Will Gurton thanks for all you help, your knowledge of M 11's is very impressive. Like any gun collection a good mentor and tapping into their knowledge is so important. Still looking for a great early E Expert, early T Trap and an early B.

The 11F 12 we had at the shop for awhile was a straight grip .

thanks brian...charlie

No.3 Grade "C" Trap Gun
 

Craig,

High condition examples of the Trap Gun are pretty rare.

I have seen very few in my searching over the years that are truly original and have great condition.

Nature of the beast I guess, made for high volume repetitive game like Trap.

Good luck but I don't have one either so you or I may only hear the after story! Lol

Will

I have had a couple C grades and both were well used. Gave one away to a local guy who loves to hunt but only had a single barrel 12. The other one with a polychoke I kept. I shoot it as well as any of my other guns with the exception of maybe my Remington 32's. have another beat up D grade I am selling locally thru my FFL. Stock is a little low for me on that one. Pretty beat up and not worth very much so it is going cheap. The C grade I have left has nice wood and great fun to shoot. Think I only paid a little over 300 for it. I actually like the old style safety too. Great guns those 11's.

When I started buying graded model 11s the first one I picked up was a C grade trap. It was in great shape. And was a bit of an odd one in that it had a 26” barrel. Still full choke.

From the 1905 introduction into the late 1920s the only barrel lengths offered were 26- and 28-inch. The 28-inch was standard with the option of 26-inch. From the 1923 Remington Arms Co., Inc. --

Attachment 109268

About the same time Remington Arms Co., Inc. revised the Model 11 to a cross-bolt safety 1928/9 they added the 30- and 32-inch barrels. From the 1929 catalog over stamped with the 1930 introduction of the 20-gauge Model 11.

Attachment 109267

wish I still had my model 11....charlie

RAS No.3 Grade
 

I have one that is in fair used condition, a 99,xxx serial number gun with the earliest ventilated rib barrel that I have ever confirmed, BUT it has a slight ring bulge at the choke.

So I figure steel shot can't hurt it and tripled on Blue Wing Teal it's first time out!

Just cant beat a gun that points itself!!

Good luck all with your Double and Non-Double persuits.

Will

I don't have any engraved Model 11s, but I do have a minty 20 gauge Skeet with beavertail forend and vent rib and a round top conversion 20 gauge that I believe was done at Abercrombie and Fitch. It is one of only two round top conversions I have ever seen. I would like to learn more about them.

[QUOTE=Will Gurton;369850]I have one that is in fair used condition, a 99,xxx serial number gun with the earliest ventilated rib barrel that I have ever confirmed, BUT it has a slight ring bulge at the choke.

The Grade 6 I pictured in an earlier post is a vent rib gun, SN 71XXX.

Is that when they stock them to bring the wood up over the back of the action?

That's the one, Brian. I have not had any luck finding an old ad for them. Because of the quality of the ones I have seen, I suspect Abercrombie and Fitch. I saw one in a retail store engraved by Arnold Griebel in full coverage, but it had a cracked frame. In today's world of good gunsmiths, I probably would have made an offer for it. Both of the ones I have seen have a crack in the wood at the receiver. One of these days I'll fix the crack on my 20 gauge, but it doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

Griffen and Howe
 

Bill I thought I pointed you to this previously, maybe I'm slipping, sorry.

Will

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/lot-514944.aspx

The text says done in the 1920s, but serial number 440349 is a receiver put in work during February 1941. Circa 1937 Remington moved the "Model 11" or "The Sportsman" stamping from the left side of the receiver to the bolt. G & H did a serious modification of the trigger group moving the trigger way rearward.

To each his own and all that and I understand the uniquiness of the gun . But to be honest I like the profile of a "normal" Model 11 more .

Thanks, Brian. No, I don't remember that one but it is quite a custom. Mine also has the trigger relocated as Dave mentions.

Was there yesterday and I was wrong; price was $500. Don't know anything about the gun; can provide shop info if anyone is interested.

I recieved a photo copy of the entire Remington Society article on the Model 11 authored by Tipton . Quite helpful to say the least .

Don't put any faith in that serial number chronology at the end. It was done before the old "between the wars" factory ledger was discovered. Among other issues, it doesn't take into account that in 1937/8 the separate serial number sequences for the three gauges of The Sportsman was dropped and from then on The Sportsman were serial numbered right along in the three Model 11 gauge sequences.

I already noticed several discrepancies in the serial numbers as far as the Sportsman are concerned . But it’s a hell of a lot better than the Remington BS way of barrel dating .