Simmons 20

[jeffery c]

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?

[Researcher]

Simmons Quails Fargo.jpg

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.

Dakin Quails Fargo.jpg

[jeffery c]

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.



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

[Harry Gietler]

Originally Posted by 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.



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

A good friend of my had a Dakin gun he bought new. It was deadly on grouse and Skeet. But it did not hold up! After around1500 to 2000 rounds it was shot. The problem was soft steel. Harry

[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.

[jeffery c]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.