Not a Parker but they shared a home..

[Andy]

Ilion, NY. My first (and surely not my last) Model 31. She arrived the day after I left for the Southern. "Ball Bearing Action" is pretty accurate. Special grade 16g. I might be in love. THANK YOU to Brian Hornacek for spending time educating me about these guns (I already jumped on it so he re-affirmed my suspicions about it).

[Big D]

My Dad's M31 is my duck gun. No treasure - The stock as replaced, as my dad had the original shortened. New wood was an original stock from SARCO. After Lead was forced on us, I had the full choke replace with a Briley choke. Dad's still with me in the blind. I also have a M31 20 gauge lightweight as my wet weather grouse gun

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Harry Gietler

WOW, So you finally Opened your wallet and spent some Silver Certificates,
I hope you cleaned the Moth Eggs off them before you departed with them!

Harry

I buy enough Harry, your undies are just knotted up because I don't buy from you.

[Researcher]

Beautiful Model 31. Congratulations!!

I see the date code on the barrel is RE, R = November E = 1936. I have a similar gun, but not as nice, with barrel date code AE A = March E = 1936 --

509185 03.JPG

Gotta ask, what makes you think your gun is a B "Special" Grade? I don't see it marked B Grade --

B-Grade marking.jpg

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

Beautiful Model 31. Congratulations!!

I see the date code on the barrel is RE, R = November E = 1936. I have a similar gun, but not as nice, with barrel date code AE A = March E = 1936 --

Attachment 106394

Gotta ask, what makes you think your gun is a B "Special" Grade? I don't see it marked B Grade --

Attachment 106389

It was described as a "special grade" and I did ask if it had been stocked with wood from another gun or re-stocked. He didn't know. From what I understand the standard A grades were not checkered? Either way the condition makes sense for what it will be used for: fun on the clays course. Thank you Dave.

[Researcher]

From the introduction of the Model 31 --

Model 31 3-shot Brochur.jpg

Model 31 ad June 1931 Field & Stream.jpg

through 1936, the Model 31A "Standard" Grade had a checkered stock and slide handle.

March 6, 1936 Retail Price List.jpg

For 1937, Remington introduced the Model 37AP "Standard" Grade with a plain stock and ringed slide handle.

Model 31AP Standard Grade.jpeg

The guns with checkered stocks and slide handles became the Model 31AC "Standard" Grade --

Model 31AC Standard Grade 8-37.jpg

That continued through 1938. By 1939, I guess they had used up the inventory of checkered guns and the gun with the plain stock and ringed slide handle became the Model 31A "Standard" Grade.

From the introduction of the Remington Autoloading Shotgun in 1905, the A "Standard" Grades had American walnut stocks and the B "Special" Grades had imported walnut stocks. This announcement appeared in the February 15, 1939, Remington Arms Co., Inc. catalog --

Selected Figured Walnut, February 15, 1939.jpg

In the January 3, 1938, price list the Model 31B "Special" Grade had a retail price of $77.45. In the February 15, 1939, price list the Model 31B "Special" Grade had a retail price of $51.70.

[Researcher]

Continuing with my post above, things are the opposite with the Model 17. From the Model 17 introduction in late 1920, the Model 17A "Standard" Grade had a plain stock and ringed slide handle.

Early Folder.jpg

When Remington replaced the Model 10 with the Model 29, the A "Standard" Grade got checkered stocks and slide handles. So, within the year the Model 17A "Standard" Grade did too --

1932 Catalog pg 30.jpeg

Early style Model 17A --

14837 03.jpg

Late Model 17A --

61555 06.jpeg

[Andy]

Thank you Dave I appreciate the resources.

[Mike Franzen]

Makes me want one.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Mike Franzen

Makes me want one.

Smooth as warm butter. Will shuck a few in the coming days. It's choked modified so will be fun for clays. I just don't see many around. Likewise have been looking for a 16g corncob M37 in great shape but hard to come by. I called the Ithaca factory in OH about the new 28g M37. Have not seen one, I know one person who handled one and said it's all it should be. They told me they are backlogged so much they may not even take orders for new 28g guns until 2023 OR LATER.