Remington era fancy wood

[jeffery c]

Originally Posted by Scott Janowski

This is my 31B “Special “..... I think the wood upgrade was well worth the extra money.

I'd say! That's a full double feather figure, and the blank alone would be solid money nowadays.

[Holeshot]

so what is a blank like that worth , I might happen to know where 1 resides

[Researcher]

No “B” grade marking on my 31, however there is no “T” or “TC” marking either, and the checkering And grip cap matches the pIctures in the catalog for B grade.

Pictures in what catalog? In my collection of Remington Arms Co., Inc. catalogs of the Model 31 era, from 1932 to 1949, the closest I come to a picture of a Model 31B "Special" Grade is this in the 1949 catalog --

Model 31B Special Grade 1949 catalog.jpeg

which shows no grip cap and the same whimpy little triangle of checkering as used on the Model 31 Skeet Gun.

From your two pictures I'd have pegged your gun as a Model 31S "Trap Special" or Model 31H "Hunters Special". No matter, still a wonderful piece of wood.

[Craig Budgeon]

I believe Remington was trying to preserve the imported walnut rather than add to its inventory. The Parker/Remington catalogue of 1937 lists the D grade with american walnut while Parker Bros. always catalogued the D with imported walnut. After 1934 its is doubtful that Remington needed to buy additional imported walnut to meet the demand for high grade Parkers. On the otherhand Remington needed large quantities of american walnut and I would bet that Parkers got the best of those which accounts for improved wood quality during late production of Parkers.

[Twoatlow8]

The picture I referred to was from a Tryon catalog from a distributor in Philadelphia.
It is possible that the picture was incorrect for the grade, if I can dig it out I will post it

[Researcher]

Unfortunately the 1923 Remington Arms Co., Inc. catalog was the last one to picture all the guns in all the grades.

Model 11B Special Grade 1923 catalog.jpg

Model 10B Special Grade 1923 Catalog.jpg

Model 17B Special Grade 1923 Catalog No. 107 pg 33.jpg

The big 1937 Remington Arms Co., Inc. catalog has this page covering B "Special" Grades --

Model 11 B Special Grade.jpg