Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 1:48 am

My son was given his Great Grandfather's Model 11 and we were trying to figure out the approximate manufacturing date. The serial number is all we have to go by. It is 111797. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Post subject: Re: Remington Model 11

My WAG would be the mid-to-late 1920's.
300,00 were made from 1911 to 1948.
.

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:11 am

Remington Arms Co. introduced their 12-gauge, five-shot, John M. Browning designed, 'Remington Autoloading Gun' in 1905.
The company name was changed to Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co. in 1911. Shortly after that Rem-UMC began calling that gun the Model No. 11.
In 1920 the company name changed again to Remington Arms Co., Inc. Circa 1927/8 they changed the safety from the lever inside the trigger guard to a crossbolt behind the trigger. In 1930, they introduced the 20-gauge Model 11. Model 11 20-gauge serial numbers began at 1,000,000. In 1931, they added the 16-gauge to the line with 16-gauge serial numbers starting at 1,500,000. In 1930, they also introduced a three-shot version in 20-gauge called 'The Sportsman.'
The 20-gauge “The Sportsman” had serial numbers beginning low 1? Maybe 1000? They added 12- and 16-gauge 'The Sportsman' in 1931, with 12-gauge 'The Sportsman' having serial numbers starting at 500,000 and 16-gauges having serial numbers starting at 200,000. 'The Sportsman' had a three-bird roll-stamping on each side of the receiver.
In 1934 DuPont acquired controlling interest of Remington Arms Co., Inc. In 1937, Remington reduced the roll-stamping on 'The Sportsman' to one bird on each side and started putting the roll-stamping on Model 11 receivers as well. At the same time, the name 'The Sportsman' or 'Model 11' began being stamped on the bolt.
On Sep. 28, 1937, they stopped the separate serial number sequence in the 2xx,xxx range for the 16-gauge 'The Sportsman'; on Aug. 24, 1937, they stopped the separate serial number sequence in the 5xx,xxx range for the 12-gauges and finally on Feb. 14, 1938, they ended the separate serial numbers for the 20-gauge “The Sportsman” at 16,753. From then on the 'Model 11' and 'The Sportsman' were serial numbered together, continuing the Model 11 sequences. Combined 12-gauge 'Model 11' and 'The Sportsman' serial numbers reached 499,999 on August 1, 1943. Serial numbers were then jumped to 700,000 and continued.
All this history out of the way, the old Remington factory ledger begun when they resumed civilian production after The Great War, begins with serial number 199611 on September 30, 1919. So, a gun with a serial number of 111797 would have been made during the Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co. years. It would be 1911 according to the serial number chronology in James Tipton's Model 11 article in The Remington Society's magazine.

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:25 pm

Thank you, Researcher01.
I have a 16 gauge dated 1933 and it's one of my favorites.

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 8:49 pm

Wow! You guys are great! Thanks for all of the posts and information. Well, I never thought to call my 93 year-old father (he is still sharp as a tack) and ask him. I did, and he said he remembered exactly when the gun was purchased because his father told him he bought it for himself as a wedding present (I love it). He bought the shotgun new in 1912 in North Dakota and used it during hunting season for ducks, pheasant, and prairie chickens. It does have stamped on the barrel Remington Arms Union Metallic Cartridge Co.
As a little antidote, my dad said his father would never let any of the kids use the gun until he finally let my father borrow it in 39' to go pheasant hunting. He said the birds were thick and he came home with 25 birds and took only 24 shots (got two birds with one shot). I am going to send him the advertisements that were posted. He will really enjoy them.
Thanks again to all!
Dave