Remington Model 11 question.......

[msmp5]

Been looking at a buddy's Remington Model 11 12 ga, wanted to get some opinions from you experts! Seems to be WWII era production (from the preliminary web research I've done) since it has a serial number of B41xxx. But nowhere on it does it say "Remington", only has "Browning" on the left side of the receiver. The barrel says "Browning Arms Co St. Louis MO" on the top, and has some proof marks on the left side (near the chamber end): what looks like a heart, and to the right of that, the initials BP contained within an oval. The barrel has a four digit serial number on the right side, near the chamber end; this serial number does not match in any way to the receiver serial number. The gun has the fancy scroll work on both sides of the receiver, and has what appears to be some sort of bead blast finish on the rounded portion of the top of the receiver. It is in overall very good (maybe VG+) condition, both wood and finish, and does not appear to have had any re-finishing done (although the bead blasted top of the receiver makes me wonder......) Anyway, he wants $500 for it. Any of you experts care to share your thoughts on this gun, as described? (I tried - unsuccessfully - to "borrow it" to take some pics; I'll ask again in a day or two!!)

 

[hAkron]

Sounds like it is a Browning Auto 5, not a Remington 11.

 

[Tommygunn]

I agree with hAkron, sounds like the Browning Auto 5. I don't think the Remington model 11 had scrollwork.
The two are essentially the same shotgun. The Browning also had a mechanical cutoff device for the magazine, which the Remington model lacked.

 

[rcmodel]

Remington model 11 had some scratching on the side.



The serial number the OP provided is way to low to be a Remington made A-5.

If it only says Browning, with Browning proof-marks?

It's a early Browning A5, not a Remington Model 11.

With a mis-matched later St. Louis address barrel.

rc

 

[Tommygunn]

Remington model 11 had some scratching on the side.


The serial number the OP provided is way to low to be a Remington made A-5.

If it only says Browning, with Browning proof-marks?

It's a early Browning A5, not a Remington Model 11.

With a mis-matched later St. Louis address barrel.

rc

OK. I have seen a few 11's and none had any ... "scratching" on the side .... I guess maybe some did and some didn't.

 

[msmp5]

"..............It's a early Browning A5, not a Remington Model 11.

With a mis-matched later St. Louis address barrel.

rc

So, would you say it is "Browning A5, but made by Remington".....??? Because the B serial number prefix - based on some other web resources - were only used on Remington made guns, according to the Browning website. Here's a quote from it......

"From 1940 to 1946 production of the Auto-5 was turned over to Remington. Serial number is on the side of receiver. "ABC" for American made Version. (A=16 gauge, B-12 gauge, C=20 gauge)"

 

[WestKentucky]

IIRC the engraved guns were the sportsman guns which were a higher grade than the basic model 11...but if the gun don't say remington it probably ain't a remington. If you want to go further in proving that to yourself, pull the trigger mech. On remington guns that part was serialized to the frame (as were the barrels...yes multiple) and remington was very proud of their name then, put it evrrywhere. On the side, on the bottom, on the buttplate, on the metal strap running down the buttstock... Sure sounds like a browning. It could also be a savage as they also made a gun under browning patents and marked it as such... BUT that would be labeled as such.

 

[Salmoneye]

IIRC the engraved guns were the sportsman guns which were a higher grade than the basic model 11

Never heard they were a 'higher grade', just that the 'Sportsman' was 3-shot...

 

[rule303]

Definitely sounds like an "American" A5 Browning with barrel swapped from a later gun. Worth maybe half the asking price IMO.

 

[hAkron]

Given the finish and the questionable nature, if everything else checks out, $300-350 would be TOP dollar for this gun.