The high and low ends of classic American shotguns -- Amazingly Similar

[bushmaster1313]

Here is on of my latest purchases, for under $400
A 1931 Remington 17





Look how it holds its own next to a Winchester 21

 

[bannockburn]

bushmaster

Like them both! Two solidly built, blued steel and wood stocked shotguns from a bygone era. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Crawdad1]

I know what you're saying. A lot of handwork went into building those old American pumps and it shows.
And the main reason they all but disappeared.

This is the last of them,

https://ithacagunusa.com/

 

[entropy]

Nice examples of the golden age of the American Shotgun!

 

[Rshooter]

Nice finds bushmaster. I have a thing for old Remington 870 police models but I would be proud to have either of them.

 

[SwampWolf]

The Remington Model 17 (and their similar Model 31) were some of the finest pump-action shotguns ever made in terms of function, material, finish and workmanship. As Crawdad1 and entropy noted, these Remington shotguns, along with relatively affordable but finely made pumps like the Ithaca Model 37 and Winchester Models 97 and 12, were made in an era the likes of which, sadly, will never be seen again.

Very nice find, bushmaster1313, and at a great price, given the relative scarcity and fine condition of your Model 17.

 

[Crawdad1]

Let's cut to the nuts and bolts, between 1931 and 1950 for every 2 Remington Model 31s sold Winchester sold 5 Model 12s. Remington sold approximately 197,000 Model 31s during that period while Winchester sold approximately 500,000 Model 12s during that same period. Remington's management asked themselves, "We have to come up with something to beat this thing," and "Do we really have to put all this handwork into a repeater?" and damn if they didn't come up with another masterpiece in their Model 870 Wingmaster.

The Wingmaster could do anything that any other repeater could do but cost a whole lot less to build. There is no way you can build a Model 12 without a lot of hand work and Winchester realized that. Ithaca was the last of the hold outs but has been struggling ever since.

Remington's Wingmaster wiped them all out, every one of them, pure and simple.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Wingmaster is a masterpiece

 

[FL-NC]

I am fortunate enough to own a Wingmaster in 410, a Rem model 17, and an Ithaca 37. I also have a Mossberg 930, and a 870 express 12. Of all, when a 3" magnum isn't required, the model 17 and the 37 are my favorites.