Need help gaining info on old Remington Model 11

[1776J]

(Seems I may have posted this in the wrong section of the forum, so I decided to try posting it in the historical section here.)


Hello fellas. I'm new here and still learning so bare with me. Been lurking around the forum for some time now and have been fairly impressed by the knowledge here about history of firearms and not just "armchair expert" types, but guys who know their stuff. So I figured I'd join up.

So here are my questions....

I picked up a very nice Remington Model 11 and am trying to date it.
It has no markings other than the usual Remington name and patent dates on top of the barrel, and "full" on one side of the barrel, and "r.p." in a small oval circle on the other side of the barrel.

What does that indicate other than the barrel having a "full" choke?
Is there a way to date it by the receiver instead? The number there begins, "111xxx"

I have heard and read that these are one of the the most indestructive shotguns ever made, so with a date of 1911, would this still be regarded as a good solid shooter to use as a target, clay pigeon, and hunting gun?


Lastly, I found two others I was thinking of picking up... or at least one of them.

One has a serial number of "89xxx" and looks like it only has a 5 digit serial number. Would this be earlier than the other from 1911 or just another run of numbers in a different sequence denoting a different time line? No other markings that I could see.

The other has the numbers, "241xxx" Choke looks to be marked "cyl"? There is also a "PE3" and what looks to be a "EH3" and an "RN" with a "B" in a circle stamped into the side of the barrel. Does this denote the date of the barrel?

Also, when did they start marking the serial numbers on the sides of the receivers?

Thanks a million in advance to any and all help! Looking forward to learning more!

 

[DeepSouth]

There will be a date code at the rear of the barrel on the left side.


Enter these date code here

 

[1776J]

DeepSouth...

There are NO markings on the side of the barrel of the one I have now other than the "rp" in a small oval. that's it, nothing more.

As far as the others, all I have is the info I wrote of. However, if I type any of that info in to the site you directed me to, it says that the letters and numbers don't jive. That the letters indicate one thing , but the number is incorrect.

Are there any books that go into depth into the old Remington shotguns??

 

[joe817]

If memory serves me correctly from my old shotgun collecting days(about 25 yrs. ago), the very first models of the Model 11, until about the late 20's or early 30's had a slide lever safety on the inside of the front side of the trigger guard that you engaged forward and backward. The latter model 11's had a button safety on the rear portion outside of the trigger well. Similar in place to almost all modern semi-auto pistols you see.

I believe the "RP" with the oval in it stood for the standard Remington Proofed(thus RP").

Can you post several pictures of it taken from various angles? That might help. What is the barrel length? I assume it's in 12 guage, as that's the most common guage it came in, although you see 16, 20 and the rare 28 guage.

Don't know if that helps any, and hope I dinna add to the confusion.

Here's something I dug up from our archives:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=161112

 

[1776J]

joe817...

thanks a million