Stevens/Savage model 311A questions

[cm6259]

Hey, all,

I have this old Stevens model 311A that I got from my Dad some years back as a gift. The wood has some dings and scratches, and I am in the process of refinishing it.

Does anyone know anything about this gun? It's history? If it's worth much? Links to info would definitely be a plus.

On the left of the receiver, I see:

STEVENS MODEL 311A
SAVAGE ARMS CORPORATION
WESTFIELD, MASS. U.S.A.

On the right side is:

MODEL 311A

It has a case hardening pattern on the receiver that is slightly worn, but not much. There is no serial number in any obvious place.

The stock had a nasty, dull brown finish, sorta like polyshades gone bad, that was all scratched up. Once that was stripped off, it looked like a nice piece of wood. Birch is my (uninformed) guess.

I am planning on using Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil for the final finish. Is there something better I should consider?


Thanks,

CM

 

[Fred Fuller]

311s are good quality working man's double barrel boxlock shotguns, of the sort that aren't built in America any more. They are pretty simple inside and pretty durable too. Value wise they didn't cost a lot new, and have appreciated some, more in some places than others. Around here a 311 with no cracks in the wood and sound barrels in original condition (not separated or cut down) will bring about $275-325 or so, that may differ in other places.

Re. the serial number, lots of less expensive guns made in the US before 1968 didn't have serial numbers. Not to worry.

The fancier boxlocks like the 511 or the Stevens/Fox Model B will bring a little more $$, but mechanically they are essentially the same gun. They just got gussied up a little more.

Lots of folks have soft spots for 311s, given enough time I'll bet you could become one of them 8^).

lpl/nc

 

[stevekl]

How are chokes set up on the 311? They're not removable, I would guess. Are both barrels choked the same?

I am sort of thinking about tracking one down. Are they easy to find?

 

[Superreverb]

As far as chokes go, I think it is dependent upon barrel length. My 28" 311A in 16-ga is choke mod/full. My friends 26" 311A is choke more like IC/mod. Don't know if this was the rule, just from my experience. YMMV.

Regards - Ed

PS: As far as date codes go, try searching my user name and 311A. I think I posted a while back about where the date code stamp is found and what it means. I'll try to find the info when I get back from work in a couple of hours....

 

[Superreverb]

Here ya go: Look for the date code behind the hinge pin or ahead of the trigger guard on the bottom of the frame that is inside of a small circle. There will be a number and letter inside the circle. A=1949 ending with V=1968.

 

[Crow61]

I used to have one, but traded it. I just didn't like the way it balanced or shot. My uncle has one and he killed lots of deer with his before he quit hunting.

I did shoot a friend's Fox 20 guage that was his grandpa's and man it was something else. I would like to have one of those.

 

[cm6259]

OK, I may need some help here. I see several letters on the frame of my 311.

looking down from the top I see of the left side,

circle-A, circle-E, Z, U, superscript a smaller A.

On the right is an S.

Like this:

S
-------------------< centerline
A
(A) (E) Z U

 

[cm6259]

the text formatting wasn't quite right on that.

the second A is above and to the right of the U on the left side. The S on the right side is directly across from the U on the left side.

 

[scottmacc]

I just picked one up in 16GA today. took me a while to find it because like you, I was looking in the wrong spot. I needed to put on some magnifying glasses to find the mark just in front of the trigger guard. There's a very small oval with a 2-digit number followed by a letter. Mine is 12F or 1954.

 

[greyeyezz]

There are no choke identification marks on the Stevens Model 311 Series shotguns / You can determine the standard chokes by the barrel length, 12 Ga. 24 & 26 inch IC&M, 28 & 30 inch M&F, 20 Ga. 24 & 26 inch IC&M, 28 inch M&F, 16 Ga. 26 inch IC&M, 28 inch M&F, 410 bore 26 inch F&F /