It's so dang cold here, I'm still housebound and frankly, a bit bored. Gun stuff is a pleasant distraction from the chores I really should be doing. Quick question: were the sub gauge M31Ls built on 20-frames? If so, would the 16s be lighter or about the same weight as the 20s? What I'm seeing in gun weights tends to confirm that.

I had 12ga 31L and 16ga 31L and looked at 20ga 31L. The 12ga was heaviest and 20ga lightest. Interestingly none were 'L' marked but frames were alloy. The frames were gauge specific. Interestingly the barrels in late 40s 12ga were fully interchangeable (I had 3 barrels from same production period as the gun). The barrel shanks threaded into steel insert in the alloy receiver.

My findings were different. Doug's 16ga 31L (not marked) with a 28" barrel was 5lb 4oz on the nose until he added the Beretta check pad. I would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it weighed and other guns as well which I knew what they weighed. I've not seen a 20 that light.

Tim: That 5lbs4 is a bit of a stunner. The 2 guns I've been close to were more like 5lbs 10. One 16 and one 20. Both were 28-inch barrel guns. IF the frames were the same the 20 would likely weigh a bit more (a bit more meat in the barrel).

My 16 ga. 31L with 28" barrel was 5 lbs. 5 oz. as factory original. After re-stocking it to raise the comb, adding an Old English pad, and shortening the barrel to 26", it's 5 lbs. 9 oz.-- which I like better.

I may have posted this pic here before.

Jay

Gunflint: I've seen that picture before, but that's still a great looking gun! The only variable in these guns should be the weight of the wood, but that's quite a few ounces difference. I do know that Remington was factory lightening some of the stocks (even up to 1959 in 16-gauge 870s), perhaps that explains it? The 20 I was looking at might not have been weighed accurately OR the wood just happened to be the opposite of your gun, extra-heavy instead of extra-light? It's hard to run into enough of them to really know. As far as marking the "L" goes, it now appears that the letter designation may have been added sometime in January of 1948 (this from another site were two January of '48 guns were examined, one with and one without the "L").

The 12ga had two cylindrical voids in the butt stock. I assumed that was done to reduce gun weight. The 20ga 31s with alloy receivers like Ithaca 37 20ga Ultras were very light pump guns.
The steel framed 31s and early Wingmaster 16ga guns aren't that good. It always amazes me anyone would pick those over old vintage Ithaca 37 pump guns. By old vintage I mean ribless barrels, fixed choke and 2&3/4" shell capable receiver.

I suspect the 'L' designation on alloy framed Model 31s is myth propagated by guys with Remington books and old catalogs.

PJ, what in heavens name is wrong with a steel framed model 31 or an early 870 in 16 gauge? That may be the first time I've ever seen that comment on the internet that Al Gore invented! Also, you are quite wrong about the letter L designation-some have it, some don't. I've seem them both ways.
There was a bit of a war going on, you know. Remington had a lot of things to sort out just prior, during, and just after that war-perhaps hunting guns for civilians, and what was marked on them, were not a priority for a few years.

Best,
Ted

I have a model 31 12 gauge skeet and it has the factory vent rib.I understand they were made only a couple of years and are scarce with factory vent rib. Bobby

Jaegermeister: I'm with Ted on this one as I've seen them both ways as well. I missed your assertion on your earlier post about the M31 frames being gauge specific. That would be really interesting! I'm surprised that Remington would go to all the trouble of making a 16 frame (but, it would be neat if they did). It strikes me as being more likely that they did much the same as Winchester on the M12, and only built frame sizes in 12s and 20s. A 16 on a 20 frame is still a very nice combination. I get what you're trying to say about the steel framed guns as compared to a nice, light M37, but tastes, fit, and use will dictate different choices.

No they weren't. The 16- and 20-gauge Model 31s were all built on the same size frames in the 5xxxxx serial number range. The Remington Model 11 and "The Sportsman" were built on specific 12-, 16- and 20-gauge frames.

My two Remington Model 31LA "Standard" Grades a 12-gauge with 30-inch full solid rib barrel and a 20-gauge with 26-inch Cutts barrel are both just marked Model 31, but I have seen pictures of the Aeromet receiver guns marked Model 31L. Never had one in my hands.

Well, I guess I'll have examples of both the unmarked and marked versions now. I just picked up a July of 1948 gun in 20. It's not exactly pristine, but the price was right. It's a modified choked, 28-inch Plain Jane that should make a nice addition to the pile here. It's the first 31L in 20 that I've seen at a reasonable price (and probably only the 3rd one I've ever seen online!) and mine was the only bid. Hope it's not a Pig in a Poke.