Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co., Inc. must have made a lot of Model 17s before the gun was introduced on the market in the first Remington Arms Co., Inc. catalog --
In a move to rid it of debt and excess plant capacity from The Great War, Remington Arms Co., Inc. was founded on May 24, 1920, and Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co., Inc. was officially dissolved on August 11, 1920.
From its introduction circa 1920/21 to 1929, the Model 17A "Standard" Grade had a plain stock and ringed forearm. When Remington went from the Model 10 to the Model 29 for their 12-gauge pump, the Model 29A "Standard" Grade got a checkered stock and forearm and so did the Model 17A --
and the Model 11A. The Model 17 was built for 2 3/4 inch shells from the get go and came in four barrel lengths -- 26-, 28-, 30- and 32-inch in plain or with a solid rib milled integral with the barrel. Capt. E.C. Crossman in his 1923 book
Gun and Rifle Facts For the Novice and the Expert praised the new 20-gauge pump made in all four barrel lengths and for 2 3/4 inch shells and bad mouthed the 20-gauge pump from that other company that only took 2 1/2 inch shells and didn't come with barrels longer then 28-inch.
