doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Remington 1894s

A grade thru the vanities.
My new interest, but where are they?

Spiraling down quickly toward impact, 'eh Thorny?

They are before the 1900s, of course, and have been handed down to at least a few juniors, in possesion of a Handy Andy toolbox, usually, by a few Pops, after he ponied up for the latest/greatest repeater. Used up, mostly.

Drop at heel commensurate with the era. Ditto the chokes.

Listen to Steve Forbert sing "Born too late" a few times, and "get back to where you once belonged"!
Best,
Ted

I wish more of them were hiding in my gun room!

Remington offered a variey of drops-at-heel on even the A-/AE-Grade of what we've come to know as the Model 1894s and the Model 1900s. DAH of 2 7/8 to 3 1/8 were carried in stock, but 2 to 2 3/4 inch and 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 were offered at no extra charge. Standard Length-of-pull was 14-inches, but 14 1/4 or 14 1/2 were available at no extra charge.

For whatever reason, Remington didn't begin showing the higher grade Model 1894s in their catalogues until 1902. Prior to that they just showed the A- and AE-Grade and listed the higher grades. Also, in the catalogues they were just called "Remington Hammerless Double Barrel Shotgun" and whatever grade. The terms Model 1894 and Model 1900 were only used on the parts lists.

Remington's professional shooter, William Heer carried the high average for 1906 of 96.3 % on 14,055 targets shooting a pair of straight gripped guns, a CEO-Grade and an FE Trap Gun.

Researcher, is there a gun you don't own? You lucky dog

In addition to Lowell, my interest in the 1894 has been piqued of late. When were they discontinued? Were they made in 16ga? Researcher's appears to be fluid steel bbls whereas most I've found on the internet are damascus barreled. I'm scared of damascus so when were the fluid bbls ushered in?

From the Remington site:
Description: Remington's first hammerless double barrel shotgun
Introduction Year: 1894
Year Discontinued: 1910
Total Production: 42,000 +/-
Designer/Inventor: Remington Arms
Action Type: Break action
Caliber/Gauge: 10, 12, 16 gauge
Serial Number Blocks: 100,000 – 142,000
# of Grades Offered: A, B, C, D, E, and Special Trap
Variations: Available with or without automatic ejectors
Available with ordnance steel or Damascus barrels

There are at least 5 on Gunbroker, including an A, B, & BE. One of them has fluid steel barrels the rest are damascus. Some are in less than a pristine condition.

Pete

After spending an evening thumbing through past DGJs, and re-reading Charles Semmer's articles on Remingtons, my interest was renewed in my 1894 AE.
This gun seems to be more than on par with all the other turn-of-the-century big name field grades.
Lacking in the feeding frenzy, and old boys club, is a high point with me.

Remington 1894 guns are near the top of American made guns. The fit and finish are outstanding.

The 1900 is not near as well made (fit and finish wise).

The guns researcher pictured are a C grade gun and a F grade trap gun. The F grades all had steel barrels and usually higher comb stocks, often straight grips. There are not many steel barreled guns other than the trap guns.

There are nice light 12ga guns built on scaled 16ga frames out there. You can easily tell by the floorplate (how close the edges come to the frame sides)I will try and post pics of the difference later.

If you dont get a trap gun you will most likely find stocks with a lot of drop. You can learn to shoot low stocks, you just have to get used to mounting the gun a little differently, its definetly worth your time.

Nice 1894s are hard to find but if you can live with damascus the search will be a little easier. Ive bought 90-95% A grade damascus ejector guns in the 500-600 dollar range before but you may have to watch for a year or so to find one. I bought a 80% F grade trap gun in the $800 range and felt like I got a good deal.
Ross

Here is a pic of my 10ga B grade.

Lord Lowell -
They creep out at firehouse gun shows, hawked by know-nothing "dealers" who are too busy looking up Parker SNs, Smith options, and Fox chamber and barrel lengths to spend the time to properly present them. Usually found in second floor hall closets, wrapped in one leg of grandad's (or grandma's) discarded Union Suit, some show spectacular color and little use. The main are usually a Home Depot Fastening Dept.'s showcase, with all manner of mismatched repairs destroying the appeal. Best and highest grade one I ever saw sat in a local pawn shop for months before a savvy observer alerted the local RemMole. One call to Charlie Semmer sealed the deal. Much fun to be there as it went down, watching the rattly-breathed pawnbroker twirl his gold neck chain, like a fighter in a corner covering up, listening to the purchaser beat the price down by $4K. Also greatest was hearing the oft-quipped line, "Of course, you guys know a lot more about these things than I do." Hope they never start studying guns like they do thier stones and Rolexes. KBM