doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Remington hammer double model 1883 or 1884

Gentlemen I purchased this firearm some 50 or so years ago. In fact it was my first 12 gauge shotgun and first firearm to purchase by myself (I might have been 10 years old) . Serial number is 5594 on the flats and barrels.Barrels appear to be fluid steel and the gun in what I would call well hunted garden variety gun but still serviceable and tight. My question to this group is did they from the factory offer this shotgun with a insert to allow it to chamber and shoot a rifle cartridge? If my memory is correct I was offered a insert barrel in 40/65 for a additional 5.00 dollars at the time and I turned it down because I had never heard of a 40/65 before and five dollars was as big as a barn back then.


The gun is drilled and tapped for something (two holes) in the rear and two holes at the muzzle (three counting the front bead), looks factory to me but I've never seen a insert for a Remington double before and wouldn't know how it would be set up for sights. Anyone have any incite or knowledge on this firearm ....Thanks Tedd

Here's an excerpt from this website:

http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/journals/M1882


Model 1882 shotguns were never offered as a combination gun or double rifle, as were early Whitmore double guns. Possibly due to manufacturing costs or lack of sales, E. Remington & Sons decided to drop those rare types of double guns. Another reason may be the excessive weight. Of the very few I have had the opportunity to examine, they are awfully heavy guns to carry afield. Instead, Remington offered an auxiliary rifle barrel insert. These were made full length to fit the shotgun barrel, and made with a threaded portion extending beyond the muzzle of the shotgun barrel and held in place by a round nut keeping it centered in the shotgun bore. The inserts contained their own extractors and had an index tab at the rear to insure alignment when removed and replaced. Center fire Black Powder cartridges of the period were available and are so marked on the inserts, Known examples are .38-55 centerfire and .40-70 centerfire. It was stated in the catalogs that, "these barrels are not adapted for high pressure smokeless powder cartridges". Model 1882 shotgun that were originally made for rifle inserts will contain sights secured on the barrel rib the same as the ones found on Whit more combos and double rifles.

I have an 1883 Remington with the left barrel sleeved with a stainless Sandine & Holstrom insert. It certainly can fire a 410 shotshell, but could it be for a .40-xx caliber centerfire. I can find no marks to indicate caliber, only the maker, pat. pen. and Gary, IN. stamped on the ejector. Any help out there?