Posted: 4/3/2008 3:00:43 PM EDT
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During WWII, there was a need for shotguns to provide soldiers with an effective weapon for jungle fighting. Numerous makes and models were procured by the US Govt for this purpose. One of those models was the Remington model 11. The govt purchased several variants of the model 11. Some were used for training of aircraft machine gunners. These typically had long barrels and came with an adjustable choke. Many were simply commercial sporting guns with US markings. Some even had factory engraving. Browning actually got the govt contract and then contracted Remington to make them. The gun you see below is one of 65,000 made by Remington for this contract. The Model 11 is made on the Browning Auto 5 patent with a few small changes. The gun pictured below is a variant made with a 20" barrel and was made in 1943. These 20" barrel guns were sent to the US troops in the Philippines for combat use.  .JPG) .JPG) .JPG) .JPG) .JPG) .JPG) .jpg) |
Most US marked guns I've seen are in pretty rough shape. For someone wanting a Browning Auto5, and doesn't want to spent alot of money, you can find a good cond commercial Model 11 for around $250. Remington made them from the early 1900's up to the mid 40's. I guess without the Browning name, no one wants them. I've been thinking about finding one to cut down and make a registered sawed-off shotgun. It wouid be bad-ass with the barrel cut down to the barrel retaining nut. 
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Here's one for $900. The guy says the wood numbers don't match. It has engraving, which i don't like on a military gun. www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=96269314 |
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I have a Remington Model 11 that belonged to my grandfather. The gun was neglected and sat in a basement for a lot of years. The metal finish is actually pretty good but the original forearm was dried out and split in pieces when I got it. I replaced the forearm with an aftermarket one. It isn't a military gun. It has the wildlife engravings on it like the one that was linked to on the auction site. Pretty cool gun. |
The Auto-5 has a convoluted story (like a lot of JMB's guns.) Browning wanted royalties from this design when he approached Winchester with it. They told him to pound sand. So he went to see the boys in Belgium (FN) and they agreed to his terms. Consequent to that, the US gov't placed some ungodly import tariffs on firearms, making Browning's new shotgun all but un-affordable. Well, he licensed it to Remingtion, and they built it as the Model 11. Oh, does it KICK?! |
It shouldn't kick too bad. Try setting up the friction ring as listed below. Different ammo requires different settings.  |
By the looks of it you got a deal alright. |
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A later version of the Remington Model 11, introduced in 1948 as the 11-48 (aka "Sportsman 48"), was also recoil operated. The 11-48 has the sloped back receiver like the 1100 and later Remingtons. There was a single sintered bronze "friction piece", a split ring, that was self adjusting for various loads. DO NOT oil the magazine tube and friction piece. Those pieces should be left dry to work properly. |