New-to-Me Stevens 511 Shotgun - DOB?

[DGNY]

There I was, minding my own business and all of a sudden on a road-less-traveled [by me] was the small gun shop on the Friday before Labor Day, today. It was 4:35 PM, but the OPEN sign was glowing in the misting rain, as my car splashed past the shop. WHOA - I 180'd in a nearby driveway and reversed course to enter the 2 car parking lot...

The shop owner was cordial; and now, to scratch an itch of some 30 years, I have a simple, very clean 20 gauge double, Stevens 511 in all its modesty, awaiting an outing... Metal is excellent, esp the case hardening, the stock infinitely plain hardwood. The overall configuration reminds me of my cousin's relatively luxurious Fox Model B 20 ga, a corporate sibling.

Would anyone here have a reference to date this Stevens Model 511 SN B1738xx? The Westfield, Mass address line and the receiver SN seem to indicate post-1968. [I did do a quick blast through Google to no avail.]

Thanks for any help. Realize this is a stretch from S&W.

Regards, and may your own travel this weekend be safe, and as fruitful -

Dyson

[Beaver]

All a guy needs. Let's go shoot some doves. What chokes does it have? My local shop has one with a cool synthetic wood pattern stock. Kinda cool.

[DGNY]

Thanks - the chokes are Mod and Full, per the dealer. I think I will like this little shotgun!

Regards,

Dyson

[4011]

Bought one new that sounds somewhat like yours in the early 70's. Sold it awhile back when I purged the firearm stock.

[rimfired]

Dyson, Double check the mod # first. 311 and 511 can be confused.
However, Stevens stamped a date code from 3/49 till 12/68 usually behind the hinge pin and or front of the trigger guard bottom of the frame. It will present as a small circle with a number and letter. Give the letter and I can probably date it.
Sorry, didn't see your "post 68 reference", check anyway.

I had one years ago, well made and a great field gun. Hope you enjoy yours!

[NE450No2]

rimfired

I have a Stevens Mod 311A 20ga.

My dad gave it to my mom when they gor married in 1950.

It was given to me after the stock was cut down and a recoil pad fitted.

My second brother got it next for a few years, then Brother No3 had it for a few years as well.

Then it went back to mom and dad.
My dad had the barrels cut off at 18.5" for a "house gun".

I got it back several years ago and the wife and I have used it several times for mountrain grouse in Montana while bear hunting, and as a utility gun at the deer lease.

I now use it on the place we moved to out in the country for snakes, skunks etc.

My nephew killed his first turkey with it as well, with the 18.5" barrels.

Can you tell me what year it was made. It has the letter A in a circle, followed by the letter E, also in a circle. It also has the letters C W non in any circles.

[2152hq]

They started using the letter prefix serial number in 10/68 because of the GCA'68 mandate.
They used letters 'A' thru 'E' in the prefix for the 311 variants.
Serial numbers were always 6 digits preceded by the letter. First serial number was A000001 in 10/68.
The numbers ran to A999,999 then they started over with B000001 and ran to B999,999 and so on.

Where/what year the change to the next letter prefix was made, I don't know and it doesn't follow any pattern. Just production numbers. The letter prefix has nothing to do with indicating a year of manufacture.

Savage/Stevens/Fox production records for that time were supposedly lost in an accident at the factory due to water damage.

Somewhere in the late 70's, they did start stamping an additional number on the frame, barrels and forend. A number from '1' to '20' was hand stamped on those parts (matching on an individual shotgun).

It had something to do with their shipping system of 20 guns to a shipping container and keeping the major parts identifiable should the guns become broken down.

[rimfired]

Nope, I see a more knowledgeable response has been posted. However your time frame for the history and the
Alpha stamping would be correct for "A" =1949 and "E" =1953. The possibilities for mis-stamping/cross-stamping/non-stamping and endless unquantified/qualified markings would also make an S&W collector go bonkers, wait, they already are!!!!

[NE450No2]

Thanks guys.

Well, I know for sure that the gun was bought in 1950, the year they married, so the A in a circle, for made in 1949 makes sence.

[Frizzman]

When I was a junior in HS my father and I went to a local sporting goods store near our house to look around. It was a small shop and was going out of business. There were a few shotguns laying against a counter for sale at pretty good prices. One was a 511 12ga, full and modified. I told my dad that I would be willing to donate an arm to get that shotgun. I had an old Ithaca single 12ga I got when I was 12 with money from a part time job. That double looked pretty slick to me.

Class rings went on sale soon after that. I thought I would get one as most of my friends had. I wasn't that enthusiastic about it though. Dad made me an offer. He said he would pay for a ring OR I could get the 511 for Christmas. I thought it over for maybe a whole second and chose the shotgun. As promised, I got it for Christmas that year. It was 1966 I believe.

I still have that shotgun. I have taken deer and all kinds of small game with that old double over the many years I have had it. Dad passed away in 1976. I think of him every time I handle and shoot that old gun. I would keep it if I could only have one gun. It is not very fancy. The stock is some sort of hardwood and it has extractors and double triggers. Its a bit beaten up from years of rough use. It doesn't take 3" or better shells but it has never failed me. If you grow to love that gun a fraction as much as I love mine, it was well worth the money!

[Gary]

I have had 3-4 of these over the years and like them a lot. They are almost indestructable. I bought a 16ga one over the weekend. This one is a Sears 101.7. It is the version of the Stevens 311 that they made for Sears. You will like it.

[DGNY]

Thanks for the responses - I was away for a few days. I note a small #
39 on the underside of the action just behind the forearm.

Any further help in dating the Model 511 shotgun mentioned in my original post will be appreciated, SN B173859.

Thanks,

Dyson