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  #1  
Old 03-07-2016, 09:45 PM
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Default Stevens 311E Info

Can anyone give me an idea on the birthdate of a 311E with a serial that starts A510? Thanks.
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Old 03-07-2016, 10:35 PM
tcon tcon is offline
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I have a Stevens 311 / 5100 and am curious about the mfg date. It has no serial number. I guess it will be a mystery.
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Old 03-07-2016, 10:47 PM
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I found this chart on another forum. I don't know
how accurate it is, but it sounds good.

A 1949 I 1957 S 1965
B 1950 J 1958 T 1966
C 1951 K 1959 U 1967
D 1952 L 1960 V 1968
E 1953 M1961 W 1969
F 1954 N 1962 X 1970
G 1955 P 1963
H 1956 R 1964
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Old 03-08-2016, 12:28 AM
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Redlevel, your chart is earlier than what I need. At one time they just marked the guns with a single letter. Later on they went to a letter and number. Tvcn, if you can find a letter, the chart may help you.
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Old 03-08-2016, 12:47 AM
2152hq 2152hq is online now
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The 'date code' was used on Savage made firearms in those yrs. Includes Stevens and 'Fox' brand guns as Savage owned both at the time.
Before 1968, shotguns were not required to be ser#'d under Fed law, and Savage usually did not do so. They did stamp these date codes on the shotguns (and just about every other firearm including the Model 99).
On the SxS like the 311, it's usually in an oval or circle on the bottom of the frame near the front nose where the forend fits. But you're likely to find it stamped most anywhere on the action. Sometimes there is one or two numbers along with the letter inside the oval/circle, different opinions on what the number(s) stands for.

After Dec '68, Fed law (GCA'68) required a ser# on shotguns and 22rf long guns, but the date codes continued to be struck along with them intermittently for a couple years by Savage/Stevens/Fox.

Savage says there are no records available if you ask them to search.
It's the old 'we had this fire and the sprinklers ruined all the records refrain."

The Models going back farther than the date code (1949) are just a mystery as far as exact date of mfg.
Some can give an educated guess at it by looking at mfg features, finishes & styles.

Model 311's made starting in 1968 that were ser#'d started with letter prefix 'A' and 000001. A six digit ser# was used from the start in '68 I believe.
They ran the production ser#'s up to A999999,,then started over with
B000001.
They continued like that producing 1 million guns under each Letter prefix.(Model 311's, 311 model variants, and 311 'store brand' marked guns)
They used letter prefix A thru E. The highest (last) ser# was approx E958xxx. I'm sure you can find the exact info somewhere on the net.
The prefixes were run till they reached 999999, without regard to any specific date, end of year, turn over date,ect.
So the Prefix can't be used to tell production data .

Don't confuse the ser# letter prefix (A thu E) with the Model 311 Series letter designation 311A thru 311H. These latter Model designations denote mfg, cosmetic and material changes done to the gun while in production.

One more confusing number to add to the 311 ser#. In the late 70's sometime, the factory started stamping a 1 thru 20 in front of the ser# on each gun of like model & spec.
I've read this was for shipping purposes. To make ID easy so that the standard shipping container of 20 guns could be easily packed with 20 of the same spec guns.
I don't know if I buy that or not. I think it may have more to do with ser# demands of BATF .
But that's what's out there!

Last edited by 2152hq; 03-08-2016 at 12:54 AM.
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Old 03-09-2016, 12:26 PM
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I took it down and found a stamped C inside a circle and close by an H and another C on a part of the receiver that is obscured when the gun is together. I interpret the info here to mean I probably have a '51? Thanks for the info!
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Old 03-09-2016, 09:59 PM
kaaskop49 kaaskop49 is offline
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My 311 purchased new in 1974 has serial #B649xxx. Frame of reference?

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Old 03-12-2016, 02:26 PM
RichCapeCod RichCapeCod is offline
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The Stevens 311 is an interesting double-barrel shotgun. While in the NYPD I used this model (in either a 18” or 20” version) as a detective. Each squad had one (not sure about now) and when a sgt. and lt. with the Firearms and Tactics Section I was responsible for conducting training in this model shotgun.

People tend to poo-poo the gun as obsolete as a police/personal defense firearm. Don’t believe it. The advantages of this model firearm for general detective issue are as follows:

*The gun is simple to operate. The tang safety is pushed forward if you wish for the slug/buckshot to go forward or pulled to the rear if you wish for the slug/buckshot to remain in the shotgun.

*If you are confused about the safety, open the action and the safety goes to “safe” automatically.

*The shotgun consists of two separate firing mechanisms. One of them is bound to work!

*With a double charge of 00 magnum buckshot (not for the faint of heart…) with two pulls of the trigger the shooter is sending 24 pellets downrange. A submachine gun, generally, used a magazine holding 30 rounds. And, yes, I know a 00 pellet isn’t the same as a 9mm slug.

*The gun breaks down into a very compact, three piece package (stock/barrels/forearm piece). You can wrap it all into a rolled up newspaper and nobody will know you just entered a store with a shotgun. Useful when setting up a back-room surveillance. Ask me how I know.

This was, and remains, a very useful weapon.

Rich
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Old 03-12-2016, 08:44 PM
Ivan the Butcher Ivan the Butcher is offline
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! have 2 311's in 12 gauge and a 310 in 20 gauge. 310's have internal hammers where 311's have strikers. These guns are durable beyond belief and an old used one will be serviceable for you through your grandchildren's lives! With moderate loads you can keep up a rate of fire the will rivel a pump gun or semi auto. In competition, I once had a 78 shot string. The key is learning to load 2 at a time. It takes practice to learn and more practice to stay quick! I often shoot 50-75 rounds a day for a week before I'm confident in my speed after a long layoff and find 25 to 50 rounds a week keeps me sharp after that edge is achieved. (fast reloading pump takes just as much practice or more) The simplicity of the gun allows for a learned instinct when proficiency is attained ( people often jam pumps under stress!)

Ivan
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