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Old 05-29-2016, 07:05 PM
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Default My latest project...Stevens 311A

I stumbled across a Stevens 311A in sad shape...but the barrels and the case coloring were good. I just couldn't resist giving it a face lift.

I took off the old varnish on the reciever and cleared it with duracoat clear. For the bluing I tried the DuraBlue from duracoat...It won't be mistaken for hot bluing..but it turned out ok. The stocks needed some major help...I did the best I could. I also shortened the barrels to 20"

I think it's a keeper!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 311-6.jpg (45.1 KB, 204 views)
File Type: jpg 311-3.jpg (42.3 KB, 191 views)
File Type: jpg 311-c.jpg (207.1 KB, 221 views)
File Type: jpg 311-b.jpg (173.3 KB, 209 views)
File Type: jpg 311-a.jpg (88.5 KB, 148 views)

Last edited by Prodigal Son; 05-30-2016 at 06:35 AM.
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Old 05-29-2016, 07:16 PM
jack the toad jack the toad is offline
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From the pics, it looks good to me...
Last year I ran across an old Ithaca Lafever Nitro Special with good barrels from 1924. I haven't got around to doing anything with it yet but maybe some day.
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Old 05-29-2016, 07:35 PM
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Good job bring one back to life.
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Old 05-29-2016, 08:31 PM
damienph damienph is offline
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Good rescue!! What is your opinion of the Dura Blue now that you've tried it? Would you use it again or got with one of their other finishes? I am considering using their black on an old revolver but I have no experience with their finishes.

Last edited by damienph; 05-29-2016 at 08:44 PM.
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Old 05-29-2016, 10:28 PM
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My favorite of the shotguns I've owned over the years was a Stevens 311 (though it bore the Sears name) in twenty gauge, 28'' full and modified with three-inch chambers. Took a carload of doves and rabbits with that gun and absolutely loved it.

You've got that one looking very nice--good work.
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Old 05-29-2016, 11:28 PM
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Thanks for the kinds words. It was a fun project.

I thought the Durablue was easy to apply. I used the aerosol version and it worked well...but I have a lot of experience spraying clear lacquer with a spray gun. If you follow the instruction to the letter, you should get good results.
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Old 05-30-2016, 12:05 AM
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This 311 20 gauge has a new stock and fore arm. The originals were plastic. I also had the barrels cut but no refinish. Yours looks great.
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Old 05-30-2016, 07:39 AM
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Really like the results.
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Old 05-30-2016, 10:36 AM
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I've an Ithaca and a LeFever that I cut down for SASS. Also, a Stevens. Love those oldies and they are not expensive. Don't think I paid over $300 for any of them.
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Old 05-30-2016, 01:25 PM
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I got a 16ga from my aunt a few years ago that had been in a flooded garage sitting butt down in 6-8in of water. It seeped up the buttstock bolt to the receiver and chambers. I spent a couple days cleaning it up including stripping the varnish off the receiver and whatever finish was left on the wood. It turned out pretty good.























The old 12ga TRIUMPH single shot above it in the first pic turned out nice as well. They used good wood on the cheap shotguns back in the day.




Last edited by JohnRippert; 05-30-2016 at 01:28 PM.
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Old 05-30-2016, 02:28 PM
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Default Great!

Restoring an old firearm to active duty is one of the most rewarding and often most overlooked pleasures of owning firearms. You did a great job.

I posted a similar thread here within the past year detailing a resurrection I performed on an old Mossberg .22, entitled,
"I have this here old rifle." http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearm...old-rifle.html
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Old 05-30-2016, 03:32 PM
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Very cool! Sometimes the most pedestrian firearms can give you the most satisfaction! I love seeing old guns like this get a new life. Thanks for sharing
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Old 05-30-2016, 04:12 PM
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How bad is the right side stock crack ?
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Old 05-30-2016, 08:54 PM
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It was a clean break all the way through. I dissolved the old glue, put in a brass pin and re-glued.
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Old 05-30-2016, 09:51 PM
Drm50 Drm50 is offline
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You have just made it into a $400 Coach Gun, one I would rather have than a new import from Brazil or China. Nice job!
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Old 05-30-2016, 10:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drm50 View Post
You have just made it into a $400 Coach Gun, one I would rather have than a new import from Brazil or China. Nice job!
I have been giving serious thought to doing just that on mine. The single shot will make a excellent wall hanger above the fireplace.
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Old 05-30-2016, 10:23 PM
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I have cut off many shotguns of all types & makes. On double
guns my finishing touch is to fill the void left in rib after cutting off. I take a dremel and polish up inside the hole. Take a tuft of
4/0 steel wool and push into hole. Put paste flux in on top of the
steel wool. Then "drip" low temp Silver Solder into hole. You want
to overfill hole. When this is done make fast pass with torch, just
enough to melt solder. When cool draw file with single cut file and
flush it with barrel. Some fine emery to finish it off. Most cold
blues will black the silver solder. * you have to be careful heating
up barrel as not to have rib separate from original solder job.
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Old 05-30-2016, 11:03 PM
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I've had my eye on a Stevens 311 in an LGS for a couple of months. I don't think it's going anywhere...it's in like new condition with a $600 price tag on it. The gun's so simple, it's beautiful. Every time I'm in there, which is about once a week, I pick it up, open the breech, look down the barrels, close it back up and put it back in the rack. Just had to have about $1800 worth of work done on my old truck...got no business foolin' around in gun stores.
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Old 05-30-2016, 11:23 PM
RichCapeCod RichCapeCod is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Prodigal Son View Post
I stumbled across a Stevens 311A in sad shape......
Your shotgun is a much underrated personal defense weapon. This model was used for decades by the NYPD’s detectives. I ran, among other training sections, the detective shotgun one. The advantage of this firearm is multifaceted;

• Mechanism is simple to operate.
• Simple to make safe (push the tang safety forward if you want the pellets to go forward. Pull it back if you want them to stay in the gun. Confused? Just open the action and the safety goes “on.”).
• Two independent firing mechanisms.
• Two pulls of the trigger and, with 00 magnum buck you have 24 pellets going down range. A submachine gun normally holds 30 rounds.
• Gun can be broken down and concealed. Useful for entering a premises when setting up for a stake-out (I’ve done just that).

That’s a fine, practical weapon. Use it well.

Rich
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Old 05-30-2016, 11:28 PM
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These guys make reasonably priced semi-finished replacement stocks and forearms... I ordered a set for my Stevens 235, which pre-dates the 311's. The 235 has solid steel barrels, and external hammers.

Stevens stocks
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Old 05-31-2016, 12:30 AM
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My house shotgun is one I hunted with for many years, an old Stevens 53A twelve-gauge side-by-side that was very well worn--almost no finish on the metal--when I bought it. I had it sawed to twenty inches, and I have a supply of #4 buck ammo. It's no beauty to put it gently, but if necessary it could give someone a really lousy day.
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Old 05-31-2016, 02:14 AM
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I hate to be the one to rain on the parade, but you've just ruined any collector's interest in that gun.

Kidding, of course! Very nice, every shooter needs a nice coach gun.

Way back when, I viewed the 311 as lower end, even though I couldn't afford a nicer one, like a Fox. Now, its quality is obvious.

And no, it's not going to be mistaken for a hot blue, but it still looks pretty decent.
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Old 05-31-2016, 11:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Prodigal Son View Post
For the bluing I tried the DuraBlue from duracoat...It won't be mistaken for hot bluing..but it turned out ok.
Yes, it did. And it's a keeper, as you say.

When using the DuraBlue, did you prep the barrels in any way?

I'm curious about something else, too. When shortening shotgun barrels, lots of people seem to go with 20 inches. If you're going to chop the barrels, why not go all the way to the legal limit of 18.5 inches?

I think your shotgun looks just fine.
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Old 05-31-2016, 10:10 PM
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Thanks!

I stripped the old bluing off the barrels with phosphoric acid and then media blasted them with a fine grit. Then it was just degrease and spray.

I read a lot about the barrel length for doubles and there seems to be a consensus that 20" barrels seems to handle and point better...I have no proof other than what I read. I can always make it shorter if I don't like it.

Another consideration was that since I was shortening the barrels myself, it would be wise to err on the long side just in case.

Last edited by Prodigal Son; 05-31-2016 at 10:12 PM.
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Old 06-01-2016, 12:40 AM
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My Dad had a 16 gauge 311, when the quail disappeared I got to use it all the time. Ducks, rabbits, squirrels and one turkey fell to the purple hulls.

He bought a Savage Fox in 12 gauge and traded the old one in. Nice and missed portion of my youth.

On Doubles, when cut there almost always is gaps in the solder holding the BBLs together. Heat her can separate the bbls. I like DRM50's method and will use it if I ever cut another double.

Your old 311 came out beautiful. Nice work.

I for one would rather bring home a used or even basket case gun and restore it, NIB guns don't create much love on my part. Every mark on a used gun has some history or story and it's a shame they don't have a diary by the previous owners with it.

This winter I restored an Ithaca M-37, I used it this turkey season but did not have any luck. I need to add a new recoil pad and the grip cap and it will be finished. There was an Ithaca double minus all wood work at a local gun show, $100.00. I bought a nice 1959 Colt NM at the show, ammo and some odds and ends before I saw it. I'm hoping it will be at the show next time.
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