Classic Old Shotgun

[2152hq]

Savage/Fox Model B Side-by-Side Shotguns[/url]

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The Fox Model B ws intro'd by way of an insert into the 1939 Savage/Stevens/Fox catalog in 1939.
It appeared in the print catalog in 1940..

The Model 311 started life as the Springfield 311 in 1929 from Stevens Arms Co.
It was built on the Lewis Action using the coil spring straight line stikerr action.
Stevens (as part of Savage Arms as of 1920) started using an internal rotating hammer action in 1936 for a SxS action.

They started building their Models 330 & 530 Stevens sxs's and the Springfield 315 and 515 on this new action.
The Springfield 311 however was to continued to be built on the older Lewis action with the coil spring strikers right up to WW2 when most all sporting arms production stopped..

After WW2, 1947, The Stevens Model 530(M) that had previewed just before the War as a Tenite stocked version of the 530 was now cataloged as
the Springfield 311.

This is the first sign of a Model 311 with the internal rotating hammer action being on the market.
In 1948, the catalog name of the Springfield 311 was changed to the Stevens 311.

Fox Model B cataloged 1939/40
Springfield 311/ Stevens 311 (using the same action type) cataloged 1947/48

Another decent low$$ American shooter grade SxS is the Meriden/Aubrey Firearms.
They show up fairly often and are a true sidelock with a very close resemblence to the LC Smith.
A notch below the LCS in workmanship on many (depending on the era of the LCS), but a great shooter.
I'd deffinetly place them above a Cresent in quality

They can be either Damascus/Twist bbl or Steel bbl.
Many different grades and eay to tell both grade and bbl steel type by the markings on the action flats.

I've had a number of them in my Meriden Days. Even a Wm. Gough engraved Grade 58.
Plus a hammerless SBT and some other lesser grade SxS's.

Made in Meriden, Ct. Many workers were Parker Gun Works people. The factory was owned and run by Sears Roebuck. They decided to build and run their own gun factory to by-pass the other big names. Make their own guns and not have to pay the big boys cut.
Taken over by NewEngland Westinghouse in WW1. Made M/Nagant parts for the Remington contract & other stuff incl BAR parts for MArlin. Bankrupted of course after 1918 and closed down.

 

[Jebus35745]

I went with a Victor Sarasqueta in 20 ga for hunting. Wanted a light weight, getting older. It was imported by Stoeger. The Savage/Stevens are work horses, built strong. Good luck with your choice, lot of nice old shotguns here. Love a SxS, Larry

 

[GSP Fan]

SKB also made a nice SXS. Models were 100, 150 and IIRC the highest grade was the M280.

 

[Buick]

For my money the Browning Citori or BSS is probably the most gun, but I second the LeFever Nitro Special (made by Ithaca) or the Fox Sterlingworth (everyone should have one) if found in really nice shape.

 

[DWalt]

Have owned a Browning Citori Lightning 12 gauge with the old-style invector choke tubes for 35 years. I can say nothing bad about it. Used mainly for skeet with some hunting use. Probably should sell it as I have pretty well ceased hunting and clay bird shooting.

 

[Hair Trigger]

This is the first sign of a Model 311 with the internal rotating hammer action being on the market.
In 1948, the catalog name of the Springfield 311 was changed to the Stevens 311.

When you say "internal rotating hammer" do you mean a hammer that swings forward into the firing pin after being cocked, somewhat like how a revolver hammer moves, or like an internal version of a rabbit-ear hammer?

 

[2152hq]

In that statement I was making the difference betw the earlier Model 311 that used the coil spring straightline striker mechanism (G E Lewis action design). That used up to WW2.

..and the later design action that the Springfield 311 was bilt on what we would call a 'Hammerless Action'.
But the 'Hammers' are actually inside the frame.
No Rabbit Ear guns involver here.

The internal hammers rotate on on the 'Hammer Pin or axle'.

The same idea is used in a Parker, Win21, AH Fox, Ithaca,, and just about every other BoxLock SxS out there...
They are called 'Hammerless Boxlock Actions. but they all have internal hammers that rotate on a pin, axle or spindle. What ever you what to call it.
Internal Rotating Hammers as opposed to the Coil Spring Striker/firing pins that the Mod 311 used up to WW2.

That new Hammerless Box Lock design was called the 5100 action.

It was first used in 1936 by Steven/Savage on the Stevens 330 & 530,,but not the Springfield 311.

The Fox B came out in '39/40 using that same action ( the 5100 )
The Fox B would be an ungraded Stevens 530 if nothing else.
(The 530 is a slightly better grade of the 330,,checkering, better wood, etc)

The 311 didn't get the 5100 style action upgrade till 1947 when the (pre-War) Stevens 530M (tenite stocked Model 530 w/ 5100 style action) got renamed the Springfield 311.
Same gun renamed the Stevens 311 in 1948