Remington 'Sportsman 58'

[Stevie]

Never heard of this model!

Looks like a plain barreled 1100 with the fanciest wood I've ever seen on a field-grade gun(I guess it's a field-grade?)...has some sort of shell adjustment on the mag-tube/barrel nut. Dogs and birds plus scroll on one side receiver..ducks and scroll on the other

This is a 12ga plain barreled improved cylinder chocked gun...maybe 28" barrel. Has a crack at the wrist needs repaired(not too bad)...otherwise excellent.

Are these worth owning???....

What's up with the adjustment on the front-cap?(how does it work)

How old might this thing be?

Thanx

 

[s&wchad]

Made in the mid 50's to mid 60's, when the 1100 replaced it.

The knob adjusts the gas system for high/low brass shells. Read that stiff field loads vs light target loads.

I've seen a number of them with cracked stocks; I looked at one this past weekend. It's probably not worth repairing the stock, an 870 stock will bolt right on to a Model 58. IMO, the 1100 is a better gun.

 

[A10]

The gas system is a different beast on this one too. If it's a bargain it would be OK but if it's in the range of a used 1100, I too would go that route.

 

[spricks]

I have one with both a fine shot barrel and a slug barrel. It is a gas operated semi-auto that is only a 3 shot gun prior to the production of the 1100. The adjustment is for light and heavy loads. I've shot countless rounds without any failure regardless of the load. Mine was bought new by my father after WWII and handed down to me.

I agree that they are nice looking and grreat shooting guns. Most figure they are worth less than $500, however I would never sell mine that cheap. It's in almost new condition, however it has been used alot.

spricks

 

[Stevie]

This is a BDL...not a field-grade...says so right on the bottom of the receiver

Also I looked it over better to see if the cracks were cracks...and not scratches...and the cracks are repaired cracks...has had a couple small reinforcing dowels glued in from the bottom just behind the action.

Also has some repaired cracks at the front/bottom of the forearm I hadn't noticed.

The wood itself is gorgeous!...maybe AA grade fancy walnut or better...can't toss wood like that!!

I wish I had a camera...wood like this ain't on just every gun

 

[Texas Star]

This is a BDL...not a field-grade...says so right on the bottom of the receiver

Also I looked it over better to see if the cracks were cracks...and not scratches...and the cracks are repaired cracks...has had a couple small reinforcing dowels glued in from the bottom just behind the action.

Also has some repaired cracks at the front/bottom of the forearm I hadn't noticed.

The wood itself is gorgeous!...maybe AA grade fancy walnut or better...can't toss wood like that!!

I wish I had a camera...wood like this ain't on just every gun

Neither are cracked stocks. I'd hold out for a Skeet Grade M-1100.

 

[2152hq]

I think they made them in 4 grades,,ADL, BDL, and 2 that were factory engraved (Expert & Premier?).

Check the right side of the receiver,,the long thin open slot that the bolt handle rides in when in full recoil.

At the very end of that open slot (the extreme left end as you hold the shotgun).. they used to develop a hairline crack in the receiver wall there from the metal flexing during firing.
Not all of them and not all the time. But they did show up on occasion. The crack would continue back into the receiver metal and weaken the structure. One method of repair was to drill a tiny hole at the end of the existing crack to end it's travels. You lived with the small hole and the crack where it had gone so far. But it didn't go any farther.

Remingtons first gas op shotgun.
I always take a second look at guns like this, Sportsman 48's, 11's, 10's, earlier Winchesters, Stevens, ect.
Sometimes one will just hit me right and it goes home.

Sounds like extra fancy wood American Walnut. They can be fragile when it gets too fancy and you have to help them along with some reinforcement along the way.

 

[Stevie]

Yeh...but I think I just had this shotgun given to me or whatever...previous owner(my Vietnam Vet neighbor) was going to saw off the barrel at 20" and make a fighting shotgun...as soon as I told him the mag only held like two or three shells...he lost interest...

I told him it would be a sin to chop this cool old gun as well...When I went out to my truck to go to lunch..the Rem 58 was in my front seat?

I guess I should get a bottle of whiskey and go find out what the deal is huh?

 

[2152hq]

Sounds like a good plan!

 

[Stevie]

I can tell what happened to the front-wood....somebody unscrewed the barrel/forearm assembly...and then 'levered' the forearm downwards off the barrel and busted the pretty wood!!

Glued it all back and 'Linspeed'ed it...plus the repaired stock is refinished too...fair job on the refinish..checkering isn't filled and still good...the repairs probably could be better..but if the glue is good..look servicable.

The metal is nice!...I checked it out to see if I thought it was reblued...but I don't think so..the finish is still perfect on the triggerguard..and the blue is excellent..little bit of edge/corner wear..even internaly isn't worn to any real degree.

I own a Rem 1100 that has seen thousands and thousands of shells..and it's well worn!(still running like a champ tho). My Rem 1100 probably not a lot newer than this old Remington as it seems like I dated it to like 1966 or 1969...This shotgun's mechanicals don't look much used compared to my abused 1100..

I see how it all works now...sort of like a 1100 but with the gas system and recoil spring occupying half the magazine-tube..instead of the recoilspring in the buttstock and the gas system external on the mag-tube..really pretty simple...can see evolutionary steps towards the mighty 1100!