Sentimentality or Quality? Which gun to buy??**It's Here!!!PICS ADDED!!!**

[policerevolvercollector]

Here's my predicament.

When I was a kid, I had a Stevens 311A 16 gauge double bbl. w. 26" bbls. (Improved cylinder/modified chokes). It was a bird gun extraordinaire! No $10K over and under could have taken more birds etc. I even took a bear with it once.

Well the kicker is that maybe 35 years ago, I sold it. Young and foolish... I know.

Over the past few years,I occasionally replace what I had back then when the model etc. presents itself.

Now, my search for a duplicate for the Stevens is ongoing. I found a few that were the wrong bbl length or choke or both. However, I just came across a Savage- Fox Model B in exactly the correct configuration which it is a nicer shotgun in fit and finish. It is about $100 more than one of the Stevens guns I've been seeing. Some of the Stevens shotguns are basically the same price or even a little more expensive.

I realize that "my" gun is gone forever. So, should hold out for an exact Stevens duplicate or get the nicer gun in the correct configuration for more or less the same price??

Any advice appreciated!!

Best,
Charles

 

[Kanewpadle]

You're the only one that will know that it's not the same. How does that make you feel? Will you get the same satisfaction from shooting it? Do you want to look for the rest of your life is hopes of finding the exact model knowing you might not?

I say buy it if it will fill the void.

 

[da gimp]

I'd get this one... if it has taken this long to find one this close... who knows if the other ever will appear. If it does show up for a good price, pick it up & decide which shoots better for you NOW.....& keep that one.

 

[kthom]

Charles,

I'm very fond of double side by sides, and I have found that there is not a lot of choice to be had these days. Occasionally a good used one will be found, but as you say, you take what you get in those examples as far as choke and barrel length is concerned. First, whatever you get, you need to be satisfied with it for yourself. It needs to fit you and feel good in your hands and you need to feel like you can still whack those birds with it!

But as far as the choice between the two brands, if you can find what you are looking for in the Savage/Fox, and it meets the criteria above, I say get it, because I don't think there will be any real difference in quality. And the truth is, as you say, "Your" gun is gone forever, so all you can likely find now will be a reasonable facimile.

This is my opinion, what I would likely decide, and you have to decide for yourself. But I'd guess that you would likely be pleased with this replacement. You will still remember and see that original and smile when you look at this one and use it, but if you can still get the birds with the new one, it'll likely be just fine. Good luck with your choice!

 

[arjay]

Buy it and keep an eye out for the Stevens.

 

[Rpg]

If it feels right, buy it!

The Sevens, in that configuration, is uncommon.

I haven't seen one in many years.

If I had, I'd have bought it.

 

[NMPinNYC]

Buy it. I sold a Series 80 Colt Combat Elite many years ago, and have been wanting to replace it since; blued slide on stainless frame. Have seen many new issue Combat Elites, but not one in the style and condition of the one I sold. I recently found a similarly done two-toned Cold Gold Cup and I decided to go with that as my substitute for the long-gone one I sold. A little different but a slight upgrade and a good replacement for the gun I had sold years ago. That's my story and that's my recommendation: Go with the upgrade you found.

 

[arjay]

Sentimentality or Quality? Which gun to buy??

Buy it. I sold a Series 80 Colt Combat Elite many years ago, and have been wanting to replace it since; blued slide on stainless frame. Have seen many new issue Combat Elites, but not one in the style and condition of the one I sold. I recently found a similarly done two-toned Cold Gold Cup and I decided to go with that as my substitute for the long-gone one I sold. A little different but a slight upgrade and a good replacement for the gun I had sold years ago. That's my story and that's my recommendation: Go with the upgrade you found.

They are out there.Found one a while back on GB.Still had the original rubber grips ( which I changed) and SS Extractor.Keep looking!

 

[Absalom]

You know what they say about a bird in the hand.

Get the Savage, enjoy it, and if you do come across a Stevens that is perfect after all, buy that and sell the Savage. Or not.

If you lose a few bucks in the buying/re-selling, who cares? You only live once .

 

[retiredbadge8091]

I've got a Ward's Triumph 16 gauge side by side I inherited from my maternal grandfather. It had a broken stock that I replaced with a butt stock and forearm from the old ***en Stock Co.

I love that shotgun and would never sell it. Grab the gun that's close to your old shotgun and keep looking for the old gun's twin. Thanks for reminding me of my old 16 gauge, I need to get it out and throw some clay pigeons.

 

[crazyphil]

Keep looking. The quest is a big part of the fun.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I will tell you this, in order to convince you to buy the Fox-b.

The middle class in England has discovered Sporting Clays, but they cannot afford English or Scottish shotguns, nor can they afford the maintenance and repair of those guns. So the few that have inherited the field grade guns are selling them, and along with many newer shooters, they are buying nice condition Stevens, Savage ,and Fox-b SxS's.

311's and their predecessors the 310 are maintainable with a good set of screwdrivers and parts Fed-EXed from the U.S., whereas most English guns require springs and parts to be custom made or at least hand fit.

Buy the nice replacement. Then you can decide if the quest has been fulfilled. Questing is a form of therapy all its own, but like most therapies there are costly in time and money. Maybe the Fox-b will allow you quit questing (at least for your SxS) and move on.

I have a Nice Fox-b, 12 gauge 28" Mod/full choked. If fills the gap nicely of an inexpensive SxS I had years ago, to the point I thinking of sell my German side-lock. I'll have to open either gun's chokes to accept steel shot if I resume water fowl hunting. It is the one I 'brung", so I'll dance with her.

Ivan

 

[alwslate]

I think you will find that the Savage-Fox and the Stevens 311 are the
same gun mechanically if you look at the exploded views. The
differences are in the details, wood, finish and maybe triggers. You may
have a long search if you let the Savage-Fox get away.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I own a 311 with 28" M/F barrels and a Fox B with 26" IC/M barrels, both in 20 gauge. I like the wider forearm on the B model. I suggest you buy the Fox you found.

 

[old bear]

Charles, always buy the nicest gun, or anything else, you can afford.

 

[TinMon]

I agree w/ Crazyphil: Go over in your mind the fun you are having searching for that part of your youth.

The Journey
The Memories
The Excitement when you get a lead
YES, even the disappointment when that lead does not pan out
SO, you keep trying.

Enjoy!

 

[Salty RI]

I have the same Stevens in a 20ga I bought it used in about 1961, I am still using it, I also had a Fox Sterlingworth A grade that I bought a few years later in 12ga also used, I sold it a few years back a guy saw it and offered me 3 K for it, if I were you I would buy the Fox.

 

[Watchdog]

I realize that "my" gun is gone forever. So, should hold out for an exact Stevens duplicate or get the nicer gun in the correct configuration for more or less the same price??

Any advice appreciated!!

Best,
Charles

I believe we all see the much loved guns of our youth through a rosy haze of memories...memories of places and dogs and people who are often no longer with us. We connect the gun memories to those people and things, and when we remember them, it's often like an old home movie running through our brains. The images might be a bit faded and jerky, but they're still there.

An ordinary old workhorse field gun like your 311A can assume an almost mythical status...and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that!

Yes, your original Stevens is gone and you'll most likely never see it again in this life.

Advice? If you aren't in a big hurry, why not keep looking for a Stevens 311A in 16-gauge? I think if you buy the Fox, you'll always be thinking something like, "Well, this is a good ol' shotgun, but I sure wish I had an old Stevens 311A like I used to have when I was younger."

One other thing...the 311s in any gauge are going for a premium around here. It isn't at all unusual to see a $600 price tag on one. I'd say if you want one like you had, get it when you find it.

Good luck in your search.

 

[2152hq]

The Fox Model B actually precedes the Stevens 311.
Fox Model B came out in 1940,, the Springfield 311 in 1947, then the Stevens 311 in 1948.

The Fox Mod B is a 'Fox' shotgun in name only, all of the above being mfg by Savage Arms who had bought out both Stevens and AH Fox Gun Co and used the names. The Fox Model B and the original AH Fox shotguns share no mechanical or parts similaritys.\
That doesn't mean that the Fox B isn't a decent gun, nor are the thousands of 311's still going strong.

The Fox B is often called a dolled up 311,,more properly the 311 is a plain jane version of the former having come out in production 7 or 8 years after.

Very simple boxlocks with minimal fitting required of the internal parts upon assembly to make them work. Perfect for a production line affordable SxS in the post war not so cheap labor era.

Fox Model B and 311 shotguns in small bore (16,20 and 410) are starting to command some $$ when found in high condition. The early casecolored frames and minimal handcheckering on the walnut stocks draws the old guys back into daydreams of their youth,,and at still affordable prices.
The later production Model B with vent rib, ejectors and single triggers from the late 60's, and 70's, satin gray finished frames, ect don't bring quite the same interest.
But I'm starting to see more than a few early Model B Fox guns being handled with love and care at vintage shoots. Some early 311's in high condition and small bore going for good money too.

The first SxS I really shot well was a Fox B in 16. I got plenty of grief and looks from the old man crowd with their 12g autoloaders (a real man shot only a 12ga w/ 2 3/4" magnum ammo,,and only a pump or semi after all).
But after I downed my share of birds, I was satisfied.
My previous SxS was a field grade LCS 12ga that knocked all 4"11" of me all over the place with the 2 3/4" baby magnums provided as hunting ammo. A sure miss proposition,,,but you had to have a 12 after all and those Peters HV mags #4's were the best!

 

[sigp220.45]

Dang it, Charles - I think I have your old gun.



Somehow it made its way to Albuquerque, where it languished at Ron Peterson's for about 20 minutes before I scarfed it up.



I'd trade you out of one of your sweet revolvers, but I got this to also replace a long lost childhood gun, so I think I'll hang on to it.



My favorite thing about the great 16 gauge? Purple shells, of course.



I'd say buy that fancy Fox, but keep looking for the gun of your youth.