[Gunsite Guy]

When I was a pre-teen, nearly 60 years ago, I use to borrow one of my friends shotgun for everything, from quail and ducks, to deer and turkeys. My family had shotguns but my buddy and I like this one in particular. I believe it was a Stevens and was a 12 gauge and a SxS. I'm pretty sure it had 26" barrels. It had a plastic stock and was ugly as the back of my b___s. Nevertheless, as ugly as it was we could both shoot this particular gun better than any of the other guns in our two families.

Could anyone point me to a likely manufacturer and model number? I'll buy you a beer if we ever meet.

s/f Steve

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Probably a Savage/Stevens mdl 311 with a Tenite(plastic) stock and forend.

 

[Gunsite Guy]

Thanks you kind sir.

s/f Steve

 

[wrfish]

I have all 4 gauges of the Stevens 311 they came in 12,16,20, and .410. All have the birch/beech stocks.I have had the 16 ga since 1960. I hardly shoot any of these guns as they do not fit me well . There are many shotguns that would do you a better job although you can find the Stevens at a low price of $400 for a 12ga, I bought the ,410 about 5 years ago for $600.

 

[4575wcf]

I believe you will find that the most of the Savage/Stevens doubles with the plastic (Tennite) stocks were the Model 5100. My father brought one home from the sawmill that a co worker was trying to sell in 16 gauge. I had no money of my own, being a high school kid at the time, but I would have given my eye teeth for it. The Old Man would not be moved, and the deal was lost. Forty years later, and I still think of it now and again. Seems the fellow wanted the princely sum of $80 US for it.

 

[geometric]

All of the Stevens / Savage guns are essentially the same. I had one that Sears sold in .410 when I was a kid. I hunted with a guy in Washington State that had a 12 ga. W/ the plastic stock. He hunted bear with dogs (not with me) & carried it as a backup gun with buckshot. He said he wouldn't be afraid to go up against a grizzly with it. I think he is still alive! I had a 12 ga. Stevens model B Fox (a dressed up Stevens) & a 311 20 ga. that I still shoot & shoot very well. IMHO, the smaller ga. Stevens double guns are better balanced & handle better.

 

[Wulfheard]

All of the Stevens / Savage guns are essentially the same. I had one that Sears sold in .410 when I was a kid. I hunted with a guy in Washington State that had a 12 ga. W/ the plastic stock. He hunted bear with dogs (not with me) & carried it as a backup gun with buckshot. He said he wouldn't be afraid to go up against a grizzly with it. I think he is still alive! I had a 12 ga. Stevens model B Fox (a dressed up Stevens) & a 311 20 ga. that I still shoot & shoot very well. IMHO, the smaller ga. Stevens double guns are better balanced & handle better.

Agreed, the sub gauges both 16 and 20 in the Fox B and Steven's 311 are not bad handling doubles... The 12ga is another story. The 12ga guns generally have all the handling characteristics of a waterlogged railroad tie.

 

[4575wcf]

I am currently tearing into my shop "Guinea Pig" an early Stevens Model 335 frame. I am bringing it up to an equal point with the LC Smith project to use as a practice piece for the barrel jointing, case coloring etc. first try. There is a lot of "beef" in these early Stevens receivers and barrel groups, but due to questionable engineering they don't seem to hold up as well in use as they could. The 311 was a huge step forward, and probably the best of the lot, but in 12 gauge it is "blocky".