Comments on: [Guest Post] This Old Gun: The Stevens 311A Shotgun http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/11/10/guest-post-this-old-gun-the-stevens-311a-shotgun/ Firearms not Politics Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:19:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: William http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/11/10/guest-post-this-old-gun-the-stevens-311a-shotgun/comment-page-1/#comment-46466 William Sat, 06 Nov 2010 23:46:37 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=9099#comment-46466 It was great to read about the Stevens 311's I recently inherited one from my father, though he had many guns (some more valuable than the 311) the old side by side was the only one I wanted, it was "Dad's gun" the one he always carried when he taught me how to hunt and how to be a true sportsman. I had intended to retire the ol 16 gauge even though it's still in great shape (dad bought it new in the mid 50's) I want it to stay just like it was the last time dad carried it. However, reading your blog I'm starting to think that it may be more of a tribute to my dad to carry on with the old gun, would he want me to lock it away in my gun safe only to be brought out from time to time to admire the American craftmanship that went into this fine gun, or would he rather I carried it in the woods and use it the way it was meant to be used, the way he taught me to use it. It's a beautiful, reliable gun and makes a perfect argument for those who think that the more a gun cost the better it is, in some cases they have a point but when it comes to the 311 I don't know what more they could ask for (unless their just wanting something pretty to look at with fine engraving etc.) if your looking for a fine qual or rabbit gun, this is as good as any out there It was great to read about the Stevens 311′s I recently inherited one from my father, though he had many guns (some more valuable than the 311) the old side by side was the only one I wanted, it was “Dad’s gun” the one he always carried when he taught me how to hunt and how to be a true sportsman.
I had intended to retire the ol 16 gauge even though it’s still in great shape (dad bought it new in the mid 50′s) I want it to stay just like it was the last time dad carried it.
However, reading your blog I’m starting to think that it may be more of a tribute to my dad to carry on with the old gun, would he want me to lock it away in my gun safe only to be brought out from time to time to admire the American craftmanship that went into this fine gun, or would he rather I carried it in the woods and use it the way it was meant to be used, the way he taught me to use it.
It’s a beautiful, reliable gun and makes a perfect argument for those who think that the more a gun cost the better it is, in some cases they have a point but when it comes to the 311 I don’t know what more they could ask for (unless their just wanting something pretty to look at with fine engraving etc.) if your looking for a fine qual or rabbit gun, this is as good as any out there

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]]> By: Mehul Kamdar http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/11/10/guest-post-this-old-gun-the-stevens-311a-shotgun/comment-page-1/#comment-18394 Mehul Kamdar Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:51:21 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=9099#comment-18394 A long time ago and in another part of the world, I owned a Savage-Stevens SxS 12 ga shotgun which is still registered in my name. It accounted for over 200 pigs shot with ball and countless more shots at inanimate targets when I was bored. And when I moved to the USA, the gun was as tight as it had been the day I bought it. Somehow, they made things to last in the old days unlike now - call me an old fart if you like, but this is why I prefer a mint Browning A-5 made in 1956 for hunting these days and not the latest whizz-bang Benelli or Remington semi auto. The Savage-Stevens were poor mens' guns and if they were built as well as mine was, you can appreciate how well the more expensive guns built in the old days were. PS - Double triggers can be as easy to use as single selective ones. Just takes practice and there should be some fun in shooting a few rounds of clays at a club to get the hang of shooting with them. A long time ago and in another part of the world, I owned a Savage-Stevens SxS 12 ga shotgun which is still registered in my name. It accounted for over 200 pigs shot with ball and countless more shots at inanimate targets when I was bored. And when I moved to the USA, the gun was as tight as it had been the day I bought it. Somehow, they made things to last in the old days unlike now – call me an old fart if you like, but this is why I prefer a mint Browning A-5 made in 1956 for hunting these days and not the latest whizz-bang Benelli or Remington semi auto. The Savage-Stevens were poor mens’ guns and if they were built as well as mine was, you can appreciate how well the more expensive guns built in the old days were.

PS – Double triggers can be as easy to use as single selective ones. Just takes practice and there should be some fun in shooting a few rounds of clays at a club to get the hang of shooting with them.

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]]> By: Pedro http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/11/10/guest-post-this-old-gun-the-stevens-311a-shotgun/comment-page-1/#comment-17998 Pedro Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:51:26 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=9099#comment-17998 There is something special about shooting an old gun that was once owned by a family member from a generation or two back. In today's throw away society, good honest blue steel and walnut stands out, and having that connection to another family member adds to the mystique. Treasure that gun, Bill. It will live on for generations more. Might not be worth a great deal of money, but has a priceless history. There is something special about shooting an old gun that was once owned by a family member from a generation or two back.

In today’s throw away society, good honest blue steel and walnut stands out, and having that connection to another family member adds to the mystique.

Treasure that gun, Bill. It will live on for generations more. Might not be worth a great deal of money, but has a priceless history.

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]]> By: Arthur B. Burnett http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/11/10/guest-post-this-old-gun-the-stevens-311a-shotgun/comment-page-1/#comment-17882 Arthur B. Burnett Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:49:15 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=9099#comment-17882 I enjoyed both of your gun post Bill. Years back my girlfriend (now wife) and her (now our) son joined me in Cowboy Action Shooting. I had a russian built 12 gauge double barrel with exposed hammers but we needed another shotgun. Matt and Helene found stevens double like this one 12 Gauge. It may have been a 311 but it lives at Matts house these days and I'm not sure of the model number. It was heaver than mine, which helped with recoil, and the internal hammers ment it was faster on the stages when reloading two or three times under the clock. The beastie is built like an anvil and extremely reliable. The two trigger system is so natural I have never had a new shooter experience difficulty making friends with it. As for follow up shots, I don't think there is a better system than double barrels for two quick, aimed shots be it shotgun or rifle. Both Matt and I have various modern shotguns but when hunting for Ducks or Geese I still show up with my double barrel russian with exposed hammers, and Matt has his Stevens Double. I enjoyed both of your gun post Bill. Years back my girlfriend (now wife) and her (now our) son joined me in Cowboy Action Shooting. I had a russian built 12 gauge double barrel with exposed hammers but we needed another shotgun. Matt and Helene found stevens double like this one 12 Gauge. It may have been a 311 but it lives at Matts house these days and I’m not sure of the model number.
It was heaver than mine, which helped with recoil, and the internal hammers ment it was faster on the stages when reloading two or three times under the clock. The beastie is built like an anvil and extremely reliable.
The two trigger system is so natural I have never had a new shooter experience difficulty making friends with it. As for follow up shots, I don’t think there is a better system than double barrels for two quick, aimed shots be it shotgun or rifle.
Both Matt and I have various modern shotguns but when hunting for Ducks or Geese I still show up with my double barrel russian with exposed hammers, and Matt has his Stevens Double.

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]]> By: Oswald Bastable http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/11/10/guest-post-this-old-gun-the-stevens-311a-shotgun/comment-page-1/#comment-17880 Oswald Bastable Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:24:13 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=9099#comment-17880 Yes! My first experience with a shotgun was the 311. 30 years later, I brought one at auction for a song, as steel shot had just been made mandatory for gamebird (which I don't bother with) The left-hand barrel would often not fire, but this was fixed by stripping- sure enough it had many years of oil and crud binding up the lock. Not the first time I have got a bargin buying a 'sometimes working' gun! Yes!

My first experience with a shotgun was the 311.

30 years later, I brought one at auction for a song, as steel shot had just been made mandatory for gamebird (which I don’t bother with)

The left-hand barrel would often not fire, but this was fixed by stripping- sure enough it had many years of oil and crud binding up the lock. Not the first time I have got a bargin buying a ‘sometimes working’ gun!

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]]> By: Erich Martell http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/11/10/guest-post-this-old-gun-the-stevens-311a-shotgun/comment-page-1/#comment-17872 Erich Martell Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:02:23 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=9099#comment-17872 I really enjoyed this read and the pictures. Gave me a nice, happy feeling - I sure hope the 16-ga Stevens stays in your family for centuries to come. I really enjoyed this read and the pictures. Gave me a nice, happy feeling – I sure hope the 16-ga Stevens stays in your family for centuries to come.

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]]> By: Papa Bill http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/11/10/guest-post-this-old-gun-the-stevens-311a-shotgun/comment-page-1/#comment-17862 Papa Bill Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:13:45 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=9099#comment-17862 I did something very similar after being invited to join a local gun clubs weekly trap league this last spring. For the first few weeks I shot a borrowed shotgun but then the Chantilly “Nations Gun Show” came around and I found a new, in the box, Savage 311 in a private sale. The seller told me that his father had been a dealer but had passed away in the late 1990s. He and his sister moved the remaining sporting weapons to a storage facility and just kept them as is until the financial crises made them decide to sell them this year. My good luck. I paid $450.00 for the shotgun and research indicates that it was manufactured in 1983. It still had the factory grease and was in the factory box. It took forever to clean but in the end I was left with an outstanding double barrel that would do for trap and hunting. I did have a spring break after about 400 rounds. It took a local Virginia gunsmith about a week to repair and it’s been perfect since. Truth be told, it shoots better than it’s 60-year old owner. Papa Bill I did something very similar after being invited to join a local gun clubs weekly trap league this last spring. For the first few weeks I shot a borrowed shotgun but then the Chantilly “Nations Gun Show” came around and I found a new, in the box, Savage 311 in a private sale.

The seller told me that his father had been a dealer but had passed away in the late 1990s. He and his sister moved the remaining sporting weapons to a storage facility and just kept them as is until the financial crises made them decide to sell them this year. My good luck.

I paid $450.00 for the shotgun and research indicates that it was manufactured in 1983. It still had the factory grease and was in the factory box. It took forever to clean but in the end I was left with an outstanding double barrel that would do for trap and hunting.

I did have a spring break after about 400 rounds. It took a local Virginia gunsmith about a week to repair and it’s been perfect since. Truth be told, it shoots better than it’s 60-year old owner.

Papa Bill

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