Savage/Stevens 311 SXS

[brian]

[xtremesportsman]

Nice double Ghost, looks clean. I have a Savage Fox B double 12 gauge in very good shape and a 16 gauge Stevens double in not so good shape... but they both shoot... well the Savage will shoot once I get it back from the gunsmith. One of the firing pins over extended and needed to be reemed out... should have it Weds. here's a pic of the Stevens 16 gauge

[brian]

This is quickly becoming a challenge, that is, trying to find info on this gun. I do have some information but its sketchy at best.


The Stevens M311 was made from 1926 until 1945 with other versions being made until 1989. It was made in 12,16,20 gauge and in .410 bore. They were sturdy utilitarian SxS boxlocks. They were offered in field and riot versions with extractors and either double triggers or non-selective single triggers. Barrels were usually 30" or 28" choked modified & full or 26" choked improved cylinder and modified. The Riot Model had 18 1/2" cylinder barrels and was only made in 12ga. Some later versions were offered with 3" chambers.

Stevens/Savage and Stevens Fox used the basic M311 design to make other models. This gun was also made for department stores like Sears & Robuck and Wards and is often found with these companies' brand names such as "Ranger", etc.



The Stevens M311 and it's clones are very sturdy utlitarian boxlocks. Their only weak point that I am aware of is that their firing pins cannot take dry firing. They are nothing fancy but they are pretty much bullet proof.


The logo "J. Stevens Arms Co" was used from 1920 till the late 1940s


The steel in the barrels of the M311 is too soft for steels of any sort and Hevishot is a NO, NO, too.

Most M311s were bored F&M and steel should never be fired from any full choked barrel.

The good news? Bismuth and Tungston Matrix can be used in these older guns with any choke. It shoots like/better than lead.


Apperently the 311H (the H) means it was one of the last guns that savage made. They thickend the side walls of the barrel a little more on this model.

The best I can tell is that the 311 and the 311A were the first of this line. The dating on these guns puts them pre 1950. The 311 and the 311A were basically the same gun.

I did find some dollar figures on these guns. Most of the guns that I seen ran from $250 - $350 depending on the condition. Usually these guns were below 80%. I did find a few that got a rating over 90% and their value was around $500 - $700.


www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=134599&highlight=stevens+311h
www.nwpawn.com/guns.htm

[brian]

Not mine. I'm doing some research on this gun and posted the pic before I got all the data that I was able to find on this gun posted to this thread.

Thanks anyway Xtreme, I am definately going to try and find one.

[xtremesportsman]

well good luck... The Fox B I have is a nice gun as well. The Fox B was produced in the 40 until the 80's if I am not mistaking. It was an upgraded version to the 311, which is what my Stevens double is. They are also priced anywhere from 200 to 800 depending on the shape. Good place to look for these guns is gunbroker.com or gunsamerica.com.... Good luck

HD