Knickerbocker Shotgun Serial Numbers

FIREARMS INFORMATION

The following is an excerpt from a Remington 1902 catalog.

The serial numbers for the “Knickerbocker” and “Peerless” hammerless doubles starts with serial number 001 in 1904 and runs up to 448,000 through 1925 at a rate of about 20,400 guns a year. It is likely that production numbers were less during and immediately after World War I, and in 1925 after the “Empire” hammerless was introduced. This model gun 'Knickerbocker'was made by several companies but most noteably 'American Gun' around 1900-1930 in upstate New York. You can also see them in old reprinted Sears & Roebuck cataloques. Even so, I hope that it reviews about it Knickerbocker Shotgun Serial Numbers And Truglo Shotgun Sights Review will always be useful.

N O T I C E

For guidance of customers ordering double gun parts, we give the following information :

The Remington Double Gun has been made in six models, known as HAMMER LIFTER ACTION, LIFTER ACTION, MODEL '82, MODEL '83, MODEL '85, AND '87. AND MODEL '89,
many parts of which differ. Parties owning guns can determine their model by comparing their hammers with the following drawings:

HAMMER LIFTER ACTION - LIFTER ACTION - MODEL 1882 - MODEL 1885 AND 1887 - MODEL 1889

The above illustrations taken from an old Remington 1902 parts catalog

REMINGTON DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN SERIAL NUMBERS
Courtesy of Roy Gunther, William M. Furnish & Charles G. Semmer as published in THE GUN REPORT, July & August 1991

Remington never used the year of the first production as a model number, however it has since become common practice to do so. The language used here ARE the first year of production for each named type.

M1873 or 'hammer lifter model' used a lever on the tang that lifted up to open the barrels and draw the hammers back to half cock. The lockplate had 3 screws at the rear, made in 10 & 12 gauges.

M1876 or 'lifter model' had the lifter opening the barrels. Hammers were rebounding. First was the recessed hammer noses, & later flat. Four screws at the end of the lockplate, made in 10 & 12 gauges.
The 1873 & 1876 were available in shotgun and rifle & shotgun combinations.

M1878 or :heavy duck gun'; lockplate had flat faced hammers, no rudimentary fence at the bottom of the bolster & used a doll's head rib extension into the frame.

First pinned forearms were used, later Deely & Edge latch was used. 10 gauge only.

M1882, for the first time a conventional turning lever to open the barrel was used. Made in 10 & 12 gauges.

M1883 was introduced into the catalogs, but few have been observed. The hammers are different, made in 10 & 12 gauges.

M1885-87, used the same serial numbers as the 1882 model. The hammer was again different. Made in 10, 12 & 16 gauges.

M1889, the last & largest volume made of the hammer guns, & the hammer was again different & significant than all the rest. Made in 10, 12, & 16 gauges.

M1894, was the first hammerless, made in 10, 12, & 16 gauges. Could have been had in 'ordnance or damascus steel barrels. This model has a Purdey forend fastener (push button type)

M1900, hammerless, made in 12 & 16 gauges. Could have been had in 'ordnance or damascus steel barrels. This model has the snap on Baker type forend fastener.

MODEL	SERIAL NUMBER	YEARS
1873	1-5600	1873-1878
1876	1-5900	1876-1882
1878	1-2200	1878-1882
1882	1000 - 2000	1882-1887
1883	14,000 - 16,000	1883-1884
1885/87	17,000 - 24,000	1885/87-1889
1889	24,000 - 265,000 (skipped most of 100,000 series)	1889-1900
1894	100,000 - 140,700	1894-1910
1900	300,000 - 395,000	1900-1910

Differences in Remington model 1894 & 1900 double shotguns.
Courtesy of Terry Deem

The 1894 was more of a precision fit gun & could be had as an engraved version. The 1900 was basically an 'economy' version of the 1894.
Before 1906 both the 1894 & 1900 models had the firing pin made integral on the hammers. Around 1906 Remington made the change to the floating firing pin on both guns. It was a running change so there is no exact serial number.
The best way to tell the two model's apart is by the serial numbers. The model 1894 serial number's start with a (1) and the model 1900 serial number's start with a (3). All have 6 number's in the serial number. So if the serial number start's with a (3) it is a model 1900. Also on the 1894 especially on later gun's sometimes there is a 'P' ahead of the serial number, The 'P' signifies the 1894. On the 1900 sometimes there is a 'Q' ahead of the serial number, the 'Q' signifies the model 1900.
As far as the receiver parts go about the only difference is fit and finish between the 1894 and the 1900.
Another difference is the 1894 has a Purdey forend fastener (push button) and the 1900 has the snap on Baker type forend fastener.
Gun's with flat ribs will be earlier guns, & will usually have the firing pin's as part of the hammer. Also, if either the 1894 or 1900 model has a concave rib (not flat) and /or one screw in the trigger guard (not two) and /or a concave safety it will almost always have the floating firing pin's. The changes to the floating firing pin was around 1906.
Also on both models the 1894 and 1900, there is the 1894 patent date on the forend iron.
For the model 1900, they did away with the point on top of the buttplate and went to a cheaper straighter buttplate.
I have collected Remington model 1894 and 1900 double for over 40 years. I also do repair and restoration on them. Thanks for allowing me to explain.

Terry Deem (Terry.Deem@gepex.ge.com) (sorry, but this e-mail is no longer valid)

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Originated 05-17-04 Last updated 11-02-2020
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