TINCANBANDIT's Gunsmithing: Featured Gun: Remington 11-48

The story of the Remington 11-48 begins with (as do so many) John Moses Browning.

Browning developed a recoil operated semi-automatic shotgun in 1898.

A few years later Browning licensed the design to FN as the Browning Auto-5, then later to Savage as the model 720 and to Remington as the model 11.

Remington model 11

The model 11 was redesigned into the model 11-48, the model number pays homage to the earlier model and the date which it was redesigned (1948).

After WWII the task of redesigning the model 11 was given to a group of Remington engineers L. Ray Crittendon, Ellis Hailston and C.R. Johnson.

To get the streamlined look they wanted, they hired a famous industrial designer named John Vassos.

John Vassos, was a decorated veteran of WWII, he ran a spy school in Egypt. He was also known for his Avant-garde industrial designs which influenced many other designs. His story is very fascinating, I may have to tell it someday.

The new receiver design was used on all subsequent Remington shotguns, including the 870 Wingmaster, introduced the year after the introduction of the 11-48.

The model 11-48 was unique in that it made use of many stamped steel parts. Remington learned of the economy of making parts from stamped steel during WWII when they redesigned parts of the M1903 rifle to make the gun cheaper and faster to produce. Their design was designated the M1903A3 and was produced by both Remington and Smith-Corona during the war.

In addition to stamped steel parts (which also aided in interchangeability) the 11-48 offered easily replaceable barrels. A boon for sportsmen as they now could buy one shotgun and extra barrels for hunting land fowl, waterfowl or deer, just by changing barrels.

The action of the 11-48 uses the same long recoil action of the model 11, in this case the barrel and the bolt move reward to extract the spent shell and absorb some of the recoil. Recoil springs were located in the buttstock (for the bolt) and around the magazine tube (for the barrel).

The magazine held 4 rounds without the plug.

Another new feature was a consolidated trigger assembly, housed in an aluminum fixture which is easily removed for cleaning by pushing out two pins. This feature was carried over to all subsequent Remington shotguns.

The 11-48 came in several grades designated by a letter following the model #

The 11-48A is the standard grade, early standard grade guns had no letter A, simply marked 11-48

The 11-48B was the Special grade.

The 11-48D was the Tournament grade.

The 11-48F was the Premier grade, the best wood, best fit and finish.

The 11-48RSS was the Rifled Slug Special

The 11-48R was the police "Riot" grade gun.

There was also a Sportsman 48 made, this gun came with a crimped magazine tube which would not allow more than two shells in the magazine. This was to comply with some draconian state game laws that would not permit a removeable plug to be used to limit capacity.

In 1956 Remington redesigned the 11-48 into the model 58, which was a gas operated design. The model 58 was more expensive to produce and was found to be less reliable.

Side note, unlike the model 58, the 11-48 has been exalted for its extreme reliability.

The model 58 was discontinued in 1963 when the model 1100 was introduced. The 1100 improved the issues with the model 58 and is still produced today, Remington retired the 11-48 in 1968.

Specs:

Action: recoil operated, semi-automatic

Caliber(s): .410 bore, 28, 20, 16 & 12 Gauge.

Weight: 6.25-7.5 lbs depending on caliber and barrel length

Barrel Length: 18-30"

Years Produced: 1949-1968

Number produced: 455,535

Value: $250 - $2,000

To date your 11-48 use the chart below. The date cades can be found on the barrel's left side near the receiver.

This post was inspired by my own model 11-48 which I recently acquired in a package deal.

The gun is chambered in 12 gauge and is in very good condition. This 11-48 was made in 1951 (third year production) and has a 26" barrel with a full choke