Tech Wisdom
Good Buy?
I just bought a Remington Model 10 12-gauge shotgun. It seems to be in good condition and I’d like to use it for duck hunting, but I can’t seem to find much information on the gun. Is it considered a good gun?
Bob Melvin
Niagara Falls, NY
 While the bottom-load/eject feature of the Model 10 provided an ambidextrous and weather-resistant quality to the gun, its butterfly carrier proved to be a weakness |
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The Remington Model 10 was the first pump-action shotgun offered by the company. It was manufactured from 1907 to 1929 in a wide variety of chokes, barrel lengths and grades. Sales topped 275,000 units. Its bottom loading and ejection made it ideal for both left- or right-handed shooters and kept rain, mud and snow out of the receiver. An unusual feature of its design was the top-and-bottom extractor placement, rather than left-and-right. It also featured a striker system rather than an internal hammer.
 Cracked stocks were known to occur with the Remington Model 10. The flaw was a direct result of a hollow portion of the stock to allow for bolt travel. |
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The biggest weakness in the Model 10’s design was the carrier (also called the butterfly), which served three functions—it acted as the shell stop, the ejector and carrier. With these multiple duties it was subject to breakage. Also, stocks have been known to crack at the juncture of stock and receiver, where it had been hollowed out to allow the bolt to travel into this recess during cycling of the action.
The 20-gauge version of the Model 10 was called the Remington Model 17. The Remington Model 29 was similar to the Model 10 and was followed by the very popular Model 31.
As far as durability is concerned, today’s Ithaca Model 37 incorporates many of the same qualities and design features of the Model 10. Your old pump gun should last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance.
Springfield ’03 question
I just inherited some guns including a 1903 Springfield. I’ve heard some of these are unsafe to shoot.
Ron Miller
Las Vegas, NV
The 1903 Springfields manufactured at Springfield Armory below serial number 800,000 used poor heat-treating techniques and are considered unsafe to fire. The same holds true for these rifles manufactured at Rock Island Arsenal below serial number 285,507. However, rifles made from serial number 800,000 to 1,275,766 had excellent heat-treating methods using high-quality carbon steel and are quite safe. After serial number 1,275,766, Springfield switched to nickel-steel receivers. These latter carbon-steel and nickel-steel guns are quite safe and are considered excellent shooters.
Choking Model 90
As a boy I fell in love with my buddy’s Winchester Model 90 .22 rimfire. Recently I bought one at a gun show, but I guess you’d call it a “parts gun” because the barrel says Model 1906. When I took it to the range it jammed about every other shot. I tore it apart and everything seems okay in the action, but I’m not a gunsmith. Any thoughts on what’s wrong?
Josh Austin
Birmingham, AL
 Studying the proof marks on firearms can confirm not only the origin of its manufacture, but can also offer clues regarding its originality and maintenance history. |
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Even without examining this rifle I have a pretty good idea what the problem is and the solution is simple. After 1937, as the gun was being discontinued, Winchester Model 90s were assembled from available parts. Many were sold using Model 62 round barrels. Obviously, someone replaced your barrel.
Replacement barrels fitted at the factory will have only the Winchester proof marks on them. However, round barrels were also sent by the factory to gunsmiths as replacements and have the mail-order proof mark, a “P” within a circle, stamped by the factory, signifying outside fitting. This mail-order stamp appears in addition to the standard Winchester proof mark.
I seriously doubt the Winchester factory would have stuck a Model 1906 barrel on your Model 90, but you can check your barrel for the mail-order stamp to make sure. If it was done by a gunsmith, and you were not the one who had the work performed, I can guess why you are having problems. Model 1906 rifles fire .22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 LR and would be so marked on your barrel, but there’s always the exception. The very early Model 1906s were also manufactured in .22 Short only, but I doubt that’s what you have.
My guess is you have a Model 90 action originally chambered in .22 Long and are trying to fire .22 LR through it, causing your jamming problem. Buy a box of CB Longs and run them through the rifle. I’ll bet that takes care of the problem. You could also find a Model 1906 carrier somewhere and install that to allow you to shoot .22 Short, .22 Long and .22 LR making it more versatile. Winchester Model 90s, 1906s and 62As were the darlings of the shooting galleries in the grand old days for good reasons: they were reliable, durable and accurate for the purpose for which they were built. Have fun with yours.
Beginning Collector
I just bought an L.C. Smith 12-gauge with 30-inch barrels. I believe it’s a field grade. I want to learn more about L.C. Smith guns and begin collecting them, but where should I start?
Robert Sulo
Whittier, CA
 “The Blue Book of Gun Values” and “L.C. Smith Shotguns” are of great value to any collector of these fine guns |
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There are two outstanding books available that will make you an expert on pricing and collecting L.C. Smith shotguns. The first, “The Blue Book of Gun Values” by S.P. Fjestad, is the last word on L.C. Smith guns and every other firearm available to today’s collectors. “L.C. Smith Shotguns,” written by the late Lt. Col. William S. Brophy, is the most definitive text on the subject. However, before making any expensive purchases I would recommend you take the gun to a firearm expert to check condition and originality.
— James Murray - Field Editor
