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Looking at what appears to be a very late model 31 16 gauge skeet gun. The barrel and receiver serial numbers match but the barrel does not have a mid bead and although it says Skeet in the same font as others that I have seen it also says MOD to the right and it is etched out. The wood and bluing are in very nice condition, wood is plain, no checkering. I believe this to be an original gun but I'm wondering if Remington did a "clean up" like Winchester did on the model 12's to use up parts from inventory in late production. Anyone seen any similar circumstances? SN is 575XXX and the barrel date code is AUU.

Joined: 25 Jan 2014 Posts: 268 Location: MN

I mostly shoot Model 31s, but I know nothing about Skeet models.

But this string may be helpful

https://www.remingtonsociety.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5318

Many thanks, good sir...appreciate the info. I see that is some of Researcher's work, perhaps he will chime in. The barrel on the gun in question dates to 1949, last year of official production for the model 31, and I'm wondering if someone ordered a Skeet gun and the factory just took an existing 26" ribbed barrel from inventory and converted it from MOD to Skeet rather than produce a new barrel.

Member Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 1784 Location: Minnesota

http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24563&highlight=remington
This should answer your questions

I didn't see up here if you said the barrel was numbered . If not , someone may have just put a bird barrel on his target gun . Used to swap like this routinely back in the day!My 20 ga "C" grade 870 always wore a 3'' full mag barrel this way . One thing about 31's , the barrels weren't always interchangeable - almost like old Ithaca 37's .

The barrel has a serial number that matches the receiver - another factor that leads me to believe it is a factory setup. I have been known to swap barrels quite a bit myself on my Winchester 120's and 1300's but they are not serialized and required no additional fitting like the model 12's, 31's and 37's that you mentioned.

Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 220

No idea, but I'd like to see pictures.

it was on gunbroker, ended up going for more than I was willing to pay.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1114106378

Joined: 25 Jan 2014 Posts: 268 Location: MN

There is 12 ga Model 31 TC on GB with some nice wood, a cool vent rib, and a crack.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1110389236

Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 220

I don't disagree but without being able to see it in person and get a better feel for what it truly is that was as much as I was willing to risk. if it was legit someone got a decent deal.

Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 705 Location: WA/AK

That is a very late post-war Model 31A "Standard" Grade gun that someone has faked up a much earlier, originally MOD, solid rib barrel as a SKEET barrel for it. The perpetrator marked it SKEET, stamped an AUU (A = March UU = 1949) date code to coincide with the receiver, stamped the serial number, x'ed out the original MOD, but what he/she didn't do was add "FOR 2 3/4 OR SHORTER SHELLS" after the 16 GA. which was in use from 1940 onwards.