Stevens double barrel age

[Kappe]

I just finished talking a relative out of a beautiful old Stevens 16 gauge double barrel shotgun.
I'm mostly interested in the age of the gun, but any other general info about what I have is much appreciated.

The gun has internal hammers, 28" barrels, double triggers, checkered pistol grip stock and fore end, and a rubber recoil pad. There is no serial number, and no indication of type of choke.

Here are the markings on each side of the lockbox, and the top of the barrels.

http://i.imgur.com/TauTSo5.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/oZ1OIEx.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Inm2uZ3.jpg

I'm guessing 5100 is the model?

Thanks in advance!

[RJay]

If it was made between 1949 and 1968 there will be a date code, behind the hinge pin or ahead of the trigger guard on the bottom of the frame. A circle with a letter and a number. Letter starts at A for 49 up to V for 68. O and Q not used. No seems to know what the number refers too. Best I can do, hope that helps.

[Kappe]

RJay, there are no markings near the hinge pin, on the bottom of the frame, or on/around the trigger guard. Would that suggest the gun was made before 1949?

[RJay]

:) Before 49 or after 68, I would think before 49, after 68 long arms also had to have a serial number.

[PetahW]

.

You have a pre-war (WWII) Stevens Model 5100, made between 1931 & 1941.

The "J.Stevens Arms Company" logo, instituted in 1916, was dropped about the time WWII started.

Although Stevens has been making double shotguns since the 1880's, they first introduced your (model) gun as the Model 5000 in the early 1920's, then changed it's designation to the Model 5100 about 1931 - and changed it yet again about 1941 to the Model 311.
(Some were marked with both 5100 and 311)

SN's weren't a requirement before GCA-68 (1968), and sans a SN, there's no way to drill down any finer on exactly when it was made.


.

[Kappe]

1931 to 1941 narrows it down plenty for me.

The shotgun belonged to a great uncle of ours who was born in 1925. Being 16 in 1941, even he probably bought the gun used.

Thanks both of you!

[Hawg]

The 5100 was dropped in 48, the 311 was brought out in 49. Basically just a name change. Date codes started in 49.