POTD: The 1897’s Competition – Remington Model 10 Trench Gun
Sam.S 03.07.23
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have the other gun found in some trenches. This is the Remington Model 10 in its trench gun form. Many know the Winchester Model 1897 for being the trench gun of World War One with its exposed hammer and cheese grater heat shield. Surprisingly very little is said about the Remington Model 10’s role and John Pedersen’s absolute genius. John Moses Browning himself proclaimed John Pedersen to be “the greatest gun designer in the world.” If only these grand minds could have teamed up.
Alas, John Moses Browning’s Winchester 1897 gets most of the credit for clearing trenches and infuriating the Germans. The Remington Model 10 Trench Gun however was significantly superior in that it was enclosed and much less susceptible to mud. The wooden handguard of the trench gun version is a matter of necessity. Since all the classic metal ported heat shields had been patented, a wooden handguard was the workaround. It can be assumed they were fragile since most authentic Remington Model 10 Trench Gun shotguns today are without them.
“This is a fine representative example of a very scarce period assembled World War I Remington-UMC Model 10-A trench shotgun manufactured under a U.S. Army contract for 3,500 and found in the serial number range of 117731-165566, with most being reconverted back into riot or sporting shotguns over time. A Model 10-A trench shotgun is considered the apex of any U.S. Military shotgun collection. The Remington Model 10 shotgun was originally designed by the well respected Engineer John Pedersen; with the trench variation modified with a 23-inch barrel, wooden handguard, and bayonet lug for use with the M1917 bayonet. Serial number “U/151955” marked on the front underside of the receiver. The period replacement barrel is correctly roll marked with the Remington circled “REP” factory proof along with the non-matching serial number “164748” marked upside down on the lower right rear side of the breech. The top of the barrel is correctly marked (under the handguard) “MODEL 10-A” ahead of the three-line “REMINGTON ARMS-UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO./REMINGTON WORKS, ILION, NEW YORK, U.S.A./PATENTED FEBRUARY 3, 1903, AND MAY 16, 1905.” The barrel is fitted with a matte blued bayonet lug with an “eagle head/250” proof on the front end. “Flaming bomb/US” marked on left of receiver. Fitted with an oil finished walnut handguard, ribbed pump handle, smooth pistol grip buttstock, and serrated steel buttplate. “
Lot 1369: World War I Remington-Umc Model 10-A Trench Shotgun – Very Scarce and Desirable World War I Remington-Umc Model 10-A Trench Shotgun with Bayonet. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/85/1369/world-war-i-remingtonumc-model-10-a-trench-shotgun.
