Springfield 5100 12g double - The Firearms Forum

bntyhntr6975 · 05-19-2012, 08:56 PM

Recently purchased a Springfield (Stevens) 5100 12g double (tenite stocks). I wish I could post a pic of the shiny purplish receiver. it really looks nice, but not the same look as my '50s 311s. Having a difficult time sorting through some confusion about when it was made. It is stamped Springfield J Stevens Arms Company Chicopee Falls, Mass USA on left side, 5100 on right side. Has a circled C inside. Pretty simple I thought, C means it was made in '51, right? But then some of the things I have read: Stevens dropped the Springfield name from the line in '48. The 5000 became 5100 in '31, and lasted till '40, when it changed to 311. So, I do not know what is what anymore. I had thought I had a pretty decent understanding of some of Stevens history, but now I'm not so sure. Can anyone help clear up the situation?

Hawg · 05-19-2012, 11:53 PM

There's no way to specifically date a 5100. The 5100 was dropped in 48 and date codes didn't appear until 49. The date codes are not on the water table, all Stevens doubles have circled letters there. The date code is a letter and a number located on the bottom of the receiver behind the hinge like on this 311A made in 1957. The letter denotes the year.

bntyhntr6975 · 05-20-2012, 01:19 PM

I had always heard the date stamp was on the water table from '49 on. But also that the 5100 became 311 in '41, with the Springfield name being dropped in '48. Not at all trying to say you are not correct, but is there anywhere (prefer a book) that can give an accurate and clear explanation of Stevens (J Stevens Arms period)? The mark on bottom of my 5100 looks like )<-- but really can't get a decent pic of it. What you say about where the date stamp is does make sense to me and would clear up some confusion from some I've seem with multiple circle stamped letters on the water table. Thank you for the help so far.

bntyhntr6975 · 05-20-2012, 01:28 PM

Sorry pics aren't very good, I don't have a good camera to use.

Hawg · 05-20-2012, 02:57 PM

I don't know of a book specifically devoted to Stevens shotguns but there may be one. Without actually getting it out to look my 5100 has a circled C and a circled N on the water table. Here's a link to the date codes. http://www.wisnersinc.com/additional..._date_code.htm

Stevens did use 5100 parts that were left over after the 5100 production ended. I've seen pics of receivers marked 5100 and 311.

bntyhntr6975 · 05-21-2012, 12:37 PM

Any idea of what any of the stampings on the water table mean? Maybe just assembly marks from various lines or people, QA, etc.? Still not completely convinced just when the 5100 ended, either '40 or '48, but that just leaves me something else to figure out, which I don't mind a bit. What do you make of the purplish receiver? It looks nothing like either of my 311s. Is it suposed to have that look or is that a refinish job? My Gun Digest book barely even mentions the 5100 but I'm assuming the prices are very similar to the 311s? Just curious on the value, I don't plan on getting rid of it.

Hawg · 05-21-2012, 02:06 PM

Probably a reblue. The original receiver finish was color case hardening. Early 311 parts will interchange with it. I don't know what the water table letters mean. Unless I'm badly mistaken and I don't think I am Tenite stocks were only used after WWII, so that narrows your guns date to between 45-48, actually more likely 46-48.

bntyhntr6975 · 05-21-2012, 08:05 PM

Thanks. If it's any help, at the rear of the underside of the forearm, it says patent pending.

05-19-2012, 08:56 PM	#1
bntyhntr6975 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wichita, Ks. Posts: 270	Springfield 5100 12g double Recently purchased a Springfield (Stevens) 5100 12g double (tenite stocks). I wish I could post a pic of the shiny purplish receiver. it really looks nice, but not the same look as my '50s 311s. Having a difficult time sorting through some confusion about when it was made. It is stamped Springfield J Stevens Arms Company Chicopee Falls, Mass USA on left side, 5100 on right side. Has a circled C inside. Pretty simple I thought, C means it was made in '51, right? But then some of the things I have read: Stevens dropped the Springfield name from the line in '48. The 5000 became 5100 in '31, and lasted till '40, when it changed to 311. So, I do not know what is what anymore. I had thought I had a pretty decent understanding of some of Stevens history, but now I'm not so sure. Can anyone help clear up the situation? __________________ There is a fine line between paranoid and prepared. -->

05-19-2012, 11:53 PM	#2
Hawg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,559	Re: Springfield 5100 12g double There's no way to specifically date a 5100. The 5100 was dropped in 48 and date codes didn't appear until 49. The date codes are not on the water table, all Stevens doubles have circled letters there. The date code is a letter and a number located on the bottom of the receiver behind the hinge like on this 311A made in 1957. The letter denotes the year.

05-20-2012, 01:19 PM	#3
bntyhntr6975 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wichita, Ks. Posts: 270	Re: Springfield 5100 12g double I had always heard the date stamp was on the water table from '49 on. But also that the 5100 became 311 in '41, with the Springfield name being dropped in '48. Not at all trying to say you are not correct, but is there anywhere (prefer a book) that can give an accurate and clear explanation of Stevens (J Stevens Arms period)? The mark on bottom of my 5100 looks like )<-- but really can't get a decent pic of it. What you say about where the date stamp is does make sense to me and would clear up some confusion from some I've seem with multiple circle stamped letters on the water table. Thank you for the help so far. __________________ There is a fine line between paranoid and prepared.

05-20-2012, 01:28 PM	#4
bntyhntr6975 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wichita, Ks. Posts: 270	Re: Springfield 5100 12g double Sorry pics aren't very good, I don't have a good camera to use. Attached Images __________________ There is a fine line between paranoid and prepared.

05-20-2012, 02:57 PM	#5
Hawg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,559	Re: Springfield 5100 12g double I don't know of a book specifically devoted to Stevens shotguns but there may be one. Without actually getting it out to look my 5100 has a circled C and a circled N on the water table. Here's a link to the date codes. http://www.wisnersinc.com/additional..._date_code.htm Stevens did use 5100 parts that were left over after the 5100 production ended. I've seen pics of receivers marked 5100 and 311. Last edited by Hawg; 05-20-2012 at 02:59 PM..

05-21-2012, 12:37 PM	#6
bntyhntr6975 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wichita, Ks. Posts: 270	Re: Springfield 5100 12g double Any idea of what any of the stampings on the water table mean? Maybe just assembly marks from various lines or people, QA, etc.? Still not completely convinced just when the 5100 ended, either '40 or '48, but that just leaves me something else to figure out, which I don't mind a bit. What do you make of the purplish receiver? It looks nothing like either of my 311s. Is it suposed to have that look or is that a refinish job? My Gun Digest book barely even mentions the 5100 but I'm assuming the prices are very similar to the 311s? Just curious on the value, I don't plan on getting rid of it. __________________ There is a fine line between paranoid and prepared.

05-21-2012, 02:06 PM	#7
Hawg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,559	Re: Springfield 5100 12g double Probably a reblue. The original receiver finish was color case hardening. Early 311 parts will interchange with it. I don't know what the water table letters mean. Unless I'm badly mistaken and I don't think I am Tenite stocks were only used after WWII, so that narrows your guns date to between 45-48, actually more likely 46-48.

05-21-2012, 08:05 PM	#8
bntyhntr6975 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wichita, Ks. Posts: 270	Re: Springfield 5100 12g double Thanks. If it's any help, at the rear of the underside of the forearm, it says patent pending. __________________ There is a fine line between paranoid and prepared.