Long Range Specialty Grade Questions

Posted by Stuart Clark on August 12, 2025, 4:15 pm
Edited by board administrator August 12, 2025, 4:45 pm

I have a longrange specialty grade, 12 gauge, that was built in 1924. Was a beavertail forend the standard configuration for that vintage gun? Also,it came with a second barrel with a non-matching serial number. 28 inches, marked "custom grade". The underside notes "longrange" and, under the serial number has "field". The "custom grade" is confusing to me. Does it just denote a custom order?

Re: Long Range Specialty Grade Questions

Posted by Drew Hause on August 12, 2025, 5:03 pm, in reply to "Long Range Specialty Grade Questions"

Stuart: the Long Flat (also offered in extra-length) BTFE was introduced with the 'Trap Package' in 1920; a Schnabel BTFE in 1922. The Skeet Style BTFE was introduced in 1929 and later was available as a Streamline Slim BTFE in both short and long. Dr Jim's "Production Records" show a single Field grade LRWF with a BTFE. Have you requested a Research Letter for 83434? Of course, a BTFE could have been added at a later date. It appears that Field was removed and Custom engraved. It likely originally looked like this If you'll post an image of the BTFE we might be able to say if it appears to be from Hunter Arms.