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  • R1125

    Active Member
    Apr 11, 2013
    424
    Frederick
    I have 2 shotguns I really don’t know anything about them.
    First is a Stevens model 311 sxs 12 gauge.
    No serial number on this gun.

    Second one is a Nobel sxs 20 gauge. Model 420H.

    Any info would be great.

    I have searched for information and found very little on the Nobel
     

    delaware_export

    Ultimate Member
    Apr 10, 2018
    3,143
    you may wish to ask on shotgunworld forums if you dont get many responses here. they have a pretty good knowledge base for lesser known products, like the nobel. i know i've seen many notes there regarding the 311 there.
     

    Cochise

    Ultimate Member
    Sep 5, 2008
    1,383
    Rockville
    Pretty sure the Noble is 60's vintage Spanish and the Stevens is a bottom tier US made gun. Neither is valuable. I can dig into old catalogs later but ...
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,733
    Socialist State of Maryland
    The 311 was like the double version of the Mossberg 500 in its day. Cheap, sold in Sears and Woolworth's and beat you to death if you ever used it a lot. The 311 ergonomics were non existent. :sad20:
     

    tallen702

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 3, 2012
    5,102
    In the boonies of MoCo
    Pictures would help.

    Stevens 311 is pretty common. Good guns. Depending on condition they can go from $75 up to $300 or so.

    Noble is indeed Spanish 50's-70's vintage. Depending on condition, probably $200 or less unless it's mint. There were tons of Spanish imports during that time, parts are scarce for most, especially if they weren't sold under one of the US trade names. For example, I have a Victor Sarasqueta made Stoeger Zephyr Woodlander in 20ga that is about as close to mint as you can get (minor wood wear) and $250 was tops for it since it had the Stoeger trade name and better parts availability.

    Again, pics please if you can. Specifically any wood or bluing flaws, shots down the bores (to see pitting, etc.) and shots straight down from the top with them both locked up so we can see where the levers sit. and a good overall profile shot (left or right, doesn't matter).
     

    sxs

    Senior Member
    MDS Supporter
    Nov 20, 2009
    3,377
    Anne Arundel County, MD
    I have 2 shotguns I really don’t know anything about them.
    First is a Stevens model 311 sxs 12 gauge.
    No serial number on this gun.

    Second one is a Nobel sxs 20 gauge. Model 420H.

    Any info would be great.

    I have searched for information and found very little on the Nobel

    Pics??? Estimated condition?

    In general, the Stevens 311 is a good utilitarian hunting shotgun. Most are double triggers and plain extractors. The main downside is that they are generally modified and full choked (many shotguns of it's era were). That's an OK combination for shooting trap or maybe hunting doves today. In it's era, it's what was in demand when softer shot was common and prior to the widespread use of plastic shot cups. Modified and Improved cyl, to me is a better choke combination, IMHO. While they weren't bad looking guns, the case colors were a chemical process rather than a result of heat treatment and the wood is of plain hardwood that is stained a walnut like stain. A few (early ones I believe) do have 'American Walnut' stocks (black walnut) that can be fairly pleasing. These stock were not as nice as some other makes and models sporting American Walnut stocks.

    They are also a bit heavier than the quintessential 'classic shotgun'. There is some demand for them as so many had them...or perhaps their Dad or Grandad had them...as kids or young adults. They were also reasonably robust for general hunting purposes.

    My very first sxs was a (believe it or not) cheaper version of the 311...i.e. a 511. I bought that like in the late 70's / early 80's. It lacked the raised rib down the middle and had what I believe to be a birch wood stock stained a dark walnut color with what may have been a polycoat of some sort. Reportedly, there were some internal differences as well, but it's been many years since I owned it. I still have a somewhat upscale version of the 311 known as a Savage Fox model B. Mine has a raised vented rib down the middle and also 'select' black walnut (description 'select ' from Savage promotional materials of the time...but it is pretty decent looking compared to most 311s and the 511 I used to have).

    Depending on condition and presuming it's in good shooting shape, it should be worth somewhere between $250 and $550 in value.if it is one of the uncommon ones with a single trigger and/or ejectors, it could be worth more. Serial numbers weren't required until the Gun Control Act of 1968.

    I don't know your Noble shotgun model specifically, but in general Noble shotguns were relatively cheap shotguns not known to hold up particularly well. I have seen several (don't know the model numbers) that were quite attractive. If it is in good shootable condition, I wouldn't avoid using it. I would, however, be aware that parts availabilty may be hit or miss...unlike the Stevens 311. The 311was produced for a very long time.
     

    44man

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 19, 2013
    10,129
    southern md
    The 311 was like the double version of the Mossberg 500 in its day. Cheap, sold in Sears and Woolworth's and beat you to death if you ever used it a lot. The 311 ergonomics were non existent. :sad20:

    My dad gave me his and I believe he said he paid $19 delivered from sears back when he was a kid

    It’s only hard on you if you fire both barrels with high brass mag loads at the same time, that’s a big stout lol
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,733
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I shot doves over corn fields and we didn't know about low brass loads. It was high brass 7.5's and 8's for dove, high brass 5's and 6's for rabbit and pheasant. Oh, and don't forget about cheek slap with those cheap doubles - I won't. :lol:
     

    R1125

    Active Member
    Apr 11, 2013
    424
    Frederick
    Here are some pics of Stevens
     

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    R1125

    Active Member
    Apr 11, 2013
    424
    Frederick
    Some pics of the Nobel
     

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    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,733
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Unless you are buying it for a wall hanger, I would pass on the 311. It has the typical warts related a gun that was used much and put away wet. You can see all the areas of the butt stock that are cracking because the action has loosened up. Not enough pics of the Nobel to comment on.
     

    R1125

    Active Member
    Apr 11, 2013
    424
    Frederick
    Unless you are buying it for a wall hanger, I would pass on the 311. It has the typical warts related a gun that was used much and put away wet. You can see all the areas of the butt stock that are cracking because the action has loosened up. Not enough pics of the Nobel to comment on.


    Not buying them. I already have them. Passed down from my Dad.

    I don't ever plan on shooting them just curious about them.

    I have other guns I have very little knowledge on.

    I also have a Savage model 24 S-C 22Lr over .410

    I have other rifles also I have no ideal about.

    Thanks for all the help
     

    tallen702

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 3, 2012
    5,102
    In the boonies of MoCo
    Lockup is shot on The Stevens. You'd need a smith to apply shim steel to the front hook to get it back on face and locking up properly. Wood has definitely dried out over the years. You could re-stock it if you wanted to, but the cost on both the refacing and re-stocking would be more than the overall value of the gun. It'll look good over the fireplace. Fair Market Value would be ~$90 as it sits IMHO.

    The Noble: Left barrel is going to be full, right will be modified. They made two models. The 420 and the 420EX. 420 is a splinter fore end. 420 EX has ejectors and a beavertail fore end. I'm assuming yours is a straight 420 just at a glance. Values are $100 for "poor" $150 for "fair" $200 for "good" and up from there maxing out at 300. I'd say you're sitting at "fair" at best without seeing more. They were made in Spain by Juan Cruz Mugica and imported by Noble. You can find ads in the old "Guns Magazine" editions in .pdf form via Google for both them and other Noble branded guns. If it's on-face and still has some lockup, modern 2-3/4" shells would be fine to put through it. Can't really tell from the pictures though.

    So, in summary. Two inexpensive (not cheap, just inexpensive) hammerless doubles. One US made, one Spanish. Couple-hundred max in value. Find a fireplace mantle that needs some decoration and make them nice conversation pieces. I'm sure your dad nailed more than enough birds with them, they definitely got used heavily.
     

    R1125

    Active Member
    Apr 11, 2013
    424
    Frederick
    Thanks for all the help. They will go back in the safe for now. ( Don't have a fireplace).
    And yes Lots of pheasant's over the years.
     

    tallen702

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 3, 2012
    5,102
    In the boonies of MoCo
    No problem. I love old doubles and it gave me an excuse to find out more about Nobles. If you ask me, they're reason enough to get a fireplace if you don't have one ;)
     

    JoeRinMD

    Rifleman
    Jul 18, 2008
    2,014
    AA County
    About 10 yrs ago, I picked up a Sears J.C. Higgins-marked Savage 311 at the Armory in Annapolis for a bargain price, but it came complete with a cracked stock and a forearm that wouldn't stay attached.. My goal was to use it for Cowboy Action, due to it's extractor-based action, rather than the more common ejectors. For about a hundred bucks I found a replacement unfinished buttstock and forend from Brownells. I needed to do a little inletting for the forend mechanism, but after giving them a Truoil finish, the finished shotgun looks very nice...and as a testament to a decent utilitarian side-by-side shotgun from an earlier time.

    JoeR
     

    sxs

    Senior Member
    MDS Supporter
    Nov 20, 2009
    3,377
    Anne Arundel County, MD
    How can we tell the lock up is bad on the Stevens shotgun from just looking at pictures?

    Lever is left of the action. If it was tight it would be anywhere from center to somewhat right of the action. The cracks could be from wood shrinkage, but are also typical encountered when a firearm is becoming loose and still being shot. Wood chips are missing where the wood meets the metal on the picture where you can see the lever and there appears to be a slight gap between the metal and wood on the action side view. When the metal parts of the action are well worn, the lockup can become loose and put extra stress on the stock. It doesn't look off face though....although the pictures provided aren't ideal to tell that. It would have to be seen in person to determine what it would need to return it to decent shooting condition. As others indicated, it would likely cost far more to fix it than to simply buy one like it that is in good shootable shape.

    Just the lever being to the left is enough to indicate it is well worn.
     

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