Make: E. Remington & Sons

Model: "Lifter" Model 1876, Grade 2

Serial Number: 3864

Year of Manufacture: 1876-1878, Antique

Caliber: 12 Gauge 2 5/8″ Shells, Black Powder Only

Action Type: Double Barrel Side by External Hammer Shotgun with Extractor

Barrel Length: 30”

Choke: Both Full, both fixed.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass bead set on the rib.


Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with a wedge-secured splinter forend, semi-pistol grip, straight comb and smooth metal buttplate. The forend has a chip-loss at the left-rear, repaired with the original piece, and another repaired chip loss at the front filled with a non-original piece. There is a small fill at the toe and a tiny crack at the rear of the right lockplate. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The checkering shows some wear, mostly in the forend, but is generally well defined. The LOP measures approximately 13 7/8″ and 13″ from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a light-moderate patina with some surface erosion. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition as repaired Antique.

Type of Finish: Browned Damascus & Case Color

Finish Originality: Original, numbered parts match.

Bore Condition: The bores are semi-bright with scattered light erosion and pitting. In this writer's opinion, the bores rate 5 or 6 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 15% of its metal finish. The barrels have good finish where protected by the forend, exposed surfaces have gone to a uniform patina with generally strong damascus patterning showing. There is some muted case color in protected areas, stronger color under the fence-sculpting and hammers, with most exposed portions of the receiver worn to white or gone to patina. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The rib marking is worn, but legible, other markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in Very Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The barrels lock up with no play to the receiver. We did not fire this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: This is an attractive double barrel from the early days of the Remington company and is an improvement over their first breech-loading shotgun. The Whitmore shotgun was announced in 1873 and was released for sale in 1874, leading collectors to use both names interchangeably, even Remington books do this. These were not even officially named, just simply referred to by the company as “Hammer Lifter”, referencing a barrel lever that is pushed up and retracts a sling bar on the top of the frame. The slider has two little wings that catch the hammers and lift them into the half cock position, hence the “Hammer Lifter” name. Prior to the invention of rebounding hammers, this was a very necessary saefty feature. In 1875, the design would be updated with rebounding hammers, now simply referred to as the "Lifter". There were a couple of other small improvements, this being a Grade 2 Model 1876.

The gun's 30” barrels are crafted out of damascus steel paired with a case colored frame. The Lifter is an interesting and scarce design that comes from one of Americas favorite names in firearms. The production of the Lifters can fairly be estimated at only 5,000 with the highest recorded being 4475 and serial number 5600 is reported but it is believed to be a later model. No matter if you collect Antiques, double barrels, or Remingtons, this would make a great addition to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!