Remington Model 31

The Remington Model 31 was an American pump-action shotgun made by Remington Arms from 1931 to 1949. It was built to compete with the Winchester Model 1912 in the sporting arms market and took the place of the earlier Pedersen-designed Models 10 and 29 and the Browning-designed Model 17. Its main advance was side ejection, which C.C. Loomis adapted from the Model 17, making it Remington's first pump gun to eject to the side. It was offered in 12, 16 and 20 gauge, with walnut stocks, and a lightweight 31L with an aluminum receiver followed. In 1935 the Federal Bureau of Investigation bought one for each field office after the Kansas City Massacre. During World War II Remington built a riot gun version for military use, marked U.S. Property on the receiver, though no trench gun version went into production beyond a single prototype. Sales stayed well behind Winchester's, and the cheaper Model 870 replaced it in 1950. Its slide action is still admired, and it served as the basis for the Mossberg 500.