Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Police News
    • Military News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
    • Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Police News
    • Military News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
    • Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
No Result
View All Result
 
Enter to WIN Christensen Arms Modern Hunting Rifle in FREE GUN FRIDAY!

Remington Model 10 Shotgun: The Other Trench Fighter

Bruce N. Canfield by Bruce N. Canfield
October 13, 2017
in Guns, Shotguns
0
Remington Model 10 shotgun

While the Winchester Model 1897 was the most widely issued shotgun for U.S. soldiers in WWI, Remington’s Model 10 also helped tame the trenches.

126
SHARES
2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Remington Model 10 shotgun
While the Winchester Model 1897 was the most widely issued shotgun for U.S. soldiers in WWI, Remington’s Model 10 also helped tame the trenches.
Remington Model 10 trench gun
Remington added a special assembly that allowed the trench gun version of the Model 10 to mount the Model 1917 U.S. Enfield bayonet for close-quarters battle.
Remington Model 10 pump shotgun
Winchester was also making Model 1917 rifles and bayonets when it came time to produce its first trench guns.

Remington Model 10 pump-action shotgun
Winchester manufactured about 25,000 Model 1897 trench guns for the U.S. military. Unlike the Model 10, the Model 1897 ejected from the right side of the receiver.
Remington Model 10 gun
Winchester’s Model 1897 trench gun sported a ventilated metal handguard, but the Remington Model 10’s was wooden.
Remington Model 10 world war i gun
Each Model 10 barrel featured Remington’s Ilion, New York, address and patent dates as well as the Ordnance Department’s markings.

Remington Model 10 guns
After being approved for the U.S. military, “US” and the Ordnance Department’s “flaming bomb” insignia were hand-stamped on the left side of the Model 10 trench gun’s receiver, just before the barrel and handguard.
Remington Model 10 shotguns
In addition to 3,500 Model 10 trench guns, the U.S. Army also had about 1,150 Model 10 riot guns. These guns came with shorter 20-inch barrels and lacked the trench guns’ handguards, bayonet adapters and sling swivels.
Remington Model 10 pack
Soldiers often carried extra rounds for their trench guns in Model 1918 shotshell pouches with top flaps.

One of the most interesting American weapons of World War I was the “trench gun.” For anyone with a modicum of knowledge on the subject, the mention of a trench gun almost always invokes mental images of the Winchester Model 1897 shotgun fitted with a ventilated metal handguard and bayonet adapter assembly.

This image is certainly understandable because the Model 1897 was indeed the most widely issued and recognizable combat shotgun given to our Doughboys in WWI. However, contrary to popular opinion, it was not the only trench gun fielded in the war. In order to supplement the Winchester Model 1897 trench gun, Remington also produced a trench gun variant of its Model 10 pump-action shotgun.

model 10 shotgun

To digress a bit, the term “trench gun” was never an official designation but was widely used to denote a short-barrel “riot gun” fitted with a handguard, bayonet adapter and sling swivels. When the U.S. entered WWI in the spring of 1917, none of the belligerent nations fielded a purpose-designed combat shotgun.

  • RELATED STORY: 12 Mission-Ready 12-Gauge Scatterguns

The commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force (AEF), General John Pershing, had seen extensive duty in the Philippine “Insurrection” of 1899 to 1902. During this campaign, the U.S. Army acquired a number of Winchester Model 1897 riot guns (featuring a short barrel with no provision for attaching a bayonet) for use in battling the fierce Moro tribesmen who were notorious for brutally attacking American soldiers with bolos and other edged weapons in close-quarter fighting. The U.S. Army’s standard .30-40 Krag-Jørgensen rifles and .38-caliber revolvers proved ineffective in this type of combat. It was soon realized that a 12-gauge repeating shotgun loaded with 00 buckshot could be an effective man-stopper in such situations, and their effectiveness in the Philippines was not lost on General Pershing.

Frontline Firepower

Remington Model 10 pump-action shotgun
Winchester manufactured about 25,000 Model 1897 trench guns for the U.S. military. Unlike the Model 10, the Model 1897 ejected from the right side of the receiver.

When he was appointed commander of the AEF, one of Pershing’s primary goals was to limit his men’s exposure to the bloody, waste­ful and often foolish tactics that had been employed on both sides in the trench warfare environment of the Western Front. Although the U.S. military was blessed to have the superb Springfield M1903 rifle and Colt M1911 pistol in its small-arms arsenal, a special weapon to aid our troops in trench warfare was desired. As Bo Barbour wrote in a Military Police article, “The conventional bolt-action infantry rifle was too long and lacked the firepower needed to overcome the interlocking trenches and determined German defenders carrying machine guns. [With repeating shotguns] the infantryman breaking into a trench could sweep both sides of it with multiple buckshot rounds…A soldier with a shotgun, exceptionally fast to pump and fire, could quickly suppress German trench assaults and clear suspicious dugouts with devastating effectiveness.”

General Pershing strongly backed the concept and ordered the development and procurement of a specially designed combat shotgun as soon as possible. Since the Winchester Model 1897 had already proven itself in combat, it was decided to base the design of the new “trench gun” on this weapon.

Fit For Combat

Remington Model 10 trench gun
Remington added a special assembly that allowed the trench gun version of the Model 10 to mount the Model 1917 U.S. Enfield bayonet for close-quarters battle.

One of the new gun’s design requirements was the ability to mount a bayonet. Winchester, Springfield Armory and the Ordnance Department jointly developed an adapter assembly. This assembly consisted of a ventilated metal handguard to provide protection from the heat generated when gripping the barrel and a bayonet lug to accept the Model 1917 U.S. Enfield bayonet. This bayonet was utilized because of the large number on hand to equip the standardized Model 1917 rifle and, perhaps, because Winchester was already manufacturing the bayonet. The new combat shotgun was also fitted with sling swivels to accommodate the standard rifle slings in use by the U.S. military. Like the earlier Model 1897 riot guns, the new trench gun had a 20-inch, cylinder-bore barrel.

  • RELATED STORY: Shotgun Guide – 10 Ultra Fast Smoothbores

The Winchester Model 1897 trench gun was ordered into immediate production, and the company eventually manufactured some 25,000 guns for the American government before production was halted in early 1919. As the Winchester shotguns began to arrive in France and their effectiveness became apparent, frontline combat units demanded more of the weapons. Since Winchester was already operating at peak capacity to manufacture Model 1917 rifles, Model 1918 Browning Automatic Rifles (BARs) and Model 1897 shotguns as well as other weapons, another source of trench guns was sought.

Remington Model 10 guns
After being approved for the U.S. military, “US” and the Ordnance Department’s “flaming bomb” insignia were hand-stamped on the left side of the Model 10 trench gun’s receiver, just before the barrel and handguard.

To this end, Remington submitted to the Ordnance Department a version of its 12-gauge Model 10 pump-action shotgun with a specially designed handguard and bayonet adapter. The Remington Model 10 was introduced in 1908 and differed from the Winchester Model 1897 in several respects. The Model 10 was a hammerless design that loaded and ejected from a port in the bottom of the receiver. As was the case with its Winchester counterpart, the Remington shotgun had a capacity of 5+1 rounds.

The Remington Model 10 trench gun had a 23-inch barrel and was fitted with sling swivels. Rather than use the same metal, one-piece handguard/bayonet assembly of the Model 1897, Remington elected to develop a wooden handguard with a separate bayonet attachment also designed for the M1917 bayonet. The wooden handguard was attached to the gun by metal flanges, and the bayonet adapter was secured to the end of the barrel by three transverse-mounted screws.

Like what you’re reading? Check out the rest of this article in ‘Military Surplus’ #188. For information on how to subscribe, please email subscriptions@outdoorgroupmags.com or call 1-800-284-5668.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS

RELATED POSTS

The MDC “Trench Art” Classic AK-47 Rifle.

Get Your History On: Own a Limited MDC “Trench Art” Classic AK-47

The Final Edition of the Walther P99 pistol.

UPDATED: Final Edition Walther P99 Closes Out Model Run

Important Safety Recall Notice Issued for CZ-USA 600 Bolt-Action Rifles.

CZ-USA Issues Important Safety Recall Notice for All 600 Bolt-Action Rifles

Some of the top guns and gear released at SHOT Show 2023.

30 of the Best Guns & Gear Launched at SHOT Show 2023

Load More

TACTICAL-LIFE NIGHT SHOOTER SEASON 2

Discussion about this post

FEATURED POST

The MDC “Trench Art” Classic AK-47 Rifle.

Get Your History On: Own a Limited MDC “Trench Art” Classic AK-47

Straight from the pages of history, MDC (Meridian Defense Corp) offers the chance to own a "Trench Art” classic AK-47....

Read more

TRENDING

U.S. Secret Service adopts Glock G47

FIRST LOOK: Glock Just Very Quietly Unveiled the New Glock 47 Pistol

...

5 new pistols launched at NASGW.

5 New Pistols Launching for 2023

...

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: The Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

...

The new Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7 pistol packs 22+1.

Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7 Packs 22+1 Rounds of Firepower!

...

PICK A CATEGORY

TACTICS & TRAINING SPOTLIGHT

Tactical Reload Semi-Auto Pistol Step 8

5 Strategies For Effectively Completing a Tactical Reload

If you’re reading this publication, you’re most likely familiar with the “speed reload,” sometimes called the “combat reload” or “emergency...

TACTICS & TRAINING SHOWCASE

Fact vs. Fiction 5 Myths Gunfight Survival lead

5 Common Myths on How to Survive a Gunfight

Standing Your Ground Castle Doctrine lead

Understanding Stand Your Ground Laws and Castle Doctrine

long distance shooting tips

Long-Distance Shooting: 5 Must-Know Tips For Spotters & Shooters

IMPACT Experience Events.

IMPACT Experience Events Redefine Your Long-Range Shooting Limits

Enhance your shooting precision skills in a course with Modern Day Sniper.

Sniper Skills: Taking Your Shooting Precision to the Next Level

Once you find a carry gun that works for you, get another for a spare. These “hammerless” S&W J-frame lightweights are M340 M&P with Hogue Bantam grips, top, and a M442 Airweight with Crimson Trace Lasergrips, below.

10 Commandments of Concealed Carry

self-defense myths can be dangerous

Self-Defense Myths that Could Get you Killed

Mossberg 590 Shockwave review for home defense myths

4 Home Defense Myths You Need to Stop Repeating

The Dicken Drill is named for Eli Dicken who saved many lives in the Greenwood Mall

The Elisjsha Dicken Drill

AMMO SPOTLIGHT

Remington Ammunition Issues Recall Notice on 12-Gauge Premier Accutip Ammo.

Remington Ammunition Issues a 12-Gauge Premier AccuTip Ammo Recall

Remington Ammunition has recently discovered an issue related to its 12-Gauge Premier Accutip ammo and issued a recall notice. This...

site logo
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun news, gun reviews and gun magazines for gun enthusiasts, military and law enforcement

Tactical

  • tactical-life.com

Magazines

  • Tactical Life
  • The Complete Book of Reloading
  • Guns of the Old West

Facebook

  • Tactical-Life Facebook
  • Guns of the Old West Facebook

Twitter

  • Tactical-Life Twitter

Self Defense

  • PersonalDefenseWorld.com

Magazines

  • Personal Defense World
  • Combat Handguns

Facebook

  • Personal Defense World Facebook
  • Combat Handguns

Twitter

  • Personal Defense World Twitter

Shooting Lifestyle

  • BallisticMag.com

Magazines

  • BallisticMag.com

Facebook

  • Ballistic Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Ballistic Magazine Twitter

Alpha Lifestyle

  • SkillsetMag.com

Magazines

  • Skillset

Facebook

  • Skillset Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Skillset Magazine Twitter

Instagram

  • Skillset Magazine Instagram
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Policy
© Athlon Outdoors, All Rights Reserved.
You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Outdoors.

Manage your GDPR consents by clicking here. Manage your CCPA consents by clicking here.
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
  • Knives
  • Gear
    • Holsters
    • Optics & Sights
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Suppressors
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Police News
    • Military News
  • Videos
  • Contact Us

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.