Anvil 100: Remington 1100 PigStick 

Mark calls himself an "average" gunsmith, however, I believe a lot of "expert" gunsmiths wish they were as AVERAGE as Mark! 😂 Great Job Mark. 👍🏻

As an apprentice gunsmith I can’t even begin to tell you how much I value your channel. Wow! I’ve learned a lot from you and always look forward to the next video coming out. Keep up the awesome work!

"I'm an average gunsmith..." Bullshit. Mark, you're OUTSTANDING!

“I am an average gunsmith”. Nope, you sir, are a real craftsman. The time an expertise it took to do the work and figure out each issue is a real testament to who you are. All I can say is, THANK YOU, I really enjoy watching your videos!

The more I watch this guy the more I realize that not only is he brilliant he's more of an artist than anything. Not to take anything away from his incredible ability as a gunsmith, just the opposite.

A word to the wise: At the 28:22 point, when Mark put the link into the recoil spring, the link itself can/will wear itself in a way, to perfectly replicate a double-edge razor blade! I worked on an 1100 that was so sharp it cut three fingers in one fell swoop, two to the bone. Like Mark said, the grooves/shelves are extremely sharp as well. Be VERY careful when working with it (the part that looks like a tweezer). Another I worked on was similar to the first. I don't touch them without gloves on. Be safe everyone. Rev. D.

Just one caveat. Any drying oil. Any oxidizing oil. Linseed oil,teak oil,tung oil,when you use a cloth rag,stretch it out and let it fully oxidize. There are other safe disposal measures that also work just fine. But don't bunch it up,and red lead is unlikely to be available nowadays,but it makes the whole spontaneous combustion possibility worse. Lots of places have had fires by people not knowing just how hot a drying oil can get. Let it dry spread out and dispose safely. Terrific episode. And he's right about that there Chevy 350.

a genuine master at work

After one hour twenty seven minutes and forty two seconds I found myself disappointed that the video had come to an end. Awesome video y'all!

My dad had a 1100 back in the 70s and he took the trigger completely apart after being warned not to and messed something up. Next time he went hunting he said bird went up, he fired, and then all he saw was blue sky. It legit emptied all 3 rounds so quickly he was on the ground before the 2nd shell hit the deck. Took it to a gunsmith and said he put the sear in backwards and it slam fired.

Tons of them here in Greece. Ever since they came out in 1962, every merchant marine or whoever had migrated to the U.S., would bring back preety much one for every relative. The 1100 and the Auto 5 also in big numbers, dominated the hunting grounds for more than half a century here. Many of both are still in use. I have seen them in all posible conditions, including no wood stain, cracked stocks-forearms, all blue replaced by silverish patina, and a rubber boot sole nailed in as a recoil pad. Still worked. At this moment there are 20 pieces for sale online, one in 20ga and one in 410, plus some extra barrels. I also saw one "Auto12", the budget 1100 version right before the 11-87 came out. IMHO, 1100 fell out of favor due to high marketing used by other manufacturers, and not because its obsolete. I like both, 1100 and 1187. Oh, superb video by the way!! Thank you!!!

I thoroughly enjoy every video you put out for us. I watched every minute. My father was much like you, except for the woodworking. He was an electrician, electric motor repairman, machinist, and welder. I chuckled to myself when you said you don't have to force whatever you were working on at the moment. Dad would get agitated with me when I'd be helping him at his shop, I can still hear him telling me you don't have to force it. When you've got it right it'll go together easily.

This is the kind if content that amazes me to see someone make something out of nothing

excellent educator you are the best i've seen in my 71 years anywhere , you also include in detail where you purchased and why you purchased the different materials selections you use during your repairs....many many thanks.....

The length and pacing of this video is perfect for me, great work my dudes!

Interesting trip down the rabbit hole and a excellent video as well hopefully there's more to come when the parts arive have a great day Mr Novak you keep posting and I'll keep watching

This is the best gunsmithing channel handsdown!

I've got a 1970 Remington 1100 that I bought used from Coast to Coast when I was in high school. It was originally owned by my family doctor and has been meticulously maintained over the years. Runs like a top. However, its the only firearm that I ever really hated working on. I turned it into a three-gun rig 20 years ago and installed an extended carrier release. I found out the hard way that the edges in the receivers are razor sharp. I made the mistake of running my finger down on of the grooves and it sliced me good... twice... because I am a slow learner.

I cut my skeet-teeth on an 1100 20 gauge back in the ‘80’s. My father had a matched set 28 gauge and .410, which we also used. I remember the annoyances of stripping and cleaning those pigs after a day’s rounds of skeet (usually followed by reloading the spent shells). We added an 1187 12 gauge later, but I always preferred 20 gauge. I eventually switched to an over-under SKB ultralight and never looked back. It was a pleasure seeing that pile of parts get a new life. One thing your explanation clarified for me was a how the bolt carrier interacts with the recoil spring. I once accidentally tripped the bolt release while the barrel wasn’t seated, which resulted in the mechanism becoming completely jammed. After some choice words, my father took the inoperable shotgun to a friend who set it right. I am guessing that the t-connector must have jumped out of the cup of the recoil spring follower. Thank you for clarifying that little mystery from my youth. I may have to see if I can find that old 20 gauge and put it back in the field.

Outstanding Mark, as per usual. Hope you’re on the mend. Really enjoy watching you do your thing.

We inherited a 20 gauge 1100 with a Cutts from my pappy. My uncle speculates that a lot of the Cutts conversions were done after a hunter accidently got some dirt/mud in the barrel and blew out the muzzle end.... Looks cool, but not as much as a Thompson or 1918 BAR with the Cutts.

A late local gunsmith was converting 3” 1100’s to run light loads. Opened up the gas ports. I’ve had a lot of the guns he did that way come through my shop. They worked fine with 2-3/4” light loads, but when the owners used 3” ammo they started coming apart. I was seeing a rash of them come in with broken action bars after he passed.

Great job Mark. I’ve owned three 1100’s over the years. Reliable soft shooters. The first was an SB Skeet. Had to sell it to my brother-in-law to pay some bills. Big mistake, next time I saw it, the toe of the stock had been busted off! Gorgeous fancy walnut……ah well, never sell a gun and think you might want it back!!!

It's been a pleasure watching this, Mark, because here in Australia, ordinary Citizens are not permitted to own such things as automatic shotguns, and it's great to be able to see the inside workings of things that we'd LIKE to own !!

Mark, I know you checked it but others may not. There is a bumper pad inserted at the back of the bolt which is called the Breach Bolt Buffer - part 14 in many exploded diagrams. The original ones look like a nylon and will turn to a blue tint and get brittle over time. The last 1100 I took apart had half of the bumper broken into gravel and was spread all through the lock/trigger mechanism. Always check the bolt buffer on any old 1100 and replace as necessary.

Absolutely beautiful, I love the way you treat the wood on your weapons not like it's just something to hold it together but instead , part of an actual piece of art, because a finely assembled Gun is a piece of art that can be an amazing and enjoyable piece of equipment to use to go out and have fun with. Also be a sporting utensil like a football, or a hockey 🏒 stick . Or it can be a finely assembled and highly tuned and effective weapon to use with the precision of a hammer and chisel to carve the lines and curves as into a piece of stone; say as a piece of marble to create a piece of art like the thinking man or any other piece marble that DaVinci carved into to create his master pieces . It's all amazing to me. Well done Sir, well done .

Live in Northern Ireland and had a 1187 and later a 870 for wildfowling for many years neither gave me any bother or went wrong, biggest mistake i think most gun owners make is not properly cleaning there gun after use. My grandfather was a old army sergeant and in civilian life a Gamekeeper and when teaching me to shoot made sure I knew how to keep any firearm spotless.

It's missing a bayonet lug for ad hoc boar-spear defensive actions

Mark.. absolutely love your videos.. my dad is retired AF. hearing you're military "markisms" just reminds me of my dad, he has alot of the same ones. I grab a glass of whiskey and watch.. KEEP EM COMING

Me: Watching the video, wandering, " Gee, how do you fix pressed in checkering?" Mark, 10 seconds later: Breaks out cabinet rasp . Me: Well that answers that.

Mr. Novak, I want to thank you for making things easy to understand. You've given me the confidence to buy checkering tools and start practicing checkering. Thank you sir, You rock! I think you're one of the best and most skilled gunsmiths on the tube. Have a safe and very happy Independence Day sir. Hope the family all the best.

I have several old guns that I am taking care of maintaining and conserving. Encouraged by your videos. My Cutts gun is a REM m11. The young guys at the gun store didn’t know what to think. Several thought it was some antique suppressor. That’s a crazy purpose built gun you have there. Will turn heads for sure.

... I like and enjoy the longer videos... I wish you would consider doing more of them.... There is something to be said about seeing a project from start to finish, instead of fragmented over weeks... Great stuff Nick Thank you

Hi Mark, Hubertus from Germany, I‘m just sitting in China in quarantine and watch your videos. Awesome stuff you do. Yes I own 3 Remington 1100 and the number will grow as soon my wife looks the other side. Your PicStick is cool, too bad the German government regulates the mag content down to two rounds. This is why I hunt with a double rifle barrel Drilling. It goes boomboom and I reload below 2 seconds. I learn a lot from you and too bad you are not in Europe. Take care and enjoy your cigars.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder" Lmao never change Mark

Wow!! I really enjoyed this video. Great sounding gun. I don't know about Gunsmiths, a little about Machinists, Cabinet Makers, Jewelers, Masons, Painters, Welders, and Plumbers.Having a working knowledge of all of these crafts is above average IMO. Thank you for sharing, your content is truly engaging! The most important knowledge of all....Humility.

Average gunsmith my ass. Sir, the knowledge base you have is nothing short of incredible.

Well done master gunsmith Mark Really needed the instructions on soldering a firearm

The commentary left on the cutting floor has to be fantastic. Thank you Mark

100 videos. Wow, what an accomplishment. When you first started this did you ever think someday you'd be this many videos in? Please keep 'em coming, we really like 'em.

Detritus.. Well Done!. Great vocabulary and top drawer craftsman skills. A pleasure to watch

"beauty is in the eye of the beer holder" there are no lies here

Dear Mark ! Your videos are long but i enjoyed every minute of it,you go so much in detail how things are made and whats wrong and why it doesnt work.Keep doing a good work !

I have a number of guns I have very little money in but they have "issues". Your videos are helping me to have the confidence to tackle a couple. Thank you!

I watched the whole video 🤷 never shot a gun in my life nor do I own any, no engineering qualifications either but I really enjoyed watching a professional at work 👍

There may be better gunsmiths Mark, but I've yet to see one with your spiritual patience, and calm demeanor.. And thats what makes a marksman, out of a shooter.

Love these long videos. Thanks Mark for once again demonstrating your craft , and taking the time to document your work so we can all watch.

My dad carried one of these 1100's for duck hunting, and I carried an 870 wing master. They were both nice Guns, but my grandpa's winchester model 12 was in a different class

I am from Portugal and i have an 11-96 Euro Lightweight, very similar system and i work on mine mainly because there are not a lot of gun smiths that work good with this system, they are not common guns (the 1100 family). I love mine, they are very soft shooting and very modular. Mine is converted to Practical Shooting. I have learned a lot with your video and i am very thankful that you did this video. Quick note: My grandfather won this shotgun on a raffle tiquet and gave it to me years latter because he doesn't hunt with it anymore. Keep up with the videos, you truly inspire people around the world. "The centered 10 Chanel"

i will say sir,you are one hell of a gunsmith.

You are far beyond "Average" bud. That 1100 project is smashing. 12ga. X 10 + scoped hastings slug bbl. Brilliant!

I've missed these long form Anvil videos. For a pig, she looks good!

Yes, an hour and twentyseven mins. of ANVIL. MAKE MY MORNING.

"Bend the bars out like a bowlegged kid." Priceless.

You always make me smile while I learn. Thank you, Mark. Edit: I had a four-bolt 350 with 180,000 miles on it when I rebuilt it. The _only_ thing out of spec, other than a rounded over camshaft and new heads, was the oil clearance on the center main. .0005" out. I was happy with that.

I just love the detailed explanation we get. Mark is an amazing smith.

I don't believe for a minute, that you are a "average" gunsmith. Very interesting Video. Thanks .

I bought my 1100 rem in Italy in 1976 at the Naples Rod & Gun Club. Not exactly off the open market but still had to do all the Italian paperwork to transport it and such.

Fantastic! Nearly 1 hour and 28 minutes of top quality entertainment and skills to start the 4th of July weekend! Thank you Mark and enjoy your weekend and be safe!

This might be my favorite project of yours yet. Awesome work.

@ 47.xx, A great product from Brownell's is Comet flux. It is perfect for a job like this. You can take a Q tip and just paint the area of the 'solder box' on the barrel. You just want the Q tip damp with comet flux so it doesn't run. It takes very little. You just heat it up and melt solder on it. The solder will stick perfectly and leave a thin, even tinning where the comet flux was applied and any excess solder will just drip off the barrel without sticking. I use 'non-fluxed' silver solder for this, so it only sticks to the comet fluxed area. Tin the mount and assemble exactly the same as you did here. I'm not saying it's better or anything. It just makes that job super easy and there's practically no solder clean up afterwards. You can even do this with some of Brownell's Heat stop paste (around the outside of the box) and solder parts without messing up surrounding bluing. That doesn't apply here but is handy on a firearm that isn't being refinished. I hope this comes in handy. Great video! Take Care and be safe, John

Hey guy your videos are second to none. I learn so much from you just talking to a camera. Thank you for sharing your experience and smithing style with all of us.

My Highschool Hunting Partner Had his Dad's 3 inch 870 with a Cutts Comp and the Long Choke . Ha ha Brings Back Memories . His Father when he got out of the Army spent a pile of Money on the Shot gun for Waterfowl Hunting . We Were spring Turkey Hunters . My everything Gun was a 3 " Full Choke Springfield 67 f . But Don's Gun with that Long Choke could shoot real Tight Compared to Mine . Awesome Pattern even past 40 yards . The 1970s were fun Times to hunt .

Mark you probably know this, but you have a full choke installed on a rifled slug barrel, after a 3” jump with no bore restriction. It looks cool but it aint gonna shoot very good. Get a “SPR” Spreader marked choke tube, they have almost .800 inner diameter choke. Your choke is prolly between .680-.700 ish. I have a video on Cutts comps for shotguns if you care to check it out. I do love your vids and have learned a lot from you, thank you!

Mark, a couple of things that I have done different (not that it makes a difference) 1-When removing the stamped checkering, I first remove the finish and then using heat and steam method (the same as you) raise the "dents"' left by the stamping machine 2-When finishing the checkered area, I use a toothbrush to scrub the finish into the area Great project, thanks for sharing

Remington1100s are pretty common in Ireland and the UK.Not so much in mainland Europe,the 870 is quite established as a pump in all of Europe , next to the Mossberg. I run an old beater that I had originally intended for practical shotgun, but as that was made illegal in Ireland it became a different project. It was Cerakoated OD green and had a Choate FAL pistol grip stock and plastic fore-end on it and a set of Hi-Viz Turkey sights on the rib,a 5 round extension, new O ring and Brownell's gas piston rings, and a speed loader lever that does away with the button latch system, YES I did break off a drill bit in one of the gas ports that did require a nightmare job of drilling out and totally enlarging ONE gas port and channel, but however, it now eats every and all loads I shove into it. I also had the barrel shortened to 24 ins on a ribbed barrel,and re-cut for Rem chokes and run it cylinder bore with a breacher choke with a DNA sampler profile. I use it mostly for Embassy shotgun comps and the occasional round of skeet,as shotgun slug hunting in Ireland is illegal,its mostly a home defence gun Thanks for showing how to sort out the shell latch.That is the one job I still have to sort out

Thank you very much for the time and effort you put into this video. I truly appreciate it!

Have an 1100 my grandfather bought for me, my first gun, bought from Kmart. It's not the most amazing firearm, but it's the sentimental value that's priceless. Thought about changing it up to make it more utilitarian, it's just not worth it. It will stay the way I received it. The full rifle slug barrels are more than the 1100 is worth now. Oh by the way my 1983 1100 was included in the class action lawsuit for splitting barrels, got a $46 dollar check from settlement.

That was the quickest hour and a half I can remember. Thanks for spending the time to put this together and posting it.

I usually start these videos yelling at the screen when Mark does something wrong like not put the front tab of the shell stop inside the slot in the receiver before trying to stake it - but I always come around with full forgiveness as the video unfolds. Thank you, these videos really are a treasure.

Absolutely outstanding video. Thank you for your time and insight. We are lucky that you choose to share your knowledge. Thank you Mr.Novak.

On the seeing of 1100's in europe: I have, in Holland one of my friends had one. He had more problems with it than me with my auto 5. Love your work and content.

This was great. Sounds like a massive amount of time and effort went into this. Just wanted to comment to say that we appreciate it.

Silver solder is unreal STRONG. Your such a pro. I've silver soldered copper medical oxygen lines on hospital construction sites. Its real strong to hold an optic rail on a Firearm and keep the scope there forever.

Thanks to the RU-vid algorithm your channel came up in my list and I am extremely glad it did! Watching and listening to you as you go through your process and seeing the incredible final outcome on the firearm is extraordinary. I have shared your video with some younger people i know to show them what it really takes to make something work that they can be proud of. Thank you for the time and effort you put into your videos and I’ll be watching for the next one!

One of the most interesting projects ever - so many issues, so many questions, so many solutions. And I don't care WHAT you say, there is nothing "average" about Mr Mark Novak!

That thing looks amazing thanks for the hardwork to make this video, i enjoyed every second of it :D

The way you installed that interceptor first try gave me goosebumps.

Mark and crew, thank you for putting in the hard work and hours to bring these videos to us. There isn't much else i get excited about other than the chance to hunt with my kids and a Mark Novak post. Hope you all had a wonderful independence day!

Absolutely love longer episodes of Anvil

Doing is 90% of the enjoyment of anything, It is obvious you enjoy working on firearms and also enjoy making the videos. That makes your videos especially enjoyable to watch. Keep up the great work. I have learned a lot so thanks for that also.

At 28:36 when he is talking about how everything inside those things is a razor blade. I will never forget how much a finger can bleed

Im a Remington man through and through, there is no better Hunting Rifle either for Left or Right handers than the Remington pumps, Ive got 141's, 760's and 7600's and ive been using my 760 since i was 12 and im now 36, these Remington pumps just cant be beat, and that goes for the 870's and 1100's as well!

I was lucky back in '82 then,,, my 870 had walnut wood throughout and it was beautiful. 30" full choke that I duck and goose hunted with very successfully. 3" magnum shells have a kick but that shotgun shot excellent. I always shied away from the 1100 though. Had heard stories and I didn't like what I heard. To increase the area means increasing the diameter....physics is physics and you did increase the diameter a little bit. The secret is as you said and showed...to creep up on it.

Seems like slicing a finger on the inside of a Remington 1100 is a gunsmith right of passage. I’m so dumb, I did two fingers.

thank you Mark! hope you get to enjoy the holiday.

Hi, I am from England, UK. I have had an 1100 for nearly forty years. I started shooting clays with it but its now my live pigeon gun. Its a great tool and I can hit everything with it. Thanks for this episode, it has helped me with some little issues with my 1100.

Fabulous video and project Mark. Thanks so much for your time spent to share. Tremendously entertaining…you are a natural teacher!

You should be able to harvest some feral swine with that. Thanks for keeping her off the scrap heap.

I have had 2 Gm trucks with 400,000 miles + between the two. I believe there is art in function, so to me making ye ol pig stick function is a work of art. Well done sir

This is great! I love your work. My boss heard that I restored my old Mosin-Nagant and asked me if I could fix up his old break-action 12ga. Someone had put modern rounds through it and split the stock in several places, and he didn't even know the receiver was bulged and blown out. It's a wall hanger now.

glad i stumbled into your channel, i have shared you with my friends who are into metal work, wood word, gun work , and small business guys. your attention to detail is impressive.

been teaching myself checkering and watching you blast that pattern through answered a lot of my questions on what is to screwed up and what is actually possible. Pattern depth was a question for me as well. Just watching you work and talking your way through the process is priceless for guys like me. Thank you

Folks like this gentleman are worth every penny they charge for their expertise. Regular schmoes have no idea what these guys know and do, including me. Excellent video and repair.

Absolutely Outstanding Video! Thank you Mark & Bruno. Really good to see the whole thing in one hit. And no, it wasn't too long.

Great video, always a lesson or 10 to be learned watching these. I looked at the length of the show, got a good chair, a coffee and settled in to "go down the rabbit hole !!"

Man that’s the perfect color stain I’ve been searching for my entire life! Thanks a million

Bought a cantilever rifled barrel for my 1100. Found a sabot that groups tight. Put on a good red dot. Great deer gun!

So enjoy your videos Mark . All ways learn something new . Very informative and a pleasure to watch your work. Thank you for sharing.

Thoroughly enjoyed watching you restoring this 1100 , taught me a lot, manythanks from SW Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴‍☠️👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼