Remington Model 11 and Kurt Cobain: Historical Facts, Technical Specifications, and Provenance

The firearm officially documented in the April 1994 death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain is a 20-gauge Remington Model 11 semi-automatic shotgun bearing serial number 1008011. Purchased on March 30, 1994, by musician Dylan Carlson at Stan Baker Sports in Seattle, Washington, official Seattle Police Department (SPD) evidence logs and photographic records released in 2016 conclusively confirm the weapon's exact mechanical configuration, provenance, and historical record.

The Acquisition and Historical Context (March 1994)

In late March 1994, following a period of personal crisis and escalating security concerns at his residence in the Lake Washington neighborhood of Seattle, Kurt Cobain requested the assistance of his close friend, Earth frontman Dylan Carlson, to purchase a defense firearm. Because Cobain was concerned that police might confiscate firearms registered under his name—following a domestic dispute in early March where Seattle police had temporarily seized several firearms—Carlson agreed to complete the purchase on his behalf.

On March 30, 1994, Carlson and Cobain visited Stan Baker Sports, a prominent firearm and sporting goods dealership located on Ballinger Way NE in Seattle. Carlson purchased the used 20-gauge Remington Model 11 shotgun for approximately $308 using cash provided by Cobain. Along with the shotgun, a box of 20-gauge heavy-load ammunition was acquired. Carlson retained the shotgun briefly before delivering it to Cobain's residence prior to Cobain’s departure for the Exodus Recovery Center in Los Angeles.

Following Cobain's return to Seattle in early April 1994, the shotgun remained at his Lake Washington Boulevard home. On April 8, 1994, electrician Gary Smith discovered Cobain's body in the living quarters above the detached greenhouse. Seattle Police Department homicide detectives recovered the Remington Model 11 at the scene, along with a brown corduroy gun case and a box of 20-gauge target shells.

Technical Specifications of the Remington Model 11 Shotgun

The Remington Model 11 is an American semi-automatic shotgun based directly on John Moses Browning’s landmark 1898 Auto-5 patent. Manufactured by the Remington Arms Company between 1905 and 1947, it holds distinction as the first autoloading shotgun produced in the United States. While initially sold as the "Remington Autoloading Shotgun" from 1905 to 1910, it was formally designated the Model 11 in 1911.

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Mechanical Operating Principle The Remington Model 11 operates on a long-recoil action mechanism. Upon firing, the barrel and bolt travel backward together for the full length of the recoil stroke. At the rearmost position, the bolt unlocks and locks to the rear while the barrel is forced forward by its surrounding recoil spring, ejecting the spent shell casing. Once the barrel returns forward, the bolt releases, stripping a fresh cartridge from the tubular magazine and locking into the barrel extension.

The firearm recovered by SPD was chambered in 20-gauge rather than the more common 12-gauge or 16-gauge configurations. The 20-gauge variant of the Model 11 features a scaled-down receiver, reducing overall weight and recoil impulse compared to its 12-gauge counterpart.

Physical and Mechanical Profile

• Manufacturer: Remington Arms Company (Ilion, New York)
• Model Designation: Model 11 (Commercial Variant)
• Action Type: Semi-automatic, long-recoil operated
• Gauge: 20-gauge (2-3/4 inch chamber)
• Receiver Finish: Blued steel with standard factory scroll markings
• Stock Material: American Walnut with smooth pistol grip and plastic factory buttplate
• Magazine Capacity: 4+1 rounds (tubular magazine beneath the barrel)
• Safety Mechanism: Cross-bolt safety button located at the rear of the trigger guard
• Serial Number: 1008011 (located on the lower left side of the receiver frame)

Unlike customized tactical shotguns, Cobain’s Remington Model 11 remained in its original factory sporting configuration. It retained its full-length barrel—typically 26 or 28 inches on 20-gauge models—and was equipped with a fixed choke, a bead front sight, and an unmodified wooden buttstock.

Seattle Police Department Investigation and 2016 Photographic Release

For two decades following the 1994 investigation, the physical evidence associated with the case remained secured within the Seattle Police Department's evidence vault. In March 2016, under the direction of SPD Cold Case Detective Mike Ciesynski, the department released five high-resolution photographs of the Remington Model 11 to address persistent public record requests and clarify long-standing misinformation regarding the weapon's appearance and condition.

The official SPD primary evidence files document the following verified elements:

1. Serial Number Verification: SPD Evidence Item #94-110020 confirms serial number 1008011 engraved on the receiver, matching the original purchase receipt from Stan Baker Sports.
2. Physical Integrity: The photographs clearly demonstrated that the barrel had not been sawed off, cut down, or modified. The stock, action assembly, and trigger group were fully intact.
3. Ballistic and Chain of Custody: Forensic examination conducted by the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory in April 1994 matched spent shell casings recovered at the scene directly to the firing pin and chamber of serial number 1008011.
4. Current Status: Under Washington State public safety mandates and SPD property retention protocols, the firearm remains cataloged within secure law enforcement control and is not subject to public sale, auction, or museum display.

Comparative Analysis: Remington Model 11 vs. Related Historic Firearms

To fully understand the mechanics and historical positioning of the 20-gauge Remington Model 11, it is essential to compare it against Browning's original Auto-5 design and modern shotguns utilized for self-defense or sporting applications.

Dispelling Common Myths and Media Inaccuracies

Over the decades, media coverage and unverified rumors generated several persistent myths concerning the shotgun recovered in April 1994. Historical police records, physical documentation, and forensic reports resolve these discrepancies:

Clarification on Firearm Gauge Early news reports frequently misidentified the shotgun as a 12-gauge firearm. Official police property inventories, ammunition box recoveries, and ballistics reports verify that the weapon was unequivocally a 20-gauge Remington Model 11.

Clarification on Barrel Alterations Reports occasionally claimed that the firearm was a "sawed-off" shotgun. High-resolution imagery released by the Seattle Police Department in 2016 confirmed that the barrel maintained its original factory length and had suffered no mechanical alterations or modifications.

Distinction Between Model 11 and Remington "Sportsman" The standard Model 11 features a 4-round tubular magazine capacity (totaling 5 rounds with one chambered). The Remington "Sportsman" variant was restricted to a 2-round magazine capacity to comply with federal migratory bird laws. Cobain's weapon was the standard commercial Model 11 configuration.

Collectors Market and Serial Number Verification in 2026

For firearm historians and Curio & Relic (C&R) collectors, the Remington Model 11 represents a significant era in early American autoloading firearms development. While the specific weapon associated with Kurt Cobain remains permanently housed in law enforcement evidence custody, standard 20-gauge Remington Model 11s are actively traded on the collector market.

Dating Remington Model 11 Firearms

Remington introduced a two-letter barrel code system in 1921 to identify the month and year of manufacture. For Model 11 shotguns produced prior to 1921, manufacturing dates must be determined via receiver serial number ranges:

1. Pre-1921 Production: Serial numbers below approximately 200,000 require cross-referencing against factory assembly log books.
2. Barrel Date Codes (Post-1921): Located on the left side of the barrel near the receiver. The first letter indicates the month (JAN=B, FEB=L, MAR=A, APR=C, MAY=K, JUN=P, JUL=O, AUG=W, SEP=D, OCT=E, NOV=R, DEC=X). The second letter indicates the year.
3. 20-Gauge Receiver Scaling: 20-gauge models feature serial numbers distinct from the primary 12-gauge production lines, starting in 1930 when the 20-gauge option was officially added to the Model 11 lineup.

In terms of current market valuation, standard commercial 20-gauge Remington Model 11 shotguns in original, unmodified condition command a value ranging between $450 and $850 depending on finish retention, wood condition, and mechanical integrity.

Step-by-Step Mechanical Overview of the Remington Model 11 Long-Recoil Action

Understanding how the Remington Model 11 functions clarifies why it was widely regarded as one of the most reliable autoloading designs of the early-to-mid 20th century.

1. Firing Sequence Ignition: Pulling the trigger drops the hammer onto the firing pin, igniting the primer and propellant within the chambered 20-gauge shell.
2. Full Recoil Stroke: Gas pressure drives the projectile down the barrel while pushing the locked barrel and bolt assembly backward together inside the receiver frame.
3. Unlocking Phase: At the rear limit of travel, the bolt locking block disengages from the barrel extension cutout. The bolt is temporarily held at the rear by the carrier latch.
4. Barrel Return: The heavy barrel recoil spring located around the magazine tube pushes the barrel forward back to its battery position, stripping the spent shell casing off the stationary bolt face and ejecting it through the ejection port.
5. Feed and Battery: As the barrel returns fully forward, it trips the bolt release lever. The bolt spring inside the buttstock pushes the bolt forward, lifting a fresh cartridge from the magazine carrier, driving it into the chamber, and locking the action closed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exact shotgun model did Kurt Cobain own?

Kurt Cobain owned a 20-gauge Remington Model 11 semi-automatic shotgun, bearing serial number 1008011. The firearm was an unmodified commercial hunting shotgun operating on John Browning’s long-recoil design patent.

Where was Kurt Cobain's Remington Model 11 purchased?

The shotgun was purchased on March 30, 1994, at Stan Baker Sports in Seattle, Washington. Dylan Carlson completed the transaction on behalf of Cobain for approximately $308.

Is Kurt Cobain's shotgun a Browning Auto-5?

While structurally identical to the Browning Auto-5 due to shared patent licensing, Cobain's shotgun was manufactured by Remington Arms in Ilion, New York, under the Model 11 designation.

Was the barrel of Cobain's Remington Model 11 sawed off?

No, the barrel was completely unmodified. Photos released by the Seattle Police Department in 2016 demonstrate that the shotgun retained its full factory barrel length, stock, and bead front sight.

Where is Kurt Cobain's Remington Model 11 located today?

The shotgun remains securely stored within the Seattle Police Department evidence vault. It is classified as permanent physical evidence and is not available for public display, sale, or transfer.

Historical Summary and Legal Conclusion

The 20-gauge Remington Model 11 with serial number 1008011 remains one of the most thoroughly documented cultural artifacts in modern music history. From its initial purchase at Stan Baker Sports to its meticulous examination by the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory and subsequent public archival release by the Seattle Police Department, official forensic evidence consistently verifies the firearm's technical specifications, unaltered condition, and continuous chain of custody.

For researchers, forensic analysts, and firearm historians seeking accurate factual data, official public agency records from the City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Department serve as the primary source material for verifying all details regarding this historic firearm.