[1] Released as the replacement for the Remington Model 11, it was manufactured from 1949 to 1968 and was produced in 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge and .410 variations.

The Model 11-48 was revolutionary in that it ushered in stamped steel components for a lower cost of assembly, a mass production technology pioneered by the Nazi firearms industry shortly before WWII (adopted in Remington's military rifle production with the M1903A3, and in civilian rifles with the Model 721 in 1948) which was not used in civilian shotguns prior to 1949, and featured truly interchangeable parts not requiring fitting by a gunsmith, and was reliable in the extreme.[promotion?]

The 11-48 differs from the Model 11 in the friction ring placed at the forward end of the barrel recoil spring.

The 11-48 features a similar friction ring system but in later production years, it was modified to be self-adjusting so as to work with all loads.

A decorated veteran of World War II, Vassos was chief of the OSS "Spy School" in Cairo, Egypt, from 1942 to 1945, responsible for training agents sent to Greece, the Balkans, and Italy.

Small numbers were again purchased by soldiers and fielded in the Vietnam War by the United States Marine Corps.