In 1915 John Browning patented a pump-action shotgun with the following features: hammerless, under-loading, tubular-magazine, bottom-ejecting, and take-down.

[2] Manufacturing rights were sold to Remington Arms shortly after, but due to the production efforts of World War I, Remington was unable to begin manufacturing until 1921.

It did not sell well however a cut-down version featuring a 15.1 inch barrel and a pistol grip gained popularity with Detectives, marketed as the "Model 17R Special Police".

The shotgun was referred to as a "Whippit Gun" due to its ease of use to "whip it out and fire".

Variants can be found with the short barrel and fixed stock as opposed to pistol grip depending on officer preference.