Stevens 520/620 P Proofs

[Milsurf]

Hello, newbie poster here. I've recently become interested in C&R shotguns, particularly those of JMBrowning design. WRT this, I've obtained a 520 and a 620 Stevens shotguns and have a question regarding the matching P proof marks adjacent each other on the upper left barrel and receiver on both firearms (photos below). Upper photo is of the 520, receiver is retailer stamped WARD'S WESTERN FIELD MODEL 30, the lower is of the 620, which has a blank receiver, no maker or retailer name stamp.




Note I've asked the following on other forums and have searched the related threads here without coming to a firm conclusion, though a thread here touched on the matter. My question is, are these pictured proof marks military related or just civilian proofs? I have another civilian Stevens 620 with no such proofs, plus a full military marked Savage 720 (barrel and receiver left side P plus flaming bomb proofs) that also doesn't have these matching P proof marks on top. Are these P proofs perhaps related to shotguns obtained under the wartime Blanket Procurement Program which may or may not have received other proof marks depending on the use to which they were put? Thanks for any firm information!

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[Tom Doniphon]

Are either of these guns Military marked (e.g., "U.S." on the receiver)? And what serial number range are they in?

[scosgt]

I have seen many of those long barreled guns, and I think they are probably blanket procurement guns. The P proof possibly indicates they were test/proof fired and passed. They were not combat guns, and if there was no serial number added they were never actually accepted into service, as ALL military guns have serial numbers, either factory or added.

[Milsurf]

Are either of these guns Military marked (e.g., "U.S." on the receiver)? And what serial number range are they in?

No, neither has any definite US military markings, just the pictured Ps. The Ward's Model 30 stamped 520 has serial number 787xx. The blank 620 (no maker or retailer name stamp, no model number) has serial number 358xx. I would think maybe the fact that the 620 has no maker/model/retailer stamp on it would tend to support the idea that it was not originally sold as a civilian arm, but was diverted out of inventory to the military, but this is just a guess on my part. Were pre-WWII and wartime Stevens shotguns sold to the public without any ID of maker/model/retailer?

[Milsurf]

I have seen many of those long barreled guns, and I think they are probably blanket procurement guns. The P proof possibly indicates they were test/proof fired and passed.

Than you for your input. Any idea as to whether the pictured P proofs were done by Stevens or by the military? If indeed these shotguns are BPProgram items, would the absence of any more military proofs indicate they were merely stored in inventory for the duration, or could they perhaps have been used for military recreational purposes?

[Tom Doniphon]

If that is indeed a Stevens 620 (and we don't know for sure because it is not maker marked), then it's not a pre War shotgun. The serial number range for the Wartime 620s goes up to about the 32,000 range. I don't think one made during the War has been observed with a higher number. Your higher numbered gun is likely post War.

[Milsurf]

If that is indeed a Stevens 620 (and we don't know for sure because it is not maker marked), then it's not a pre War shotgun. The serial number range for the Wartime 620s goes up to about the 32,000 range. I don't think one made during the War has been observed with a higher number. Your higher numbered gun is likely post War.

Thanks again for your response. Yes, it is indeed a Stevens 620, actually, to be more precise, it's a 620-A. Though the receiver is unmarked other than the serial number, the barrel is fully stamped as to maker and model number, and the butt stock affixes with only a through bolt (no receiver or trigger group tangs). Since the gun is post-war, that would indicate the P proofs in question were applied by Stevens and are not military in nature. Still wondering what they represent, since they don't appear on many (a majority of?) civilian shotguns of the same type. Also strange that Stevens would sell a shotgun into the retail market with an unmarked receiver. Oh, well, just another one of those unresolved anomalies.

[Tom Doniphon]

I have a 520 trench gun with similar P proof marks, although the style of the P is slightly different than your's. My gun is also model marked on the receiver, is US marked on the left side of the receiver, and it has P proof marks and Ordnance flaming bombs on the left side of the receiver and on the right side of the barrel head. I have seen or been told of several Stevens 520s with these same P proof marks on top of the barrel and receiver. These shotguns all seem to be in the 68,000 serial number range (WW2 mfg). Don't know why Stevens marked them this way. Maybe they had to re-proof a bunch of 520s. I can't recall seeing a 620 similarly marked.

[breakeyp]

I have a few BP guns all varianced on the Stevens Browning design. The Ps were added by the military after they were obtained from the trade and direct purchase from civilian owners. Springfield Research has/had a monongraph on these guns with letters to dealers giving prices gov't would pay for various models. They wanted 12 ga. did buy some 16 ga. and I have a P marked 20 ga. that must have fallen in crack.