Help on something I thought I saw
Back around 1991 the local Naval air station put out armed guards just before the air campaign started against Iraq in the gulf war I.
Now I used to go on the base and recall marine guards at the base entrance. They had shotguns displayed and I saw them up good an close as in they were eye level while I stopped for the 100% ID check. here is what I recall:
1) Wood stocked 870 riot guns, the wood stocks and the front wood were smooth and a fairly dark color.
2) Parkarized finish, with the bolt blued or if parked, a much darker .
3) Front sling swivels but what details I do not recall. No sling on gun but the rear looked like a milled M1903 swivel or very close, at least that is my recollection.
4) 4 or 5 shot tube (not sure which), 20 inch barrel (might have been 18 but looked to be 20 inches to me).
5) Barrel had rifle sights, but the front sight and rear leaf was removed leaving only the front and rear base. Front sight base did not have the open space left by removed of the sight filled in.
6) No mag extension or bayonet lug.
7) No recollection of if the butt-stock had a butt-plate or a recoil-pad.
Some time later I recall seeing a picture of a navy guard outside of a Nuclear sub with that exact model or very close to it. No idea when I just remember it as it looked like the ones I saw, but to be truthful all I recall is it was an parked 870 with a short mag.
So I was interested in this and went looking for details on the pattern on line. I found information on "T" prefix circa 1974 Navy 870 shotguns, but they all seem to have had a extended mag and a metal bracket with a front bayonet lug. A few pictures seem to show a blued bolts and those shotguns seem to have the sights removed with the bases intact. I have seen no pictures of a shotgun like the one I recall seeing with the short mag and no bayonet lug.
Sooooo....... was there such a pattern or is this another case of an errant memory of a middle aged man?
Thanks to anyone who might know.
