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Forgive my ignorance but I'm using a cell phone and I can't seem to figure out how to post images. This is a posting I made on reddit Vietnam to try and get information about this gun. The pictures are on this
link
https://www.reddit.com/r/VietnamWar/comments/mcgcf1/looking_for_more_information_on_vietnam_relic_870/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
Here, lets put this picture up... Here is the OPs pic.
That's a duckbill spreader, don't know how many Remington 870s made it over to RVN though. That one sure didn't see combat I think...
About 15 years ago I bought a stock set like that from a gun show dealer. He said it was from a police riot gun. Still have it on my 870 Express.
That's the kind was standard on 870s for years.
Back in the late 80's I bought a retired police 870 with the exact same stock set. Serial number had it manufactured in 1967. It also has a chrome lined chamber and 18" cylinder choke barrel. It had BPD deeply stamped in the butt stock. It was finished with a yellowed type of municipal varnish that had multiple coats and was chipping off badly. I finally decided to refinish the stock after it left me covered in varnish flakes after using it. To my surprise there was a beautiful piece of walnut under that varnish that still surprises me to this day whenever I look at it.
Boston?Quote:
Originally Posted by oldfoneguy
You know after I bought it we spent hours trying to figure it out and finally gave up, just too many probabilities. Just a few we came up with; Boston (was first), Bridgeport, Baltimore, Bristol, Birmingham, Bangor, Buffalo, Beaumont, Bayonne ect ect ect. There are actually so many just in the US it boggles the mind. Just for background I bought it at the Numrich store that use to be in West Hurley, NY which means nothing as it could have come from anywhere in the world.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
I was there once, happened to be driving by because I missed an exit and got the chance to stop in. I remember where the racks of long guns were too...Quote:
Originally Posted by oldfoneguy
It was a candyland for milsurp lovers. Not to mention the dozens of civilian firearms I left there with all at amazing prices for the day and nearly free by today's standards. Also if you were there on a good day Auto Ordnance which was across the street would be testing the full auto Thompsons. That always brought a smile on top of the haul we walked out with.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
I happened there at about 5PM and a half hour to closing. I'd been driving all day and missed the turn to take me west off the toll road so I took the next exit I could find...so the land of "Rip van Winkle" and his 25 year sleep. I saw the signs and checked the time... I parked by Auto Ord and walked down, there was nothing else happening. Couple guys behind the counter and as I stopped inside the door, there were three cardboard barrels of gunstocks, mostly military take offs. I selected a belt sanded M14 stock, walnut and bought it. $4 USD and I made sure I kept the receipt to show the guys out here in the west... They had about everything there...that would have been 1989. Summer.
If it was a Saturday I was probably in there that day. There was a stretch from 79 to 92 that I was there almost every weekend 12 months a year feeding my addiction. Here in the northeast there was no place better for it since Bannermans closed when I was a kid. Saw the store transform many times over based on the most recent lots acquired. It was an extremely sad day when we got there and saw the old store building with the worn out wood floor was closed because the building was condemned. There were grown men in the parking lot weeping! They had moved the store across the parking lot to the building next to Auto Ordnance with the cannons out front. The store became tiny just an order counter with some blister package items hanging around. No more rack after rack of long guns, no more barrels full of bargains, no more yards of pistols or musty surplus items. It hit so hard we just stopped going and I assume many others did too because the small store was closed for good the next time we went 3 years later. Of course by that time I'd been married for years and had a house and kids so the endless spending spree was long over. Was there 3 years ago and nothing is there now. The old building was torn down and Auto Ordnance and the small building were locked down tight however the cannons were still there. Auto Ordnance had been sold to Khar Arms and the entire operation was moved to Connecticut. I have no idea where Gun Parts Corp has moved to but it's no longer on that property however it is still in NY.
Missed you by that much then, it probably was a weekday as it was travel on Army time... I'd have loved to seen Bannerman's, I have a book here that's their compiled sales catalogues. Real historic company there. I remember walking past the cannons as I walked down the hill from Auto Ord to Gun Parts... The trees had overgrown the lane and the employees houses were hard to see as you drove in. End of an era for sure. You used to be able to get anything there...a steel drum full of Garand clips... Anything.
At least we've got the memories and the accumulated toys however I'd be open to getting more but.... My daughters boyfriend is a lot like me with this stuff. He digs bluing and walnut instead of black metal and plastic like most in his age group. I feel sorry that he'll never know that place or another one just like it, especially not here in NY.
Yes, we've had stuff the young will never know. Too bad, specially around my area.
That's Nice thanks for sharing!!