New here:) I purchased a Stevens 820B with U.S. proofs... IDK these were issued?? Has a Poly choke that I'm assuming someone added???...
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New here:) I purchased a Stevens 820B with U.S. proofs... IDK these were issued?? Has a Poly choke that I'm assuming someone added???...
No opinions on this? I'm doubting the authenticity of the acceptance stamps.
I didn't want to jump in, was expecting a couple of people here that know well. I think the stamps look fake but the military has a habit of buying strange things to fill gaps in stock at times. This one wouldn't have had a polychoke though. I doubt it's authenticity too... Sometimes it takes a couple days for people to notice the thread... Here's one you could PM about it. https://www.milsurps.com/member.php?u=6224
I talked to one guy that said that if there aren't any choke stamps that the poly-matic choke may be factory installed? I know that the military did get some with long barrels, and the poly choke... IDK about the acceptance stamps?? Iffy, but I've seen pics of others, including 620s with poorly stamped US, and good stamped fire bombs??? I've heard that the Fire bomb, and P weren't used after the war, but IDK if that's true, This would have been a Korean War era gun, but I doubt it would have been a combat weapon...????
HGD,
In reply to your PM. Your shotgun was made in 1952 (D barrel date code), there are no choke markings on it so it likely had a factory polychoke but on a 28” barrel (the only length offered on the 820). The ordinance bomb stamps are not the ones used by Savage/Stevens, that style is what you see on Winchester, Ithaca and Remington shotguns from WWII. Stevens used a much smaller bomb with no distinction in the flames and a smaller P proof stamp. Most telling is the research carried out by Thomas Swearengen (The World’s Fighting Shotguns) and Bruce Canfield (Complete Guide to US Military Combat Shotguns) that states the US Military didn’t purchase any new shotguns for Korea. They didn’t need to as they had a huge surplus of WWII shotguns still on hand that they were busy selling off while fighting in Korea.
In my opinion your shotgun has been cut down and marked in the style of the WWII Stevens M520-30 (Model 520A) and M620 (Model 620A) shotguns but with inaccurate stamps in an attempt to deceive unsuspecting buyers. An argument could be made that this is an MWR gun from a base skeet range that was marked up by a unit armorer but it would still be a civilian purchased gun and not from a military contract and why did they go to the trouble of trying to mark it like the WWII Stevens contract gun. It’s a neat home defense gun that’s built like a tank with materials and workmanship no longer seen on modern shotguns but not a military gun.
Thank you, I was suspect of the stampings, and was pretty sure with all the WW-2 left overs that the military wasn't buying much in those days. I don't have a lot in it, So I will just enjoy it, for what it is. I took it to the range today, along with a Auto-5 light 12 I also picked up this weekend. Both shot well, and the old slam fire is lightning fast...I was just as fast with it, as with the Browning. I thought that the barrel had been cut down, as I had read the the 820B was only offered in 28" barrel. Thanks for the input, it's appreciated.
UPDATE: I traded this gun today, with full disclosure I might add... For a nice Riverside arms 215 hammered SXS 12 Ga. 30" barrels, tight as a new one. It has a 54XXX serial number so should be late twenties, also got some cash. So I came out sweet on this deal. Question, I un-crimped a 2-3/4" shell, and it dropped right in without any resistance. So I'm guessing a 2.75" chamber?? I've read that with modern plastic shells not being as thick that increased chamber pressure is minimal from using a 2.75, in a 2.5 chamber anyway. This will be a fun gun. I plan on shooting the Winchester low recoil, low power shells, and maybe loading some of my own. Post pics tomorrow.
The chamber length thing is overblown, if ya ask me.
And that gun will handle any 2-3/4” you put down it. No need for low power.
I had a Stevens 520...an EARLY one. Shot the crap out of it and it kept on ticking.
It’ll serve you well!
Yeah, from what I've been reading it's either " You'll blow yourself up", or " Ahhh shoot magnums through it", no in between :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by rcathey
SXS lock is tight as a new one, and bores are bright as day, no pitting.