Advice needed on Stevens 620a Frankengun

[mattman71]

I recently purchased (via online auction), a Stevens 620a with all of the military stampings that are shown on the various threads on this site. I thought I was buying an aerial trainer as it was listed with a 30" barrel. Upon receiving the gun I noticed that the serial numbers on the barrel and receiver do not match, and there are no military proofs on the barrel. Luckily I didn't pay a whole bunch for it, but unfortunately, as it is unmatching, it doesn't quite fit my collection. I won the auction at $200, but the shipping and fees brought it up to $300. Needless to say, I was ****ed, but I did fail to ask about the serials so I suppose it was my fault. The receiver and buttstock are definitely from a trench gun. It even has the correct sling swivel cutout on the bottom. I am looking for your opinions of my options. Should I:
1) Sell it to a collector who might have the correct parts to put it back together and cut my losses.
2) Hack off the barrel and buy a reproduction heat shield and bayonet lug from Numrich and have fun with it.
3) Something else.

I'm sure that being a previous military issue receiver it has some value. Any idea what the going rate for these are?

Thanks for your ideas!

[rcathey]

Welcome to the forum!

Bummer about the mismatch.
If I were you, I'd chop the barrel to riot length and call it good. If you lucked across a heat shield for cheap, you could always throw it on later. (Tip: I got a repro heat shield by snagging a Norinco 1897 trench gun cheap at a pawn shop. Kept the heat shield and sold the shotgun at a profit!)

If I had to guess, I'd say the proper barrel would cost you $250 or so if you could find one.

So, again, chop that barrel and have some fun. I think you got a fine price, honestly. As you state, the receiver has some value and it will only go up with time.

[mattman71]

The Numrich repro heat shield and lug is only $129 right now. Do you have any experience or heard about anybody with this one? https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/813820

[rcathey]

Do you have any experience or heard about anybody with this one?

Not me.
Sounds like a whole lot of fun in one gun for $429!
By the way, a tubing cutter (like for plumbing pipe) will cut a shotgun barrel. I’ve done it a few times myself.

[mattman71]

Not me.
Sounds like a whole lot of fun in one gun for $429!
By the way, a tubing cutter (like for plumbing pipe) will cut a shotgun barrel. I’ve done it a few times myself.

Thanks for the tip!

[browningautorifle]

Should I: Hack off the barrel and buy a reproduction heat shield and bayonet lug from Numrich and have fun with it.

The Numrich repro heat shield and lug

But...I'm not so sure a repro handguard will fit a smaller, tapered birdgun barrel. The riot and trench barrels are larger outside diameter. I went through this not so long ago...careful...

[rcathey]

But...I'm not so sure a repro handguard will fit a smaller, tapered birdgun barrel. The riot and trench barrels are larger outside diameter. I went through this not so long ago...careful...

The Norinco heat shield I "bought" is sitting on a chopped down Stevens 520 now. No fit issues with that one.

[browningautorifle]

The Norinco heat shield

Wish I'd known that a bit back but then to find one of those...when you want it. I had one of the US made copies from down south. They don't produce them now I think.

[mattman71]

Thanks for all your help and recommendations. I went ahead and "bit the bullet". I bought the Numrich replica heat shield and bayo lug, a Thompson sling swivel for the stock cut out, and a few new butt plate screws. I'm going to strip the stocks and put on a basic tung oil finish as well. It won't be authentic, but it will be a cool looking, fun toy with genuine military markings. It's as close as I can get without buying the real thing. Real ones are quite expensive! I will keep my eyes open for the real barrel on auctions. It won't have matching serials, but will add a little authenticity to the appearance at least.

[browningautorifle]

the real barrel on auctions.

An original riot would be nice...then set it up.