Stevens vietnam era hand guard/bayonet adapter

[grey ghost]

On the Vietnam era Stevens hand guard/bayonet adapter did they go to the 4 rows of holes and a hole in the bayonet lug. Thanks Steve

Information

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[mtrpdw]

If you are referring to the Heat Shield/Bayonet Adaptor for the Vietnam era Stevens 77E Riot shotgun, yes, it had a 4-row hole configuration. The Bayonet Lug was designed to receive the M5A1 (M1 Garand) short bayonet - hence the hole in the front of the Adaptor for the M5A1 bayonet "spike".

However, while the U.S. Army contracted Savage (Stevens) for a small quantity of 77E Trench Guns, complete with Heat Shield Assembly, in the middle 1960's, there are no records to show these "trench guns" actually ever made it to Vietnam.

Approximately 70,000 Stevens 77E 20" barrelled Riot Guns were used throughout the course of the Vietnam conflict, but none equipped with the Heat Shield /Bayonet Adaptors. I have read in various forums that some retired Vietnam Vet Armorers remember receiving the 77E Heat Shields as replacement parts, and would install them as needed on assorted brand shotguns that were in need of them.

Here's a question: All Vietnam era Stevens 77E Riot Guns were produced with a factory Parkerized Finish. Why then, were all the 77E Heat Shields, which were presumably destined to refit 77E Riot Guns, manufactured with a Bright Blued Finish rather than a Parkerized Finish??

Most of the 77E Heat Shields stayed within the USA and were surplus'd/sold/given to law enforcement agencies who may have used them for riot control purposes - riots, of course, being prevalent during the mid 1960's to mid 1970's.

Additionally, around 1966, a private company, Service Armament Co., Ridgefield, NJ, began marketing a riot-control weapons system for the Winchester Model 1200 Riot Gun. It included the 77E Heat Shield, M5A1 Bayonet, and M7 Grenade Launcher - for launching "tear gas" chemical munitions. The M7 launcher was not overly successful because the gas seal between the launcher and barrel was inconsistent for reliable and accurate launching of munitions.

More detailed info is available in "The World's Fighting Shotguns" (1978), by Thomas Swearengen, and Bruce N. Canfield's "Complete Guide to United States Military Combat Shotguns" (2007).

I've attached some open source photos to help you out.

[grey ghost]

Thanks for the great information. Steve