Stevens 520-30

[robesetz]

Hi,
I was searching for some information on my Stevens 520-30. I have one that is serial number 34196 which is earlier than listed for the date ranges that I've seen. Its has a 24" barrel with a weaver compensator on it. All of my price guides only list the Trench and Riot gun configuration. The receiver and forend have matching serial numbers and the gun is U.S. marked and proofed. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Robert

Information

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[Tom Doniphon]

Yes, the gun is out of the known serial number range for the Military 520 shotguns. It's a bit early. Can you post some photos of the gun, particularly of the US marks?

[robesetz]

Here you go. I know its not in the trench or riot configuration so should be a training gun. It has a 24" barrel and a weaver compensator. The patent on the comp is listed as a Cutts compensator when I looked it up.

The butt stock is cracked and glued but I always check them and this ones says:
Jame Robertson
3705 USA (N)? (Photo attached)
The only thing I could find close was a cargo ship named James Robertson that was sunk by a German U boat in July of 43'.



American Steam merchant

Name James Robertson
Type: Steam merchant (Liberty)
Tonnage 7,176 tons
Completed 1943 - California Shipbuilding Corp, Los Angeles CA
Owner American President Lines Ltd, San Francisco CA
Homeport Los Angeles
Date of attack 7 Jul 1943 Nationality: American

Fate Sunk by U-185 (August Maus)
Position 4° 05'S, 35° 58'W - Grid FC 7179
Complement 69 (1 dead and 68 survivors).
Convoy BT-18
Route Durban - Bahia, Brazil (3 Jul) - Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana
Cargo Ballast and 1.5 tons of radio sets
History Completed February 1943

Notes on event
At 06.07 hours on 7 July 1943, U-185 attacked the convoy BT-18 about 175 miles east of Fortaleza, Brazil for a first time and reported two ships sunk and another damaged. In fact, the William Boyce Thompson and the James Robertson were sunk.

The James Robertson (Master Harold Fletcher DeLasaux) in station #21 was struck by two torpedoes in the #2 and #3 holds. The explosions destroyed the engine room bulkhead and blew several hatch covers off, littering the deck with bits of metal, rock ballast and pieces of lifeboats. The holds flooded to the tween decks and the ship buckled at the #3 hatch. The ship cut through the columns of the convoy with running engines and the rudder jammed at hard right, making a complete circle. The ship collided first with the American steam merchant Alcoa Banner in station #32 and moments later with the Brazilian steam merchant Goiazloide in station #33 at the #1 hatch.

A part of the eight officers, 36 crewmen and 25 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in and nine 20mm guns) was ordered to abandon ship in two lifeboats and rafts. One boat swamped during launching and others jumped overboard and swam to the rafts, one of the armed guards drowned. The 21 men on the rafts, the men in one of the boats and five men in the water were picked up by USS PC-575 and landed at Trinidad on 15 July. The master and 20 men abandoned ship after the collision in two lifeboats and stood by until the morning, when they reboarded the vessel to recover personal effects, but the ship later went down by the bow. 24 men, including three survivors from the William Boyce Thompson were picked up by Jaguarão (CS 55) and landed at Fortaleza on 9 July. The 14 men in one of the remaining two lifeboats landed at Fortaleza on 9 July and the other boat made landfall at Cascavel, Brazil the same day.

Sorry, its a bit of reading but interesting none the less!
Thanks,
Robert.

[Keydet92]

Hello,
This serial number is under the Bruce Canfield accepted starting point for 520-30 production (38000). However all the markings are correct in placement, size and font for a military shotgun. I have recorded two other training guns under S/N 38000, one lower and one higher numbered. The lower gun (313XX) was a mix of correct US receiver and civilian (Sears Ranger 102.25) markings a 28" barrel and smooth stocks, no Stevens address on the barrel. The higher gun (367XX) had only US markings, Stevens address on barrel (L), 28" barrel and checkered stocks.

I believe your gun to belong to a group of long barreled training guns that Canfield doesn't account for. All the civilian 520As from that time had Riverside Arms, Sears, or Western Field markings on the left sides of the receivers that would be impossible to completely remove without seriously affecting the look, shape and finish of the gun. Civilian Procurement Program guns and other early guns show a mix of civilian/military markings and full wartime production 520-30s had a blank left receiver side, except for the military markings, and Stevens address on the barrel (like yours). Your gun probably originally had a 28" barrel and was cut to 24" when the Cutts compensator was added during overhauled or after service to keep the overall length down for a brush hunting gun.