Stevens Browning 620 Marking Question

[Tom Doniphon]

I have data on another 620 riot with very early serial number and marked exactly like the subject shotgun including one asterisk mark on the barrel. I don't know if that is how they marked the choke during that time frame on these very early WW2 620s or if they were long barreled guns that had the barrels cut down either by the factory or later by the Military.

[MET1288]

I would believe it may be plausible that it was an early procurement gun that was cut down, therefore the asterisk would be present. I am not overly familiar with later arsenal overhaul markings. Is such a marking like the RIA stamp set on the grip of this gun correct? And would it have been re-blued vs parkerized as many overhauled shotguns were? Such an interesting gun.

[Tom Doniphon]

I rechecked the data I have on the other 620 marked like this one, and it has no front bead sight or even a hole for one. So it was a long barreled gun that was cut down.

Most early War made 620 riot guns are marked with 3 asterisks on the barrel to designate cylinder bore. But Stevens eventually stopped applying those markings to the 620 Military shotguns.

And yes, I would think a gun that was overhauled by the Military, particularly in the 60s, would have been parkerized rather than re-blued.

[MET1288]

I passed on the subject gun, however interesting, it carried many questionable traits.

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Weren't the asterisks denoting original barrel length stamped on the inside of the barrel extension where it threads together? I don't recall them being on the outside like that...but I could be mistaken.

[Keydet92]

Hello,
I'm new to MILSURPS but I'm a Stevens 520/620 collector and researcher. I've watched this shotgun on Gun Broker for a number of months and it looks like it is about to sell for $750. The United States Property stamp and ordnance bomb appear to be correct in font and placement, but it has some issues.
1) S/N is well below the Canfield starting point for the early block of Model 620 (620A) production at S/N 7100
2) One * means Full choke means it was originally a long barreled gun
3) It is missing the oval GHS (Gilbert H Stewart) and "P" proof stamp to the right of the ordnance bomb on the receiver
4) The finish is too black and looks caked in spots, original would have been a dull bluing and you would be able to see a vertical polishing mark next to the breech block stop screw on the left side of the receiver. An arsenal rework of this vintage would have a dull parkerized finish.
5) It has smooth uncheckerd wood, this was usually seen on later guns after Stevens had used up all on hand civilian stocks and fore ends.

The story that could be made for this gun is that it was a Civilian Procurement Program gun with the obvious civilian Stevens markings on the left side of the receiver or it came out of Stevens' on hand undelivered inventory to fill a quota in their first government contract. They could have cut down a long barreled gun to make a riot gun...then sometime during its service life or during arsenal rebuild it got its replacement smooth wood.

There is lots of variation and improv seen in the early Stevens WWII shotguns that leads to abundant fakery. It is for this reason that most early guns with mixed civilian and military markings are suspect and, in my opinion, do not command the same amount of money as the later standardized models that fall in the accepted serial number ranges.

This is an interesting $400 gun. An arsenal rebuild riot should bring $500-$800 and a very good original should bring $800-$1200. Long barreled training gun were not standardized after WWII like the riot and trench guns so they didn't get arsenal rebuilt. A nice original should bring $600-$800. A fine example sold last month on GB for $730.

[Keydet92]

Long barreled training gun were not standardized after WWII like the riot and trench guns so they didn't get arsenal rebuilt.

Scratch that, I misspoke, some did...and had Cutts compensators added. Doesn't change the fact that this gun is fishy.

[MET1288]

That's excellent information. I stopped following it. The same seller had a number of other US marked shotguns listed there were very "suspect". Interesting to say the least...