Stevens Model 520 trench gun questions

[tranham]

Who can tell me more about this gun?

Pics

Dropbox - Stevens 520

Appears to be a straight model 520. Not a model 520-30. Exact markings are " M 520 US". Ordnance bombs and other proofs. Serial number low 40000 range. I don't have the combat shotgun book. When would this have been made?

Robert

Information

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[Keydet92]

Tranham,
The serial number puts it in 1942 if I had to guess. Canfield's M520-30 range is 38000-70000 and that started in spring 1942 and was done by June 1944. The M520-30 is just the military designation for the Model 520A which was produced by Stevens from 1940-1948. The Model 520 is the earlier design that this evolved from and was made between 1909-1939. I replied to your other post about this gun's twin, I'll quote it here for context:

However, I have documented several shotguns in the 31000-38000 range that have the accepted "correct" markings (all long-barreled training guns BTW). So that establishes that the standardized markings were in use before these guns were made. I have also documented completely bare Model 520As from this period (no US, Riverside Arms, Western Field, or Ranger markings as Stevens never sold them under their own name) with only the barrel proof stamp. What this gun and the other look like are these bare 520As that have been given non-standard military markings w/ the receiver markings looking especially amateur. Arsenal rework M520-30s will usually get an arsenal stamp on the bottom of the pistol grip, not the barrel lugs. However, two such guns marked in the same way leads me to believe this is some anomaly in the production run or that someone took unmarked civilian 520As with the correct serial numbers and doctored them with bogus marks. I do not believe all the M520-30s and M620s from the accepted S/N range were sent to the government. I see fakes on M620s more often because during the early 40's Stevens marked their Model 620As only on the barrels leaving the left side of the receiver open for forgery.

These two guns are far enough into the production run that you wouldn't expect them to be Civilian Procurement Program shotguns, which usually had a mix of civilian and military markings. I can't tell from your pictures but is this gun also missing the "J Stevens Arms Co" barrel address?

The bottom line problem with both these guns is that even if they're real, they will always be questioned. You'll always have to sell someone this convoluted story in a resale, because there are just so many fakes out there.

Here's an example of the standardized "correct" receiver markings:


Riot and long-barreled training guns will have barrel addresses and marks like this:


Finally here's a long-barreled training gun in the 33000 range, well below the two guns in question and Canfield's bottom threshold for production and marked with the accepted "correct" markings.

[Keydet92]

Tranham,
It is my theory that Stevens made more shotguns then were required by the military contract. I believe this because of the appearance of the re-proof "P" stamps that are found on the tops of the barrels and receivers on many Stevens Model 520A and 620A shotguns after the war. These re-proof marks show up first on pre-military contract Civilian Procurement Program guns that have a mix of civilian and military markings. In Feb 1942, all shotguns in the hands of dealers, retailers and manufacturers were frozen in place. These guns would have gone back to Stevens, gotten re-proofed, US marked and delivered to the government. The next place they show up is occasionally on completely correct US marked guns in the correct serial number range indicating that the gun in question had not made it past the inspector on the first round and had to be retested. Finally, they continue to show up on Stevens, Montgomery Wards, and Sears 520As and 620As until at least 1948 when Stevens stopped serializing both these shotguns. The 520A was retired before the Savage barrel marking codes were adopted in 1949.

So it looks to me like Stevens had a pile of pre-made unmarked barrels and receivers that they continued to pull from years after the war in order to meet civilian orders. Some of these unmarked guns were sold at some point with nothing but a civilian barrel proof roll mark on them.

Here are examples of the reproof stamps, the first is a M620 trench gun in the 27000 range, totally correct.


This is a Montgomery Wards Model 30 SB562A (Model 520A) serial number in 86000 range (late 1947-early 1948)

[Keydet92]

Here is an example of a unmarked Stevens 520A from the period (with the just the standard roll marked barrel proof) to show the open canvas available for forgery.

[JJM]

Here is an example of a unmarked Stevens 520A from the period (with the just the standard roll marked barrel proof) to show the open canvas available for forgery.https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ked_520A-1.jpg

Let me know if you received my pm to you on the contracts

[Tom Doniphon]

My observation on the Military 520 trench guns is that there are many in the 68,000 serial number range that have the extra P proof marks on top of the barrel and receiver. And in addition to the extra P proof marks some also have punch marks on top of the receiver and barrel. You can also find the extra P proof marks on some of the 620 trench guns in the higher serial number range. But then some of the last 520 and 620 trench guns made do not have the extra proofs.

[JJM]

My observation on the Military 520 trench guns is that there are many in the 68,000 serial number range that have the extra P proof marks on top of the barrel and receiver. And in addition to the extra P proof marks some also have punch marks on top of the receiver and barrel. You can also find the extra P proof marks on some of the 620 trench guns in the higher serial number range. But then some of the last 520 and 620 trench guns made do not have the extra proofs.

The extra P. mark is were they tested the receiver for hardness

[Keydet92]

Tom,
I have yet to find reproof marks in 68000 range on M520-30s, but will keep an eye out for them. I find them most frequently on the post-war guns in the 70000 range (Model 520A) and upper 30000 (Model 620A).

JJM,

The extra P. mark is were they tested the receiver for hardness

I have not heard that before. What is your source for this information? I assume it would have to do with the requirements of the military contract, did they mark (test) a pre-determined fraction of the military guns?

I have recorded the markings as "P", "P." and just "." punch marks.

[JJM]

I had a long time employee tell me that they had some trouble with receivers cracking at the recess in the top of the receiver where the bolt locks

[Keydet92]

JJM,
Model 520s and 620s do like to crack around the locking lug. It sounds like you've got a wealth of knowledge passed along from your Stevens Arms Co friends (verbal and documents). You need to write all that info down and share with the collecting world.