Savage/Stevens M720 Riot Gun

[gene of oregon]

Just need some info. on a savage m720 riot gun, belongs to a friends - friend. Gun is in excellent condition, I'd say 98% with only flaw a crack in the forearm. Serial# 78xxx both barrel and receiver, has US and ordnance bomb stamps. Barrel is 20" Are these very collectable and sought after?? I haven't a clue I'm into carbines myself. Also what would a value on it going by my description?? Sorry I have no pic's to add Thanks, Gene

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[browningautorifle]

You aren't going to get rich but I bet you can stand by for some offers by PM here. They're a member of the marshal arms collection and sought by the collectors of that sort of thing...me in the past. Pics would really help though.

[Keydet92]

Gene,
The key to an M720 is determining if its a riot gun or a long barreled training gun that has been cut down. An original riot gun will have barrel choke marks (three astericks *** for cylinder) and a ramp style front sight with a bead on top, not just a bead. An original M720 riot gun would be somewhere in the $1500-$2500 range, depending on condition.

[gene of oregon]

Thanks Keydet92 Your description matches it has the ramp style front sight with a bead on top, but not three asterisk's ***, it has four asterisk's ****.
I guess I need to have him bring it by again and take some pic's Thanks again, Gene

[Keydet92]

Gene,
If the barrel has four asterisks then it was originally a long-barreled training gun that has been cut down. Someone has gone the extra step of reattaching the original ramp sight to make it look right. That trashes its collector value, it's now worth less than an original, un-cut, long-barreled training gun, around $400 as an interesting shooter.

[browningautorifle]

Time for pics and less conjecture...

[gene of oregon]

One thing I hate is downloading and pasting pic's. Hope these make it Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet Gene
don't know how the title got in it but the pic's are there

[Keydet92]

Gene,
The finish on that gun is very nice, it is a shame that someone cut down the barrel. Yes, that was a long-barreled training gun (four asterisks ****) originally. Further proof is that the ramp front sight is incorrect. Here's a picture of yours, on the left, compared to an original M720 front sight, on the right. It may just be the lighting but the stock seems to be a lighter color then the fore end, possible sign of replacement. Several long-barreled M720 training guns have sold recently on Gun Broker with the nicest ones going in the $650-$850 range. This one would have been up there if it had not been modified.



PS: I didn't notice it until I posted the picture but I think you can see the vise mark on the right side of your barrel when they clamped it to cut it (in the middle of the lighter stripe next to the muzzle).

[browningautorifle]

There's a marking on the butt in the bottom of the pistol grip. That might be worth looking at too. Any other marks on the wood?

[gene of oregon]

This is the only wood markings Gene