Stephens 520-30 Question

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  • Tenn870

    Active Member
    Jun 14, 2010
    154
    Western MD
    Going through some of my dad’s stuff and found this shotgun. I’ve done a little research and can’t come up with much info about this specific model. Also, I disassembled and cleaned it and found what looks like a round limiter (see pic) but don’t know if it might be part of the gun to hold the spring in place. It looks like a homemade piece of pipe put in the magazine, possibly for hunting reasons? Or it could be something from the factory maybe to hold the spring in place.

    It’s got the bursting bomb and “P” on the receiver so I’m assuming it was a pilot training gun or something during WW2.

    The stock had two small cracks that were repaired by a local gunsmith. It also looks like it has a recessed cowling for a left handed shooter (see pic).

    Anyway, and info would be much appreciated and any idea on estimated value as well.

    Thank you!
     

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    Sirex

    Powered by natural gas
    Oct 30, 2010
    10,380
    Westminster, MD
    Well, it looks like a second series gun, and US property marked, so may have been a military gun, converted back to civilian hunting shotgun for sale at some point. The forend and stock don't appear to match. That looks like some kind of limiter, as mine does not have that in the magazine. I have an older 520, but mine is a Western Field 30 model.

    As far as value, hard to tell. I was watching them on Gunbroker, where I got mine. All over the place. I paid roughly 250 for mine, being a Wards brand gun. If it had the shorter barrel and heat shield, you could have been looking at $800-1000+, but like that, maybe $400??? Got the marks, but a mismatched gun. Looks nice though.

    Some good info;
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevens_Model_520/620
     

    mvee

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 13, 2007
    2,487
    Crofton
    I have a trench gun that has a serial about 18k later. It has a P proof and bomb on the barrel as well as the ones on the receiver. The proofs on the barrel are on the other side, just in front of the ejection port. The stock on mine has a sling swivel on it.

    I have heard of the aircrews practicing with shotguns to hone their skills. I don’t know if they used stevens shotguns though.

    I guess there is a possibility that yours has had the barrel and stock swapped out with a normal civilian one.

    If you find that they used theses for skeet and it’s a genuine example I think it would be worth quite a bit I imagine.
     

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