Alwayscarry5267
Member
- Sep 27, 2018
- 25
Awesome
Oh, the irony.
While there was no bayonet lug on any, I was actually issued one of these “folder” 870’s in the late 80’s and quickly came to not only despise the thing, heck, I couldn’t return it to the armorer for a good ol’ fixed, birch stocked w extended mag tube, quick enough! (So much more metal to rust (one more item requiring precious and always short time consuming care and attention) but, the worst was grabbing that thing out of a cruiser without gloves when it was oh dark thirty and the temps were below 40!)
I certainly “get” the attraction though (but, cannot shake those memories - “Brrrrrrrrrr!”)
I took my fixed stock to the range awhile ago and I learned from the very nice but very young RO how it was used as a trench gun in WWI
So that's where the 870 comes from...model of 1870...who knew! What a maroon, I hope he knows more about being an RO than shotguns.
1897 trenchgun is what he is thinking that was I hope.
Are the receiver and barrel ID codes, from beginning of thread, the same for all 870's, do you know?
I pickup my LE Trade In's tomorrow. Be nice to have an idea when they started life.
Are the receiver and barrel ID codes, from beginning of thread, the same for all 870's, do you know?
I pickup my LE Trade In's tomorrow. Be nice to have an idea when they started life.
Codes should be the same. Maybe the Freedom Group 870s are different, not sure.
Make sure to post some pics! I love LE trade-in shotguns.
I don’t want to dress one of my favorite tools in a tuxedo. The old overalls are just fine...
My Wingmaster is stamped:
Receiver: SxxxxxxV (S=1968-1974, V=2.75" shells)
Barrel: B W
Receiver is also stamped: BDE-7
If I am decoding it correctly, it is a January 1972 model, from Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (BDE-7)
Pretty cool that it's almost 50 years old.
The Police Magnum is stamped:
Receiver: BxxxxxxM (B=1994-1996, M=3" shells)
Barrel: L Q (also has what looks like an 0 4 as well?)
Appears to be made in February 1996
Originally wanted to strip and refinish the black painted stock and forend, from the Wingmaster, but it's already growing on me, as-is. Seems to give it some character, IMO.
The Magnum, I already swapped on a much nicer "Police" stock. Although the, as delivered, cut 2" shorter stock has a unique look...so it may go back to as bought.
The Wingmaster, I am undecided on whether to leave it be, with it's spray painted wood, or strip and re-oil/finish the wood???
Open to opinions, suggestions, for sure.
I also have a BW barrel coded 870 Wingmaster with a BDE-19 marking. How close is your serial number to mine?
Since pic sucks it’s S493794V